Summary
- Microsoft Teams will detect malicious destinations embedded in QR codes shared in messages and display an additional safety warning when a malicious QR code is found.
- The protection applies to Teams chats, meeting chats, and channels, including 1:1, group, internal, and external communications.
- Malicious QR code detection is controlled by the existing Malicious URL protection setting in Teams admin center; there is no separate new configuration.
- Microsoft says no admin action is required, but admins should review messaging safety settings and brief users/help desk about the new warning and the difference between QR blurring and malicious detection.
Primary Service: Teams
Admin Impact: Low
User Impact: Medium
Release Start: 01 Nov 2026
Release End: 15 Nov 2026
Services: Teams
Category: Stay informed
Tags: Admin Action, New Feature, User Adoption
History
10/26/2026 Item Added to Message Center
Microsoft Message
Microsoft Teams is extending malicious URL protection to provide near-real-time detection of malicious destinations embedded in QR codes shared in messages. Teams will analyze QR code destinations to identify potential phishing and fraud threats and display an additional warning when malicious content is detected.
Rollout schedule
General Availability (Worldwide): Beginning in early November 2026 and expected to complete in mid-November 2026
Impact on your organization
Who is affected
Users who use Microsoft Teams messaging
Platforms and services
Microsoft Teams chats, meeting chats, and channels
What will happen
- Teams will decode and evaluate QR code destinations in inline images shared in 1:1 chats, group chats, meeting chats, and channels.
- Detection applies to internal and external communications.
- Images containing QR codes from external senders are already blurred by default. When Teams identifies a malicious QR code, users will also see the warning, “This message contains a link that might be harmful,” and a “Learn about file and link safety” link.
- QR code images from internal senders are not blurred by default. The same warning will appear when Teams detects a malicious QR code.
- For users on Teams mobile in China, QR code images are blurred by default regardless of whether the sender is internal or external, and any messages containing malicious QR code will be blocked.
- Malicious QR code detection is managed by the existing Malicious URL protection setting.
- The setting is enabled by default. Organizations with Malicious URL protection enabled will automatically receive malicious QR code detection as the feature rolls out.
- No separate configuration is available or required for malicious QR code detection.
Action required and recommendations
No admin action is required.
Admins can review or change the existing Malicious URL protection setting in Teams admin center > Settings and policies > Messaging Safety.
We recommend that you:
- Inform users and help desk staff about the additional warning for detected malicious QR codes.
- Clarify that QR code blurring is a separate precautionary experience and does not mean that Teams has identified a QR code as malicious.
- Review internal documentation about Teams messaging security and update it if necessary.
Learn more
- Make sure chats, links, and files are secure in Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Support
- Malicious URL protection in Microsoft Teams – Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Learn
(Both to be updated closer to rollout.)
Compliance considerations
No compliance considerations identified. Review as appropriate for your organization.