Microsoft has announced the discontinuation of its cross-platform Exchange Web Services (EWS) API, effective from October 1, 2026. This decision will impact users who rely on EWS to access their emails, contacts, and other data from Exchange Online. While Microsoft’s key products like Outlook and Teams will remain unaffected, non-Microsoft apps using EWS to interact with Exchange Online will no longer function.
A Transition to Microsoft Graph: To ensure a seamless transition, Microsoft advises all users to migrate to Microsoft Graph. Despite some differences, Microsoft Graph, introduced in 2015, connects various services and devices similarly to EWS. One notable distinction is that Microsoft Graph APIs are REST-based, offering advantages such as faster JSON serialization and reduced network usage. Microsoft encourages users to make the shift to Microsoft Graph to access Exchange Online data, despite acknowledging certain feature gaps between the two.
Feature Gaps and Future Improvements: Microsoft acknowledges that there are feature gaps between EWS and Microsoft Graph. While the company plans to expand the list of features available in Graph in the coming years, it may not be feasible to migrate all functionalities. Some features currently available through EWS, such as access to archive mailboxes, folder association information, user configuration, exchange online management, and public folders, are among those to be considered for inclusion in Microsoft Graph.
Continued Support and Updates: Until the cutoff date in 2026, Microsoft will provide security updates and certain non-security-related features for select EWS components. However, major changes and enhancements will not be part of EWS’s future development. Despite this, EWS will remain available and supported for use in production environments until its retirement.
