Microsoft is updating Loop Workspaces licensing requirements, making it a core Microsoft 365 service

Microsoft is expanding Loop Workspaces to all users with a SharePoint or OneDrive for Business service plan.
As Loop Workspaces relies on SharePoint storage, a SharePoint or OneDrive service plan becomes the key requirement. This change also enables users with Frontline (F) and Office 365 Enterprise licenses to create new Loop workspaces.

  • This change does not affect your Office Cloud Policy that controls the creation of Loop workspaces. This policy is the Microsoft-recommended method to manage who can create new Loop workspace containers.
  • This change removes the “Microsoft Loop” service plan requirement from licenses. If your organization currently controls Loop Workspace availability only via the service plan, action is required.


Timeline

The rollout should be completed in February 2026.


How does this affect your organization?

Currently, Loop Workspaces is available to users with one of these license plans:

  • Microsoft 365 Business Standard
  • Microsoft 365 Business Premium
  • Microsoft 365 E3, A3, and E3 Extra Features
  • Microsoft 365 E5, A5, and E5 Extra Features
  • Microsoft 365 Copilot

Frontline (F) and Office 365 Enterprise licenses are missing.

This update removes the “Microsoft Loop” service plan requirement, effectively making Loop Workspaces a core Microsoft 365 service.

Microsoft Loop service plan requirement will be removed
Microsoft Loop service plan requirement will be removed

As a result, all users with a SharePoint or OneDrive for Business service plan (for example, included in Microsoft 365 F1/F3 and Office 365 E1/E3/E5 license plans) will be able to…

(1) create new Loop workspaces,
(2) add members to a workspace, and
(3) remove members from a workspace.

Previously, these capabilities were restricted to users with the Microsoft Loop service plan.

Note:
SharePoint storage is not included in Exchange Online Kiosk, Plan 1, or Plan 2. Users with the licenses will continue to face these three limitations.

Microsoft recommends reviewing and updating your Office Cloud Policy to control who can create Loop workspaces. The relevant policy is “Create Loop workspaces in Loop”.

Control who can create Loop workspaces
Control who can create Loop workspaces

This change follows Microsoft’s announcement one month ago to cancel license enforcement for Loop Workspaces indefinitely.

Read:  Microsoft cancels licensing enforcement for Loop Workspaces indefinitely

I expect the “Microsoft Loop” service plan to be retired soon, as it is no longer in use following this change.

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Tobias Asböck

Tobias is a Senior System Engineer with more than 10 years of professional experience with Microsoft 365 products such as SharePoint Online, SharePoint Premium, OneDrive for Business, Teams Collaboration, Entra ID, Information Protection, Universal Print, and Microsoft 365 Licensing. He also has 15+ years of experience planning, administering, and operating SharePoint Server environments. Tobias is a PowerShell Scripter with certifications for Microsoft 365 products. In his spare time, Tobias is busy with updates in the Microsoft 365 world or on the road with his road bike and other sports activities. If you have additional questions, please contact me via LinkedIn or [email protected].

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