Microsoft Teams Says Goodbye to Together Mode: What You Need to Know
Microsoft is officially retiring Together Mode, the virtual meeting space in Teams, as of June 30. The feature, which launched during the pandemic to help remote workers feel more connected, will be replaced by the improved Gallery view. Here's everything you need to know in a Q&A format.
What exactly was Together Mode in Teams?
Together Mode was a virtual meeting layout that placed participants' video feeds into shared scenes like a conference room, coffee shop, or amphitheater. Microsoft launched it in the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, when Teams usage skyrocketed and companies scrambled to keep employees connected while working from home. The idea was to reduce video meeting fatigue by creating a more immersive, less grid-like experience. Users felt less like they were staring at a screen of faces and more like they were in the same physical space. Microsoft even claimed that people using Together Mode reported lower levels of tiredness compared to traditional gallery views. It was part of a broader push toward more engaging virtual meetings, eventually tying into Microsoft's Mesh 3D metaverse platform for work.
Why is Microsoft retiring Together Mode?
According to Katarina Tranker, Teams product manager, the decision simplifies the meeting experience. In a blog post, she explained that the core need Together Mode addressed—seeing the people who matter in a meeting—can now be fully met by the modern Gallery view. That view can display up to 49 participants at once, making Together Mode redundant. Additionally, maintaining two separate layouts required extra development effort and user clicks. By moving to a single layout, Microsoft says it can add new features faster and reduce device performance demands. The retirement also aligns with Microsoft's earlier shutdown of its Mesh 3D meeting platform (though an app for immersive events still exists with certain Teams subscriptions).
When exactly will Together Mode be removed?
Together Mode will no longer be available starting June 30. After that date, the feature will disappear from the View menu in Teams meetings. Users will automatically see the Gallery view as the primary layout for group meetings. If you're a fan of Together Mode, you have until the end of June to use it one last time—after that, it's gone for good.
What will replace Together Mode for Teams users?
The replacement is the enhanced Gallery view, which Microsoft says now fully covers the needs Together Mode was originally built for. This view can show up to 49 participants at once, which is more than enough for most meetings. The modern Gallery view also supports features like virtual backgrounds, custom layouts, and better performance on low-end devices. Microsoft emphasizes that switching to a single layout means fewer clicks for users—no more toggling between views—and helps the company streamline its development pipeline. For those who miss the virtual scenes, Microsoft suggests using the Large Gallery view or Speaker view as alternatives. The company isn't planning to bring back Together Mode or a similar feature in the foreseeable future.
How did Together Mode relate to Microsoft's broader metaverse strategy?
Together Mode was part of Microsoft's early push into virtual collaboration spaces, which included the Mesh 3D platform for immersive meetings. Mesh allowed participants to interact as avatars in 3D environments, while Together Mode used a simpler, 2D cropped-video approach. Both aimed to create a sense of presence and reduce remote work isolation. However, Microsoft retired Mesh last December (December 2024), though an app for immersive events remains available with certain Teams subscriptions. The end of Together Mode continues that trend—Microsoft appears to be moving away from dedicated virtual spaces in favor of refining core meeting layouts like Gallery view. This shift suggests the company believes the future of virtual meetings is in simplicity and performance, not flashy digital environments.
What does Microsoft recommend for users who enjoyed Together Mode?
Microsoft encourages users to embrace the modern Gallery view as their primary meeting layout. If you're worried about losing the sense of connection, the company points out that Gallery view now displays up to 49 participants—more than enough to see everyone you care about. For larger meetings, you can use Large Gallery view or Speaker view. Additionally, you can still customize your background or use Together Mode's scenes until June 30. After that, Microsoft suggests focusing on meeting etiquette and camera use to maintain engagement. The company also notes that the move to a single layout will make future updates faster and reduce device strain, which could improve overall video call quality. So while Together Mode is retiring, Microsoft promises that the core meeting experience will only get better.