Table of Contents
Summary
- Introduction of SlimCore media engine for Microsoft Teams VDI optimization, replacing the WebRTC-based solution.
- Provides advanced meeting features like 3×3 and 7×7 Gallery View, custom backgrounds, and hardware acceleration.
- Enhanced telephony capabilities including Location Based Routing and Media Bypass.
- Improved support through Teams Admin Center, Call Quality Dashboard, and Monitoring API.
- Users will transition automatically to the new optimization without additional action required.
Admin Impact: Low
User Impact: Low
Release Start: 01 Mar 2026
Release End: 01 Apr 2026
Services: Teams
Category: Plan for change
Tags: Feature Update, User Adoption
History
12/12/2025 Item Added to Message Center
Microsoft Message
Updated December 16, 2025: We have updated the timeline. Thank you for your patience.
Introduction
We are introducing a new Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) optimization for Microsoft Teams that replaces the existing WebRTC-based solution. This update uses the SlimCore media engine, which changes how audio, video, and meeting features are handled in virtual environments. The new optimization includes updated meeting and telephony capabilities and improves integration with admin tools.
By leveraging the same media engine used in the native Microsoft Teams desktop clients (SlimCore), it offers the following:
- Advanced meeting capabilities: Gallery View 3×3 and 7×7, Background images from My Organization (requires Teams Premium licenses), User uploaded custom backgrounds, 1080p, Include computer sound while screensharing, Hardware acceleration on the endpoint, Cross Cloud support.
- Telephony and voice capabilities: Location Based Routing and Media Bypass, QoS, Human Interface Device (HID), Noise suppression.
- Better supportability: Teams Admin Center, Call Quality Dashboard, Monitoring API.
It also provides a simpler media engine update experience for users, without requiring frequent upgrades of the VDI infrastructure or VDI clients.
This release applies to Microsoft Windows endpoints connecting to Omnissa Horizon and Workspace One environments.
The Horizon Client 2506 bundles a new small component (known as Microsoft Teams Plugin, MsTeamsPluginOmnissa.dll) capable of establishing a dynamic virtual channel with Microsoft Teams running on the virtual desktop, subsequently silently downloading the new media engine on the user’s device which keeps it up to date without user or admin intervention.
This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 518286.
When this will happen
- Targeted Release: Rollout begins in early February 2026 (previously mid-January) and completes by mid-February 2026 (previously early February). Users must be part of the Public Preview ring.
- General Availability (Worldwide, GCC): Rollout begins in early March 2026 and completes by early April 2026 across all environments.
- General Availability (GCC High, DoD): Rollout begins in late April 2026 and completes by early May 2026 across all environments.
How this affects your organization
Who is affected:
Organizations using Microsoft Teams on Windows endpoints connected to Omnissa Horizon and Workspace One environments that meet all of the following minimum requirements:
- Microsoft Teams client version 25332.1201.4152.8203 or higher
- Horizon Client 2506 (includes plugin MsTeamsPluginOmnissa.dll)
- Endpoint must allow MSIX packages (no blocking via AppLocker, Windows Defender, or GPOs like BlockNonAdminUserInstall)
- Necessary networking configurations must be in place
What will happen:
- The new SlimCore-based VDI optimization will be enabled by default on the new Teams app for endpoints that meet these requirements.
- Users will automatically switch from the legacy WebRTC optimization to SlimCore-based optimization without user or admin action.
- Users can check optimization status via the VDI Status Indicator:
- “Teams is Omnissa Media Optimized” = legacy WebRTC solution
- “Teams is SlimCore Media Optimized” = new SlimCore-based optimization
What you can do to prepare
- Deploy Microsoft Teams client version 25332.1201.4152.8203 or higher.
- Install Horizon Client 2506 (includes plugin MsTeamsPluginOmnissa.dll).
- Ensure no configurations block MSIX packages (e.g., AppLocker, Windows Defender, or GPOs like BlockNonAdminUserInstall).
- Allow necessary networking configurations.
- If participating in Public Preview, configure Teams Admin Center policy
- Update internal/external documentation to reflect new features.
Learn more:
- New VDI solution for Teams (page will be updated once Public Preview starts).
- Microsoft Teams PowerShell policy for optimization
Compliance considerations
No compliance considerations identified; review as appropriate for your organization.