In April, Microsoft introduced a new three-tier release model for Microsoft 365 Copilot, consisting of the Frontier, Standard, and Deferred Release channels.
When Microsoft first introduced this model, administrators could configure up to 100 individual user exceptions, allowing specific users to be assigned to a different tier than the rest of the organization. Groups were not supported.
The current update enhances this capability by allowing administrators to assign entire Entra ID groups to either receive updates immediately upon regular release (Standard Release) or defer them by 30 days (Deferred Release). This shift makes it easy to place specific departments or pilot teams into early tiers to validate new Copilot capabilities, while sensitive departments can be granted additional review time before changes take effect.
This update builds upon the Frontier Admin Control update from June, expanding functionality to support Entra ID groups (with broader group member support > 10,000 users).
Because this enhancement focuses entirely on the back-end management of feature rollouts, the day-to-day end-user experience with Microsoft 365 Copilot remains exactly the same. The only difference users might notice is the specific timing of when new Copilot features appear in their apps, depending on whether their assigned group is configured to receive updates earlier or later than the rest of the organization.
- The Deferred release option currently applies only to Microsoft 365 Copilot features that Microsoft classifies as major changes.
- Total enrollment for these targeted exception groups is still capped at 100 total members, counting both group members and individual accounts.
- You can set Standard release as your organization’s default and postpone updates for up to 100 accounts via Deferred release.
- Alternatively, you can choose Deferred release as the default and configure up to 100 accounts for the Standard release.
- Nested groups are not supported for group assignments, though you can add multiple groups.
The new three-tier release model is currently restricted to organizations with active Microsoft 365 Copilot licenses. The rollout of group assignments should be completed in July 2026.
