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  "description": "Starting April 6, 2026, Microsoft will retire the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel installation option for unmanaged devices in the Microsoft 365 admin center. Existing devices remain unaffected, but new selections cannot use this channel. Managed devices via Intune or Configuration Manager are not...",
  "path": "/m365-message-center/message/mc1249428/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-03-13T01:00:05.000Z",
  "site": "https://blog.tophhie.cloud",
  "tags": [
    "Manage Microsoft 365 installation options in the Microsoft 365 admin center",
    "Microsoft 365 admin center",
    "Change the Microsoft 365 Apps update channel for devices in your organization | Microsoft 365 | Microsoft Learn"
  ],
  "textContent": "🚨\n\n**Major Update:** This post contains a significant change that may impact your organisation.\n\n**[Introduction]**\n\nStarting in April 2026, Microsoft **will retire the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel installation option** for unmanaged devices in the Microsoft 365 admin center. We are making this change to streamline installation choices and help organizations move toward more predictable, secure, and up-to-date release channels.\n\nThis retirement only affects the installation option for unmanaged devices. It does not change the update channel of any existing unmanaged device already assigned to the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel.\n\nFor more details on which devices are affected, review Manage Microsoft 365 installation options in the Microsoft 365 admin center.\n\n**[When this will happen]**\n\n  * **Worldwide and GCC:** We will begin retiring this option on**April 6, 2026,** and expect to complete the retirement by **April 11, 2026.**\n\n\n\n**[How this affects your organization]**\n\n_Who is affected_\n\n  * Admins who manage Microsoft 365 Apps installation options for **unmanaged devices** through the Microsoft 365 admin center.\n  * Tenants currently using the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel **only** for unmanaged installation scenarios.\n\n\n\n_What will happen_\n\n  * The**Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel installation option will be retired** for unmanaged devices starting on**April 6, 2026**.\n  * If your tenant currently has this channel selected:\n    * Your existing selection will remain but will appear **grayed out**.\n    * If you switch to a different update channel, you **cannot reselect** the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel for unmanaged installations.\n  * Existing unmanaged devices configured for this channel will continue to use it until you manually change the update channel.\n  * Devices managed through **Intune** , **Configuration Manager** , **Cloud Update** , or other management tools are **not affected** by this retirement.\n\n\n\n**[What you can do to prepare]**\n\nNo action is required at this time.\n\nOptionally, you may:\n\n  * Review your current installation channel selection for unmanaged devices.\n  * Evaluate alternative update management approaches, such as **Cloud Update** , **Microsoft Intune** , or **Configuration Manager**.\n  * Use Microsoft Learn guidance to change the update channel when appropriate: Change the Microsoft 365 Apps update channel for devices in your organization | Microsoft 365 | Microsoft Learn.\n\n\n\n**[Compliance considerations]**\n\nNo compliance considerations identified. Review as appropriate for your organization.",
  "title": "MC1249428: Retirement of the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel installation option for unmanaged devices",
  "updatedAt": "2026-03-13T01:00:05.409Z"
}