From mid-July 2024, Teams will begin hiding inactive channels for users. The inactive channels can be unhidden, and users can opt out of the automatic process. The new clean up routine can be invoked whenever users want and if a mistake is made, it’s easy to unhide a channel. Given the number of channels in use, it’s likely that a few in everyone’s channel list are inactive and deserve to be hidden. https://office365itpros.com/2024/07/03/teams-inactive-channels/

Microsoft Teams: Automatic Hiding of Inactive Channels – A Frustrating and Counterproductive Change Since mid-July 2024, Microsoft Teams has quietly rolled out a feature that automatically hides inactive channels for users. While this may have been intended as a way to declutter the Teams interface, the reality is that this change has been implemented without prior notice and without considering the severe negative impact it has on businesses and users. This feature has resulted in:Missed critical messages: Many users are unaware that their channels have been hidden, causing them to miss out on important discussions, updates, and project communications.Loss of easy access to files and folders: Any shortcuts or shared documents within a hidden channel become inaccessible unless the channel is manually unhidden, causing disruptions in workflows.Confusion and chaos in the workplace: Employees have suddenly found key collaboration spaces missing from their interface, leading to unnecessary delays, frustration, and increased IT support requests.An unnecessary additional burden on users: While channels can be unhidden and users can opt out of this feature, this requires manual action and awareness—something that was never communicated effectively by Microsoft.A Lack of Transparency and Customer Care What is most disappointing is the way this feature was introduced. Instead of giving users and organizations the choice to enable or disable this setting, Microsoft turned it on by default without warning. This kind of forced change contradicts the very principles of user-centric design and enterprise software reliability. Even more concerning is the lack of response from Microsoft.For over five months, complaints and concerns have been raised across forums, support tickets, and feedback channels, yet Microsoft has remained silent. In an era where customer experience is supposed to be a priority, this lack of communication is unacceptable. What Microsoft Needs to Do Provide an official response regarding this issue and acknowledge the concerns of its user base.Allow companies to disable this feature by default at the tenant level through an admin setting, rather than forcing individual users to manually adjust their preferences.Improve communication around major updates by properly informing organizations before rolling out disruptive changes. Microsoft Teams is a critical business tool relied upon by millions of users worldwide. Changes that disrupt workflows should never be forced upon customers without notice or an easy opt-out mechanism at the organizational level. Microsoft, it’s time to listen to your users and address this issue. #MicrosoftTeams #CustomerExperience #UserFeedback #HiddenChannels #CommunicationMatters

We are looking for a way to switch this off globally.At present, once these channels have been hidden, users won't get notifications again even if team mentions are used.It's causing a lot of problems with users missing messages on channels that aren't used very often, but contain very important messages when they are.We have Teams channels setup for things such as Cyber Incidents that are only used in emergencies, so having these channels removed from all users by default is not something we want to happen.

TonyRedmond I also have found this auto-hide feature very frustrating as it continually hides entire Teams / Channels I use weekly. I have noticed a common thread - the Teams it keeps auto-hiding are Teams where I use the Files tab all the time, but we don't often use the Posts/chat tab. Could that be missing from the criteria used to determine if a Team/channel is still being actively used? (I hope turning off the auto-hide system setting suggested by other people on this thread works for me, because it's really annoying to constantly have to keep unhiding Teams/channels I use all the time!!)

hyokorama In Settings --> General, there is the option to disable the feature I've disabled it

I find this 'feature' incredibly annoying, I have a lot of Channels, which I dip in and out of, I am more than capable of hiding Channels I am not using any more.Hence why not put back in the option that allows a user to choose how they want Teams to behave for them?TonyRedmond

Teams to Begin Automatically Hiding Inactive Channels

29 Replies

hyokorama
Copper Contributor
Aug 15, 2024
TonyRedmond

I hate this. Why do apps have to be "smarter" than the user. How do I turn this auto hide crap off?
- ChrisAyers
  Brass Contributor
  Aug 16, 2024
  hyokorama
  
  In Settings --> General, there is the option to disable the feature
  
  I've disabled it
  - BrianS2280
    Copper Contributor
    Oct 29, 2024
    I did this too. It does not stop the auto-hide. I cannot find ANYTHING this switch does.
usalacarlo
Copper Contributor
Jul 24, 2024
TonyRedmond
Hi,
I believe this is a very usefull feature. But today I've heard from at least 4 colleagues that a lot of recent Teams and channels where automatically hidden.
Anyone else encountering the same? Or is there an explanation?
Thx. 🙂
Best Regards,
Carlo
- jcrotz123
  Copper Contributor
  Jul 25, 2024
  We experienced the same and recently sent out a company communication regarding this new cleanup process. Microsoft is being opaque about what they consider an activity for this cleanup process. Based on our observations, activity does not include file activity in a channel. We had channels hidden with no recent posts, but files had recent updates.

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Teams to Begin Automatically Hiding Inactive Channels

29 Replies

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