Towards the end of each month, Microsoft typically details all the new features it added to some of its popular pieces of software during the previous four weeks. It published a round-up for Excel"s January 2026 updates on schedule, but a similar write-up for Teams was strangely absent. Now, the Redmond tech giant has finally detailed all the new capabilities it introduced in its flagship communication and collaboration software during January 2026, while also giving us an early look at what"s next.
Starting off with chat and collaboration enhancements in January 2026, we have a new Shared tab in Channels, which is basically a rebrand of the Files tab. It contains a collection of shared links and files, which can be sorted and filtered by various criteria. In the same vein, Microsoft also introduced message previews for channel notifications, mentions, and reactions. Moreover, the compose message box in Teams now has autocorrect, and you also have the option to pin the Teams window to the top so that it is always visible.
Switching gears to Teams Phone improvements, we have a new Teams policy for explicit consent for 1:1 VoIP call transcriptions and recordings. Additionally, the Teams Phone mobile experience is now generally available for T-Mobile customers in the United States. In related news, Delayed Simultaneous Ring is now supported, Teams admins can configure line keys, and Copilot-generated call summaries now offer more context.
In terms of enhancements to Teams Rooms on Android, town hall organizers have more control over what attendees see, presenters have front-of-room view control, and customers also have the ability to start and stop recording and transcription services. Furthermore, Microsoft has also rolled out a Frontline Agent in public preview for agentic workflows.
When it comes to platform enhancements, Mac users can share their screens using the macOS native picker, while Teams for Android users can now report suspicious messages. In addition, the latest devices certified for Teams include:
- Jabra Express Install: PanaCast 50 VBS, Acadia Tabletop Stand, Available with LG 40”, 43”, 50", 55”, or 65” displays
- Biamp Auto Tuned DSP with Ceiling and Table Mics – Available for Large or Medium Rooms
- Biamp Configurable DSP w/ Table Mics – Available for Large or Medium Rooms
- Barco ClickShare Hub Pro and Sennheiser TeamConnect Bar M and TeamConnect Bar S for Teams Rooms on Android
- Huddly® C1™: AI-driven videobar for small and medium rooms
- Lumens VC-TR60A – Black or White
As mentioned previously, Microsoft"s latest roundup also includes a teaser about what"s next for Teams. This is due to the upcoming Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) 2026 conference happening in Barcelona, where Redmond will be showing off some of the latest capabilities in Teams. These include:
- Interpreter agent support in Teams Rooms on Windows
- Teams Rooms utilization by size and capacity in the Pro Management shared space insights report
- Express voice enrollment [Available in March]
- Camera view switching in multi-camera Teams Rooms on Windows
- Two-way Direct Guest Join (DGJ) between Google Meet and Teams Rooms
- Interpreter in Teams Phone
- Queues app shared history of calls and voicemails [Public preview]
- New Teams events experience in public preview
- Communities and Agents in Communities in public preview
You can read more about all of this here.