Microsoft Teams administrators finally get the option to block external bots from meetings

How the External Bot Block Works in Practice

Microsoft Teams administrators can now block external bots from joining meetings automatically, a feature rolling out in late August 2026. The update gives IT teams control over unauthorized access during video calls, addressing growing concerns about disruptive or malicious automated participants. Microsoft announced the change as part of its ongoing effort to improve meeting security and user experience within the Teams platform.

The new setting allows administrators to prevent any bot not hosted within their organization’s tenant from entering meetings, effectively stopping external bots from lurking in lobbies or joining calls uninvited. Previously, Teams only notified users when a bot waited in the lobby, requiring manual intervention to admit or deny access. Now, with this proactive block, unwanted bots are stopped before they can disrupt proceedings, reducing distractions and potential security risks during sensitive discussions.

What This Means for Meeting Security and User Experience

When enabled, the setting applies organization-wide and affects all scheduled and ad-hoc meetings hosted through Teams. Administrators can toggle the feature via the Teams admin center under Meeting policies, where it joins existing controls for guest access and lobby bypass. Microsoft notes that internal bots—those developed and deployed within the same tenant—remain unaffected and can continue to assist with tasks like note-taking or agenda management. The change reflects feedback from enterprise customers who reported repeated interruptions from third-party bots during large town halls and client-facing sessions.

By blocking external bots at the door, Teams reduces the chance of automated spam, data scraping, or social engineering attempts disguised as helpful add-ins. Early adopters in finance and healthcare sectors have praised the move, citing fewer disruptions during compliance-heavy meetings where verbal participation is tightly managed. Microsoft emphasizes that the feature does not interfere with legitimate integrations like Microsoft Power Bots or certified partner apps, which operate under strict internal governance. The update aligns with broader Microsoft 365 security initiatives aimed at giving administrators granular control over collaboration environments.

Will blocking external bots affect approved third-party apps integrated with Teams? No, the block only applies to bots not hosted within the organization’s own tenant. Approved internal bots and certified partner integrations continue to function normally.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can administrators allow specific external bots while blocking others? Not with this initial release—the setting is an all-or-nothing block for all external bots. Microsoft may consider granular allowlists in future updates based on user feedback.

Is this feature available for all Microsoft Teams licenses? The external bot blocking option is available to all Teams users with administrative access, regardless of license tier, as part of the standard Teams admin center update released in August 2026.