Microsoft is ending support for its 365 browser extension.

The extension, which has been downloaded by over 10 million Microsoft users across the Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome browsers, offered easy access to Microsoft 365 apps and documents through the web. The extension will be retired on January 15, 2024, and will be removed from the Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome web stores as an extension add-on.

Microsoft’s accompanying blog wrote:

The Microsoft 365 browser extension (formerly named Office browser extension) is a free extension available on Microsoft Edge and Google Chrome that gives you access to your Microsoft 365 apps and documents on the web. This extension will reach retirement and end of support on January 15th, 2024. After this date, the extension will no longer receive security updates, non-security updates, bug fixes, or technical support.”

Microsoft didn’t provide a reason why the browser extension was ending. However, it’s possible that the tech giant is trying to push users towards methods of accessing 365 apps, such as the Edge sidebar. That Microsoft added a button for its flagship AI-powered productivity tool Copilot to the Edge sidebar in recent months may also be a factor, as encouraging users to use the sidebar more frequently might also prompt them to test out Copilot’s capabilities.

While that might push Edge users to use the browser sidebar — and potentially Copilot — there’s no such option for Chrome users. That, again, could be a factor. Easy access to Microsoft 365 from a browser might not be a game-changing selling point that will galvanise millions of users to change to Edge from Chrome, but there might well be enough of a minority who appreciate the intuitiveness for it to matter to Microsoft in its push to get more users interacting with Copilot in particular.

What Happened at This Year’s Microsoft Ignite?

This year’s Microsoft Ignite featured a variety of significant news stories.

First, Microsoft is rebranding Bing Chat and Bing Chat Enterprise as part of Copilot to streamline the user experience. The move aims to make Copilot more accessible for everyone to utilise the tech giant’s premier AI-powered productivity tool through Microsoft’s Bing search engine.

Immersive Spaces in Microsoft Teams was planned to become generally available in January. The virtual reality meetings, powered by Microsoft Mesh, were announced by Microsoft in May to “inject a sense of natural co-presence” during hybrid meetings. Microsoft Mesh, which enables developers to build virtual meeting spaces, will also be generally available in January.

Microsoft revealed a revamped SharePoint that it said will “transform content management”. The tech giant said that SharePoint Premium will utilise AI to improve content experiences, optimise business processes and prepare content for Microsoft Copilot.

Among multiple new updates added to Microsoft 365 for frontline workers was Copilot’s availability for subscribers to the F3 license, starting in December and will be available for no extra cost. The product encompasses commercial data protection, allowing frontline workers to make smart requests.

Microsoft also unveiled new management tools to the Teams Admin Center, such as shared calling for Teams Phone. Shared calling streamlines Teams Phone deployment, allowing admins to empower groups of users to make and receive public switched telephone network (PSTN) calls through a shared phone number and calling plan.



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