- EWS does not provide security, scalability and reliability by today’s standards
- It will be discontinued for cloud environments from April 2027
- “Scream tests” will help show dependencies
Microsoft has confirmed that it will be phasing out Exchange Web Services (EWS) for Microsoft 365 and Exchange Online after nearly two decades of service, and we’ve received all the key dates.
Starting October 2026, the company will disable EWS by default for Exchange Online tenants, with the final shutdown planned 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-premises Exchange servers.
Exchange Web Services expected to be retired in 2027
The company explained that the reason EWS was abandoned is because it was built almost 20 years ago and no longer meets modern needs for security, scalability and reliability. By removing Exchange Web Services, Microsoft can reduce the existing attack surface.
“If you proactively configure a allowlist and set EWSEnabled to True by the end of August 2026, your tenant will be excluded from the October 1 automatic change to EWSEnabled=False,” Microsoft shared in an article explaining the EWS disabling process.
Admins can also re-enable EWS after it is blocked by default after the October 2026 milestone – albeit temporarily, as the April 2027 shutdown remains confirmed.
In the meantime, the company promises to send administrators monthly Message Center messages 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 before major 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, emphasizing the importance of preparing in advance.
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