Manchester University Drops Zoom for Microsoft Teams

The University of Manchester has announced that it will be standardizing its video conferencing services around Microsoft Teams, replacing Zoom as its primary platform for online collaboration. The move is part of a long-term plan to simplify the university's digital landscape and make better use of existing services within its Microsoft 365 licence.

Since the Covid pandemic, Microsoft Teams has become available to all colleagues and students as part of the university's Microsoft 365 environment, providing an integrated experience with other Microsoft tools. However, Zoom licences were provided temporarily during this time, but will be retired by the end of 2026.

The university is reminding everyone to use Microsoft Teams for online meetings, teaching support, collaboration, and events wherever possible, ahead of the planned retirement of University Zoom licenses at the end of the 2026 calendar year. Users with a University email address who currently have a Zoom account will revert to the free basic Zoom license, which has restrictions on meeting duration and participant numbers.

The university is providing guidance and support resources for colleagues and students to help ensure a smooth transition to Microsoft Teams. Those with specialist use cases that cannot be supported through Teams are encouraged to raise them with the project team.