Last updated: June 5, 2026
Microsoft 365 updates arrive through three release channels that control how often your apps change. Current Channel updates roughly monthly, Monthly Enterprise Channel updates on Patch Tuesday, and Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel updates twice a year. Your channel decides when new features, security patches, and bug fixes reach your team.
TL;DR. Microsoft 365 and Office 365 update through the same three channels. Current Channel ships new features fastest, Monthly Enterprise Channel bundles one update on Patch Tuesday, and Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel changes features only twice a year. Security patches still arrive every month on all channels. Pick a channel that matches your risk level, apply security updates quickly, and test big feature updates before a full rollout.
If you run Microsoft 365 or Office 365, your apps update automatically in the background, and keeping those updates stable is part of what good managed IT services handle every day. The convenience hides a real question for businesses, which is knowing what changed, when it changed, and whether an update needs testing before it reaches every desk. This guide explains how Microsoft 365 updates work so your team can stay current without surprises.
How Microsoft 365 Updates Work
Microsoft delivers updates to Microsoft 365 Apps through update channels. A channel is the release schedule and risk profile your apps follow, and the channel you assign decides how often features change and how soon security patches arrive. Microsoft offers three main channels for business customers, summarized below.
| Update channel | Feature updates | Security updates | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current Channel | Several times a month | As needed, at least monthly | Teams that want the newest features first |
| Monthly Enterprise Channel | Once a month on Patch Tuesday | Monthly on Patch Tuesday | Most businesses that want predictable updates |
| Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel | Twice a year, in January and July | Every month | Regulated teams that need long testing windows |
In our experience supporting small and midsize businesses across Texas, Monthly Enterprise Channel is the right default for most teams, because it pairs new features with a single, predictable update that IT can test before Patch Tuesday rolls it out.
How Often Microsoft 365 Updates Are Released
Security updates ship every month across all channels, almost always on Patch Tuesday. Feature updates depend on the channel you choose, from several times a month on Current Channel down to twice a year on Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel. Office 365 and Microsoft 365 follow the same update model, since Microsoft 365 is the current name for the same subscription product.
What a Microsoft 365 Update Usually Includes
A typical update bundles three kinds of changes. Security updates close vulnerabilities that attackers could use, and these are the ones you never want to skip. Quality updates fix bugs and stability problems in apps such as Outlook, Excel, Word, and Teams. Feature updates add new capabilities, refresh the interface, or improve how existing tools behave.
How to Track the Latest Microsoft 365 Updates
Because Microsoft publishes new builds constantly, the only reliable source for the current list is Microsoft itself. Microsoft maintains an official, dated release history for every channel that is updated as each build ships. You can review the live list in the Microsoft 365 Apps update history, and you can compare channel schedules in Microsoft’s overview of update channels. Bookmarking those pages beats relying on any third party changelog that can fall out of date.
How Your IT Team Should Manage Microsoft 365 Updates
Updates that install themselves are convenient until one breaks a critical workflow. A few practices keep your business current and safe at the same time.
- Choose the update channel that matches your risk level, so fast moving teams use Current Channel and regulated teams use Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel.
- Apply security updates promptly, since prompt patching is one of the most effective defenses against active threats, as CISA guidance on patches and updates makes clear.
- Test major feature updates on a small group of devices before rolling them out company wide.
- Watch Microsoft’s known issues list so you can pause a problematic build before it spreads.
- Hand the process to a managed IT partner if you would rather not track builds in house.
That is where the right support makes a difference. Our managed IT services team handles update testing, deployment, and monitoring across your Microsoft 365 environment, while our cloud services group keeps your subscription, licensing, and security settings aligned. When an update does cause trouble, our client help desk resolves it fast, and our cybersecurity solutions ensure every security patch is applied before it becomes a risk.
Let Uprite Manage Your Microsoft 365 Updates
You should not have to track build numbers to keep your business secure and productive. Uprite monitors Microsoft 365 updates, tests them, and deploys them on a schedule that fits your operations, so your team always runs the latest stable version. Talk to an Uprite IT expert and let us take Microsoft 365 update management off your plate.
Microsoft 365 Updates, Answered
How often does Microsoft 365 update?
It depends on your update channel. Security updates ship every month on Patch Tuesday across all channels. Feature updates range from several times a month on Current Channel to twice a year on Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel.
What is the difference between Microsoft 365 and Office 365 updates?
There is no real difference in how they update. Microsoft 365 is the current name for the subscription that used to be called Office 365, and both follow the same channels, cadence, and release history.
Can I control when Microsoft 365 updates install?
Yes. Administrators control update timing by choosing an update channel and by using deployment tools such as the Office Deployment Tool, Microsoft Intune, or group policy. This lets your IT team test updates before they reach everyone.
Where can I see the full list of Microsoft 365 updates?
Microsoft publishes the authoritative, dated list in its official Microsoft 365 Apps update history. That page is updated as each build releases, which makes it more reliable than any third party changelog.
Do Microsoft 365 updates include security patches?
Almost always. Microsoft releases security updates every month across every channel, usually on Patch Tuesday. Skipping them leaves known vulnerabilities open, so security updates should be applied promptly even when you delay feature changes.
Should businesses install Microsoft 365 updates right away?
Security updates, yes. Large feature updates are safer to test on a few devices first, since a new build can occasionally disrupt a critical workflow. A managed IT partner can stage updates so you get protection quickly without unexpected breakage.
