- EWS does not offer security, scale and reliability by current standards
- It will be closed for cloud environments starting in April 2027.
- ‘Cry tests’ will help show any dependencies
Microsoft has confirmed that it will be phasing out Exchange Web Services (EWS) for Microsoft 365 and Exchange Online after nearly two decades of services, and they’ve given us all the key dates.
Starting in October 2026, the company will disable EWS by default for Exchange Online tenants, with a final shutdown planned for April 1, 2027.
Microsoft emphasized that the change only applies to M365 and Exchange Online cloud environments, but that EWS will continue to work for on-premises Exchange servers.
Exchange Web Services to Retire in 2027
The company explained that the reason behind phasing out EWS is that it was built almost 20 years ago and no longer meets modern needs for security, scale and reliability. By removing Exchange Web Services, Microsoft can reduce the legacy attack surface.
“If you proactively configure an allowlist and set EWSEnabled to True by the end of August 2026, your tenant will be excluded from the October 1 automatic switch to EWSEnabled=False,” Microsoft shared in a post explaining the EWS disabling process.
Administrators can also re-enable EWS after it is locked by default after the October 2026 milestone, albeit temporarily, because the April 2027 shutdown remains firm.
In the meantime, the company promises to send administrators monthly Message Center posts with summaries and reminders.
Additionally, some outages may come from Microsoft’s “shout tests,” designed to temporarily shut down EWS services to highlight any dependencies before major milestones.
In a separate FAQ section at the bottom of the page, Microsoft confirmed that there will be no exceptions to the April 2027 deadline, underscoring the importance of preparing in advance.
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