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TonyRedmond's avatar
TonyRedmond
MVP
Feb 05, 2026

Microsoft Previews userConfiguration Graph API

A new userConfiguration API is available to retrieve data from Folder Associated Items (FAIs) in Exchange mailboxes. The new Graph API is part of the EWS migration project and is intended to allow ap...
EWS
exchange online
userConfiguration API
firatboyan34's avatar
firatboyan34
MCT
Feb 15, 2026

Hello Tony,

The new userConfiguration Graph API is strategically important even if most tenants will never call it directly.

Folder Associated Items store hidden configuration data inside mailbox folders. Historically, EWS was required to read or update these objects. With EWS retirement underway, Microsoft is exposing Graph equivalents to eliminate dependency on legacy endpoints.

Key architectural impact:

  1. This closes a major EWS gap. FAI manipulation was one of the blockers preventing full EWS decommissioning in complex applications.
  2. ISVs and in house tools that store custom metadata in mailbox folders now have a supported forward path.
  3. Security posture improves because access flows through Microsoft Graph with modern authentication and granular permission models.

This API is not intended for standard mailbox management scenarios. It is relevant when:

  • Applications write custom configuration objects into mailbox folders
  • Add ins or background services rely on hidden FAI objects
  • You are refactoring EWS code to Graph

From an Exchange Online architecture perspective, this signals continued Graph expansion to reach parity with legacy mailbox level programmability. If you operate bespoke EWS based tooling, you should start mapping FAI usage and validating Graph compatibility in beta before EWS retirement deadlines create pressure.