(Credit: Microsoft)
Microsoft Teams will soon remove Together mode, a feature designed to make your video calls feel more community-like. It first launched in July 2020 during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when many companies were switching to remote work for the first time.
Together mode allows employees to "sit" in a virtual scene together rather than viewing them as a standard grid. The cutouts of each person are placed in a setting, such as a theater or a coffee shop, to make it look like they are at a real location versus a home office.
You need at least four people to activate Together mode, although Microsoft briefly tested one-on-one calls, and it can support up to 49 people at a time. As of June 30, 2026, however, Microsoft will begin removing the feature. Anyone using beta versions of Microsoft software may see its removal happen earlier.
Microsoft says it wants to simplify its user experience and improve backend performance. The move will “free up service capacity that can be reinvested into foundational video improvements," which it says users have requested. That includes "super‑resolution, denoising, and improved color accuracy," as well as improved performance on weaker devices.
It also says removing Together mode will improve its interface, so you need fewer clicks to reach the right view. It recommends that those frustrated by these changes switch to Gallery mode.