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Microsoft Sets Phaseout of Exchange Online EWS, Blocking in October 2026 and Ending April 2027

Microsoft is steering customers to Microsoft Graph through an allow‑list model that lets admins control EWS access during the transition.

Overview

  • On October 1, 2026, tenants with EWSEnabled set to Null will have it changed to False, blocking all EWS calls unless admins acted in advance.
  • Tenants that set EWSEnabled=True and configure an AppID Allow List by the end of August 2026 will avoid the automatic block, and from October only allow‑listed apps can use EWS.
  • Microsoft will pre-populate allow lists in September 2026 for customers who do not create their own, and may run brief “scream tests” and send monthly Message Center usage summaries before the cutoff.
  • EWS in Exchange Online will be permanently disabled on April 1, 2027, at which point admin controls will be removed and no exceptions will be granted.
  • On‑premises Exchange is not affected, but hybrid customers must move cloud mailboxes to Graph and use Exchange SE for Graph calls to Exchange Online.