Services
Summary
Whiteboards created in Teams Channel tabs will be stored in the channel’s SharePoint site starting late September 2026, improving access, compliance, and collaboration. This change is enabled by default, requires no admin action, and aligns Whiteboard storage with other Microsoft 365 apps while maintaining existing security and compliance policies.
Details
Introduction
To improve reliability, compliance, and collaboration, we’re updating where Microsoft Whiteboard files created from a Teams Channel tab are stored. Previously, these whiteboards were saved in the OneDrive of the user who created them, which could lead to access issues due to sharing settings, Information Barriers, or Conditional Access policies.
With this update, whiteboards created from Teams Channels will be stored in the associated SharePoint site for the channel, aligning Whiteboard with the storage behavior of other Microsoft 365 apps and ensuring consistent access for all channel members.
When this will happen:
We will begin rolling out this change in late September 2026.
How this affects your organization:
- Who is affected:
- All Microsoft Teams users who create or collaborate on Whiteboards using the Teams Channel tab app
- What will happen:
- Whiteboards created from a Teams Channel tab will be stored in the channel’s SharePoint site.
- All channel members will have consistent access based on channel permissions.
- Existing Microsoft 365 compliance and security policies continue to apply.
- Whiteboards will be discoverable from the Whiteboard board picker.
- The change is enabled by default.
What you can do to prepare:
No action is required from administrators.
Recommended optional steps:
- Review internal documentation or helpdesk guidance that references Whiteboard storage locations.
- Inform support teams that Whiteboards created in Teams Channels are now SharePoint-based for troubleshooting and access requests.
Compliance considerations:
| Compliance area | Impact and explanation |
|---|---|
| Storage of customer data | Whiteboard files created from Teams Channel tabs are now stored in the channel’s SharePoint site instead of the creator’s OneDrive. The data is permanently stored in SharePoint. |
| Processing, storage, or access to existing customer data | The storage location changes from personal OneDrive to SharePoint, which alters how access is inherited and managed for channel members. |
| Purview compliance capabilities | Whiteboards now inherit SharePoint-based Purview controls, including DLP, sensitivity labels, retention policies, eDiscovery, audit logging, and Conditional Access. |
| Admin compliance monitoring and reporting | Centralized storage in SharePoint simplifies compliance monitoring, reporting, and eDiscovery for Teams Channel whiteboards. |