Standard release or Deferred release can be selected in the Microsoft 365 admin center to decide timing of new service features for users or the tenant. A third option, Targeted release, is on the way out: new enrolment stops in November 2026 and it finishes in January 2027.
Read more: Microsoft Learn
In the Ultra Transcenders books
Each book explains Release preferences in context, with comparison tables and the common traps.
Terms in this definition
- Standard release
Microsoft 365's default release setting, where updates reach the organisation at the point of broad release. Targeted release is the alternative.
- Microsoft 365 admin center
Microsoft's main portal for running an organisation's Microsoft 365 services, found at admin.microsoft.com. Admins use it for users, groups, licences, billing, domains and roles, to check service health and Message center, and to configure Copilot and agents, with shortcuts to the more specialised portals.
- Document Intelligence add-on capabilities
Extra Document Intelligence options switched on with the features query parameter: barcodes, formulas, keyValuePairs, languages, ocrHighResolution, queryFields and styleFont.
- organization
VCF Automation's top-level tenant, completely isolated, owning separate users, networks and resources. Three kinds exist: All Apps, VM Apps and Provider Consumption.
- Targeted release
Lets everyone, or chosen people, receive Microsoft 365 updates early so IT can test and brief staff and support. It is configured under Release preferences in the organisation profile.
Related terms
- Frontier
Admins who want certain users or groups to try preview Copilot and agent features ahead of everyone else can enrol them in this Microsoft programme, through Copilot settings and release preferences.