Microsoft 365 Insights: January 2025

What’s New in the Microsoft 365 – January 2025

The summary of key updates and enhancements in Microsoft 365 in January 2025

Excel

Reduce eye strain with Dark Mode in Excel for Windows

Excel for Windows now supports Dark Mode, which darkens your entire sheet including cells! Read more.

Availability:  This feature is rolling out to Beta Channel users running Version 2502 (Build 18508.20000) or later.  

Microsoft Excel, a year in review: unlocking insights with Copilot and Python

We released a variety of improvements and new capabilities, including the integration of Copilot, in Microsoft Excel in 2024. Read more.

Availability: All Microsoft 365 users

Teams

Choose a breakout room as a Teams meeting participant

Simplify breakout room coordination for meeting organizers and participants with a new setting. Read more.

Availability: To use this new feature, breakout rooms managers and meeting attendees need to members of the Teams Public Preview or Microsoft 365 Targeted release and use the new Teams client on Windows or Mac.

Pop out Chat, Copilot, and Notes panes in Teams meetings

Popping out Chat, Copilot, and Notes panes in Teams meetings can lead to improved focus and tracking of meeting activity. Read more.

Availability: To use this new feature, you must be a member of the Teams Public Preview or Microsoft 365 Targeted release and use the new Teams client on Windows or Mac. Other meeting participants aren’t required to be members of the Teams Public Preview.

Customize the location of notifications in Teams

Personalize where on your screen Teams notifications appear and make your setup more intuitive. Read more.

Availability: To use this new feature, you must be a member of the Teams Public Preview or Microsoft 365 Targeted release and use the new Teams client on Windows. Other meeting participants aren’t required to be members of the Teams Public Preview.

PowerPoint

Caption videos in PowerPoint with SRT files

We’ve recently added support for SRT files to PowerPoint for Windows, macOS, and the web. These files are converted to the WebVTT format upon insertion to ensure great compatibility with earlier versions of PowerPoint and major web browsers. Read more.

Availability: Insertion of closed captions in SRT format is available in the following versions:

• Windows: Current Channel Version 2411 (Build 18227.10000) or later.
  
• macOS: Current Channel Version 16.91 (Build 24111020) or later.
  

Word

Disabling Immersive Reader for protected documents in Word for the web

This update enhances the security of confidential documents viewed on the web. Read more.

Availability: Immersive Reader is disabled for documents labeled confidential and highly confidential for all Word for the web users. Try this feature here.

OneNote

Microsoft OneNote, a year in review: AI innovation and enhanced creativity

In 2024, we refined and expanded OneNote features and capabilities. From AI to ink, here are some of our biggest achievements. Read more.

Availability: All Microsoft 365 users

Loop

Microsoft Loop, a year in review: greater integration and richer collaboration

Loop’s biggest accomplishments in 2024 include the new Meeting Details experience and Loop components in OneNote. Read more.

Availability: All Microsoft 365 users

Source: https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/category/microsoft365/blog/microsoft365insiderblog