Microsoft Teams is introducing Efficiency Mode, a feature that will be activated by default starting May 2026 on hardware-limited Windows and Mac devices.
Microsoft has announced that Efficiency Mode will be available worldwide for Teams on desktop devices with limited processing power starting May 2026. The rollout specifically targets users working with devices that have less CPU power and memory. The new mode is intended to optimize the overall performance of Teams on these devices, ensuring that meetings and app functionality run more smoothly.
Efficiency Mode
When Efficiency Mode is activated, the video sent from the user’s camera is adjusted to the available hardware capacity. This means that resolution during meetings may decrease to ensure performance. Additionally, the Teams app will launch without immediately loading a chat window, which shortens loading times and limits the load on the device.
The feature is enabled by default. Users who prefer to maintain full functionality can disable Efficiency Mode. This can be done via Settings > General > Never use efficiency mode.
The rollout of Efficiency Mode begins in early May 2026 and will be completed by the middle of that month. With this feature, Microsoft Teams aims to provide a better user experience on resource-constrained devices, while organizations need to make minimal adjustments to their existing workflows.