Summary
- Microsoft Purview Information Protection is getting a new per-policy auto-labeling coverage report for policies that have been simulated and then turned on.
- The report gives admins a centralized view of successfully labeled files, items still processing, pending/unprocessed files, and files that are no longer eligible or failed to label.
- A new “View coverage” action will appear in the auto-labeling policy list for eligible policies after a simulation run completes.
- No admin action is required to receive the feature, but Microsoft recommends reviewing coverage reports and updating internal operational documentation.
- This is aimed at Purview administrators and organizations that manage auto-labeling policies, with reporting and compliance visibility improvements in the Purview portal.
Microsoft Purview Information Protection introduces a new auto-labeling per-policy coverage report to help administrators monitor enforcement progress, review labeled and pending files, and identify issues. Available after simulation runs, the report is accessible via a “View coverage” option and lasts 30 days. No action is required to enable it.
Microsoft 365 Message Center ID: MC1456609
Primary Service: Purview
Admin Impact: Medium
User Impact: Low
Release Start: 25 Sept 2026
Release End: 01 Oct 2026
Published: Aug 17, 2026
Last Modified: August 18, 2026
Category: Stay informed
Tags: New feature, User impact, Admin Action, User Adoption
Status: Launched
Products & Platforms: Microsoft 365 suite, Microsoft Purview
History
8/17/2026 Item Added to Message Center
Microsoft Message
We’re introducing a new coverage report for Microsoft Purview Information Protection auto-labeling policies. After you enable an auto-labeling policy, this report helps you understand how policy enforcement is progressing compared to the results of your most recent simulation.
The report provides a centralized view of files that were successfully labeled, files that are still being processed, and files that require attention. This helps administrators validate policy effectiveness, identify issues more quickly, and better understand auto-labeling outcomes.
This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 568935.
Rollout schedule
- Public Preview: Beginning in early September 2026 and expected to complete by mid-September 2026
- General Availability (Worldwide): Beginning in late September 2026 and expected to complete by early October 2026
Impact on your organization
Who is affected
- Microsoft Purview administrators who create and manage Information Protection auto-labeling policies.
- Organizations using auto-labeling policies in Microsoft Purview Information Protection.
Platforms and services
- Microsoft Purview Information Protection
- Microsoft Purview portal
What will happen
After an auto-labeling policy has been turned on following a simulation run, a new View coverage action will be available from the auto-labeling policy list.
Selecting View coverage opens a coverage report that helps administrators:
- Review how labeling activity is distributed after the latest simulation run.
- Review files that were successfully labeled during enforcement.
- Identify files that remain pending, have not yet been processed, or are no longer eligible for labeling because they were deleted or modified after the simulation run.
- Investigate files where label application was unsuccessful.
- Access file-level details, including file name, location, applied label, status, and available failure information.
The report includes observed files, which are files identified during simulation, enforcement, or both, providing a more complete view of policy coverage.
Coverage reports will be available for 30 days after the most recent simulation run completes. After 30 days, the report expires and a new simulation run is required before coverage data becomes available again.
Action required and recommendations
No action is required to receive this feature.
We recommend that administrators:
- Run a simulation before enabling auto-labeling policies if they have not already done so.
- Review coverage reports during the 30-day availability period following a simulation run.
- Familiarize themselves with the new View coverage option in the auto-labeling policy experience.
- Update internal operational documentation for administrators who monitor auto-labeling policy effectiveness.
Learn more
Automatically apply a sensitivity label to Microsoft 365 data | Microsoft Purview | Microsoft Learn
Compliance considerations
Question: Does this change alter how admins monitor, report on, or demonstrate compliance activities?
Answer: Yes. This feature introduces a new coverage report that enables administrators to monitor and assess auto-labeling policy enforcement outcomes, including labeled files, pending files, and labeling failures.
Question: Does this change modify Purview-related capabilities?
Answer: Yes. This update adds new reporting and visibility capabilities for Microsoft Purview Information Protection auto-labeling policies, helping administrators evaluate policy effectiveness and investigate enforcement results.
Question: Does this change include an admin control?
Answer: Yes. Administrators can access and use the new View coverage experience for eligible auto-labeling policies after a simulation run has been completed.