Microsoft Retires Teams Together Mode

*Microsoft is phasing out the virtual meeting-room feature in favor of a stripped-down Teams experience.*

Microsoft is retiring Together Mode in Teams. The move ends a pandemic-era experiment that placed cut-out images of participants into a shared virtual space.

The feature launched to create the sense of a single conference room even when attendees joined from separate locations. It relied on AI to isolate heads and shoulders and drop them into one scene. Users could reach out for virtual high-fives or shoulder taps, though those gestures often felt forced. The main benefit was reduced visual clutter from separate video feeds.

Microsoft is removing the option gradually. As the change spreads, the simplified interface will become the default for all meetings.

Why it matters

Teams collected a range of special-purpose tools during the shift to remote work. Many of those additions now sit unused as offices have reopened and meeting habits have settled. Dropping Together Mode trims one more layer that most people stopped noticing. The result is a narrower but steadier product that favors routine calls over novelty.

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Sources:

• The Verge

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