- EWS does not deliver security, scale and reliability to today’s standards
- It will be shut down for cloud environments from April 2027
- ‘Scream tests’ will help show any dependencies
Microsoft has confirmed that it will phase out Exchange Web Services (EWS) for Microsoft 365 and Exchange Online after nearly two decades of service, and we’ve got all the key dates.
As soon as October 2026, the company will disable EWS by default for Exchange Online tenants, with the final shutdown set 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-prem Exchange servers.
Exchange Web Services set for retirement in 2027
The company explained that the reason for phasing out EWS is that it was built almost 20 years ago and no longer meets modern needs for security, scale and reliability. By retiring Exchange Web Services, Microsoft can reduce the legacy attack surface.
“If you proactively configure an Allow list and set EWSEnabled to True before the end of August 2026, your tenant will be excluded from the October 1 automatic change to EWSEnabled=False,” Microsoft shared in a post explaining the EWS deactivation process.
Administrators can also re-enable EWS after it is blocked by default after the October 2026 milestone – albeit temporarily, because the April 2027 shutdown remains fixed.
In the meantime, the company promises to send administrators monthly posts from the Message Center with summaries and reminders.
Additionally, some disruption may come from Microsoft’s ‘scream tests’, designed to temporarily shut down EWS services to highlight any dependencies ahead of the big milestones.
In a separate FAQ section at the bottom of the page, Microsoft confirmed that there would be no exceptions to the April 2027 deadline, underscoring the importance of getting ready well in advance.
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