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Microsoft is officially retiring Office 365 Connectors inside Microsoft Teams. If your Teams channels rely on incoming webhooks or third-party connectors (RSS, GitHub, Azure DevOps, Trello, Jira, monitoring tools, etc.), you need a replacement—or your notifications will stop flowing.
That replacement is Power Automate Workflows, delivered through the Workflows app in Teams. The switch is not just about avoiding downtime. Power Automate gives you richer messages, stronger security, and far more flexibility than the legacy connectors ever offered. This guide explains what’s changing, why Microsoft is making the move, and exactly how to migrate your existing Office 365 Connectors to modern Workflows without breaking your Teams automation.
Why Office 365 Connectors Are Being Retired
Office 365 Connectors were a simple way to post notifications into Teams channels. The problem is that they were built on older architecture with limited governance and security controls. Microsoft is phasing them out to align with its Secure Future Initiative and to consolidate automation within Power Platform. Microsoft for Developers+2Petri IT Knowledgebase+2
The retirement timeline (important!)
Microsoft has already started the deprecation in waves:
- August 15, 2024: Creation of new Office 365 Connectors in Teams is blocked.
- October 1, 2024: Existing connectors stop working.
- Extended support through December 31, 2025: Microsoft delayed full retirement to give orgs more migration time. Microsoft for Developers+2Windows 11 Forum+2
If you still use connectors today, you have a window—but not forever.
What You Gain by Moving to Power Automate Workflows
Power Automate Workflows don’t just replicate Office 365 Connectors; they upgrade them.
Key benefits
- More flexible triggers and actions
You can trigger on webhooks, schedules, events in 365 apps, or third-party tools, then route messages anywhere in Teams or beyond. Microsoft for Developers+1 - Richer Teams messages
Workflows support Adaptive Cards, buttons, approvals, and formatted payloads—not only static connector cards. lihaifeng.net+1 - Stronger security and governance
Power Automate uses Microsoft’s modern authentication and compliance layers, making automation safer for enterprise environments. Microsoft for Developers+1 - A larger connector ecosystem
Power Automate has hundreds of native connectors and custom connector options, far beyond the old Office 365 connectors library. Microsoft for Developers+1
Bottom line: you get future-proof automation plus better functionality.
Migration Overview: Two Connector Types You May Be Using
Before moving, identify which kind of Office 365 Connector you have. This determines your migration path.
1. Incoming Webhook Connectors
These are the most common. You had a webhook URL and sent HTTP POST requests to it.
Replacement: Power Automate “When a webhook request is received” workflow. Microsoft for Developers+2HEUSSER.PRO+2
2. Prebuilt Third-Party Connectors (RSS, GitHub, etc.)
These were added from Teams → Connectors tab.
Replacement: A Power Automate template or connector-based flow using the same service. Microsoft for Developers+1
Step-by-Step: How to Replace an Office 365 Incoming Webhook
This is the classic “post alerts to Teams” use case.
Step 1: Open the Workflows app in Teams
- Go to Teams.
- In the left sidebar, open Workflows (you may need to click “Apps” and search for it).
- Click Create. Microsoft for Developers+2tothenew.com+2
Step 2: Choose the webhook template
Select the template:
“Post to a channel when a webhook request is received.” Microsoft for Developers+2tothenew.com+2
Step 3: Configure the workflow
- Pick the Team and Channel.
- Name the flow something clear (ex: “Monitoring Alerts → Ops Channel”).
- Save the flow.
Teams will generate a new webhook URL for you.
Step 4: Update your app/service
Replace your old Office 365 webhook URL with the new one in your source system (GitHub, Azure DevOps, monitoring tool, custom app, etc.). lihaifeng.net+1
Step 5: Test and verify
Send a test hook. Confirm:
- Message appears in the correct channel
- Formatting looks right
- Any conditional logic works as expected
That’s it—you’ve recreated your incoming webhook, but with more control.
Step-by-Step: Migrating Prebuilt Office 365 Connectors
If you used connectors for services like RSS, Trello, GitHub, or Azure Boards, migrate like this:
Step 1: Find your old connector setup
Open the Teams channel → Connectors and note:
- service name
- events it was listening to
- message style/frequency
Step 2: Create a new workflow
Workflows → Create → search for your service or use templates such as:
- “Post message when a new RSS item is published”
- “Post to Teams when a GitHub issue is created”
- “Post when Azure DevOps work item updates” Microsoft for Developers+2tothenew.com+2
Step 3: Authorize the connector
Sign into the third-party service when prompted. Power Automate will store the connection securely. tothenew.com
Step 4: Match the behavior
Set triggers and filters to mimic your old connector:
- choose the same repo/board/feed
- set conditions (only bugs, only critical alerts, etc.)
- choose the same Teams channel destination
Step 5: Disable the old connector
Once the workflow behaves correctly, remove the Office 365 Connector to avoid duplicate messages. Microsoft for Developers+1
Licensing and Ownership: One Crucial Detail
Power Automate Workflows inside Teams are owned by the user who creates them. That means:
- if the creator leaves the org or loses a license, the workflow may break
- shared ownership or service accounts are safer for critical flows
Workflows are included with many Office 365/Microsoft 365 SKUs (E1/E3/E5/F3, etc.). If users can’t create workflows, licensing is the first thing to check. Patch My PC
Common Migration Issues (and Fixes)
“My workflow isn’t posting messages”
Most often caused by:
- wrong channel selected
- missing permissions
- webhook payload mismatch
Fix: re-open the flow → check trigger output → confirm Teams action configuration. lihaifeng.net+1
“The new webhook needs different JSON”
Yes, Workflows are stricter than legacy connectors. If your payload was minimal or custom, you may need to:
- send plain text first
- then upgrade to Adaptive Cards once it works lihaifeng.net
“We used connectors in Outlook Groups too”
Microsoft is also deprecating Office 365 Connectors for Outlook group mailboxes. Similar logic applies: replace with Power Automate flows that send emails or Teams posts. IK Technologies USA
Best Practices for a Safe, Future-Proof Transition
- Migrate early instead of waiting for a cutoff week.
- Start with 1:1 replacement, then enhance later.
- Use shared/service ownership if flows are business-critical.
- Document each flow (trigger, purpose, channel).
- Leverage Adaptive Cards for better interaction once stable. tothenew.com+1
Final Thoughts
Office 365 Connectors in Teams are on their way out, and Power Automate Workflows are the clear replacement. The good news: migration is straightforward, templates cover most real-world cases, and you gain better security and richer messaging in the process.
