Microsoft Teams Retires Together Mode

Microsoft is officially retiring the AI-powered Together Mode in Teams by June 30, shifting its focus toward a simpler layout and improved video performance, The Verge is reporting.

The feature launched in the summer of 2020, arriving at a time when global lockdowns forced millions of people into remote work. The option served as a psychological tool to combat video call fatigue, cutting out individual messy backgrounds and placing colleagues into a shared virtual environment.

Together Mode even allowed for lighthearted interactions like virtual high-fives and shoulder taps. However, as the workplace landscape has stabilized into permanent hybrid routines, enterprise demands have moved away from theatrical novelties. According to updates shared by Microsoft, the change is part of a broader effort to simplify the core Teams meeting interface.

The Together Mode toggle button will be removed entirely from the View menu across desktop, web, mobile, and Teams Rooms platforms. Along with the main layout, companion features like custom scene creation, branded virtual spaces, and manual seat assignments are also going away.

Instead of maintaining multiple complex layouts, Microsoft plans to establish the standard Gallery view as the primary experience for multi-participant meetings. The company notes that the modern Gallery view can now easily display up to 49 participants at once.

For everyday users, the shift should result in a less cluttered menu and smoother video performance on lower-spec hardware, as adaptive video tiles will require less processing power. However, IT administrators and event coordinators face immediate cleanup tasks before the end-of-June deadline.