Microsoft warns that transitioning Excel workbooks to new Exchange connectors might not be smooth sailing
Current Exchange connector is retiring - and new ones won't work if you don't upgrade
Microsoft has advised Excel users that transitioning to new Exchange connectors may not be a straightforward process. To continue using the Exchange Connector, workbooks will need to migrate to Microsoft 365 or Office 2024. Microsoft has released a timeline for the switchover, with customer validation starting in August, the final phase of Exchange Web Services (EWS) retirement enforcement beginning in October, and the current Exchange connector in Excel Power Query set to be retired in April 2027.
Microsoft has not yet provided details for Contacts and Tasks scenarios, stating that guidance will be shared separately. The main challenge users will face is that existing workbooks will not automatically transition to the new connectors. Instead, workbooks that rely on Exchange Mail and Calendar data will require reconnection.
Additionally, users might need to update to Microsoft 365 or Office 2024 to utilize the new connectors. Identifying which users and workbooks rely on the existing Exchange connector for Mail or Calendar data is crucial, as preparation and migration plans should be developed well in advance of the transition. Although Microsoft has provided notice for the EWS retirement, the deadline for the Exchange connector in Excel Power Query is less than a year away, potentially impacting non-migrated workbooks.
Microsoft has asked administrators to identify users who actively use Exchange-connected workbooks and may be interested in validating the new Exchange Mail and Calendar connectors.
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