Microsoft begins phasing out Exchange Web Services protocol

Microsoft has begun the phased decommissioning of Exchange Web Services (EWS) within Exchange Online. This transition affects Mac users who rely on native Apple applications—including Mail, Calendar, Contacts, Notes, and Reminders—to synchronize work accounts via Microsoft 365.

While Microsoft stopped adding new features to EWS in 2018, the full shutdown is a multi-stage process. A gradual rollout began in October 2024, and the protocol is scheduled for permanent deactivation on April 1, 2027. IT administrators currently have the ability to temporarily restore access to affected accounts, but the long-term shift is mandatory for cloud-hosted Exchange services.

Apple is reportedly working with Microsoft to transition its native macOS applications to the newer Microsoft Graph API. However, a specific release date for the necessary software update has not been confirmed, and current beta versions of macOS have not yet implemented this support.

Users are not impacted if they use iPhone or iPad, as those mobile operating systems utilize the Exchange ActiveSync protocol. Additionally, organizations running on-premises Exchange servers will not be affected by this change, as the decommissioning applies exclusively to Microsoft’s cloud-based Exchange Online service.