Microsoft has simplified how administrators designate SharePoint home sites, added two purpose-built web parts, and renamed the Viva Connections app in Microsoft Teams. Targeted Release tenants began receiving these changes from early May 2026; Standard Release rollout is expected to complete by late June 2026.
What Is a SharePoint Home Site?
A home site is a SharePoint communication site designated as the top-level intranet entry point for a Microsoft 365 organisation. It surfaces at the top of the SharePoint start page and integrates with the Teams app formerly branded as Viva Connections. Any administrator with SharePoint admin center access can configure it. A tenant can have one home site; not every organisation configures one, but those that do use it as the primary intranet front door.
What MC1304293 Changes
Three distinct changes are bundled in this update:
-
Simplified home site designation. Previously, setting a home site required PowerShell (
Set-SPOHomeSite) or a multi-step path through the SharePoint admin center. The update adds a direct "Set as home site" control in the admin center, reducing the steps and eliminating the PowerShell requirement for this task. - Resources web part. A new web part for surfacing curated links, tools, and documents directly on the home site page without custom development. Designed to replace ad hoc link lists built from the existing Text or Quick Links web parts.
- Announcements web part. A structured notice area separate from the existing News web part. Intended for time-bound, high-visibility communications that need to stay visually distinct from rolling news posts on the home page.
- Viva Connections renamed to SharePoint app in Teams. The Teams app previously labelled Viva Connections is being renamed. Functionality is unchanged; only the name and icon branding update. This aligns with broader Microsoft branding changes to the Viva product family.
Impact Assessment for Admins
This is a low-disruption update. Three actions are worth taking before the Standard Release wave arrives:
- Update internal documentation that describes home site configuration, since the admin center workflow is changing and older screenshots will no longer match the new interface.
- Communicate the Teams app rename to users who have been trained to find Viva Connections. A brief helpdesk advisory before the app label changes prevents unnecessary support tickets from users who cannot locate the app.
- Evaluate the new web parts if your home site currently uses custom solutions for resource links or announcements. Native alternatives may reduce ongoing maintenance overhead of custom-built solutions.
For a reference on which Microsoft 365 admin roles have permission to configure home sites in the SharePoint admin center, see the SharePoint admin roles reference. If you use ShareMaster's Explore Master, it can surface hidden site properties and configuration details on any SharePoint site without requiring admin center navigation.
Rollout Timeline
Targeted Release tenants began receiving the changes from early May 2026. Standard Release (General Availability) rollout is expected to complete across all commercial Microsoft 365 tenants by late June 2026. GCC, GCC High, and DoD timelines were not specified in the original Message Centre notice; check your tenant's Message Centre directly if you are in a government cloud environment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is changing with SharePoint home sites in MC1304293?
MC1304293 introduces simplified home site designation from the SharePoint admin center, two new web parts (Resources and Announcements), and renames the Viva Connections app in Teams to the SharePoint app in Teams. No admin action is required; existing configurations are unaffected.
Does this update require admin action?
No. The changes deploy automatically. Admins should update documentation and notify users about the Teams app rename, but no configuration changes or opt-in steps are required.
When will MC1304293 changes reach General Availability?
General Availability across commercial Microsoft 365 tenants is expected by late June 2026. Targeted Release tenants began receiving the update from early May 2026.