Key Points:
- Microsoft will retire Exchange Web Services for cloud users.
- The service turns off by default starting October 2026.
- The final shutdown deadline is set for April 1, 2027.
- On-premise Exchange Servers will keep EWS support for now.
Microsoft confirmed that it is finally time to say goodbye to Exchange Web Services (EWS). After nearly two years of warnings, the company released the official schedule for when it will shut down the 20-year-old protocol for Microsoft 365 and Exchange Online users.
The process begins later this year. As soon as October 2026, Microsoft plans to disable EWS by default for Exchange Online tenants. This means if you have not configured your settings to keep it, the service will stop working. The company set the absolute final deadline for April 1, 2027. On that day, the service goes dark for everyone in the cloud.
However, there is an exception. Microsoft clarified that this aggressive timeline only targets cloud environments. If your organization still runs its own Exchange Servers on-site, EWS will continue to function normally. This creates a clear divide between how Microsoft treats its modern cloud customers versus legacy on-premise users.
The tech giant explained that EWS is simply too old to keep around. Developers built the system nearly two decades ago. It no longer meets modern standards for security, scale, or reliability. By retiring the service, Microsoft removes a “legacy attack surface,” making the overall email ecosystem safer from hackers who exploit old code.
System administrators have a few options to prepare. If they adjust their settings by the end of August 2026, they can opt out of the automatic October disablement. Even if Microsoft turns it off in October, admins can manually turn it back on. However, this is only a temporary fix. The April 2027 cutoff is hard and fast.
To make sure everyone pays attention, Microsoft will perform “scream tests.” They will briefly shut down the service to see who complains. This helps companies identify broken apps before the permanent shutdown happens.
Microsoft explicitly stated there will be no extensions. The company urges all IT departments to migrate their applications now, as the April 2027 deadline is final.
