We’ve talked about March 15th and custom scripts. Now we need to discuss April 2nd – and this one’s potentially bigger because it affects the actual tools and integrations many SMEs rely on daily.
SharePoint add-ins stop working completely on April 2nd, 2026. Not “might stop” or “will be phased out gradually” – they just stop. And if your business processes depend on them, you’ve got a problem coming.
What Actually Are Add-ins?
Add-ins are extra applications that bolt onto SharePoint to give you capabilities beyond the standard features. Think of them like apps on your phone – they’re not built into SharePoint itself, but they work within it.
Common examples I see in UK SMEs: document approval tools that route invoices to the right person, CRM integrations that sync customer data, project management dashboards, time-tracking systems, custom forms for client onboarding, and integration tools connecting SharePoint to your accounts software.
If you’ve ever clicked something in SharePoint that opened a tool with different branding or interface, there’s a good chance that’s an add-in.
Why Is Microsoft Doing This?
Microsoft’s retiring the old authentication system (Azure ACS) that add-ins use to connect securely. After April 2nd, add-ins simply can’t authenticate – they can’t prove they’re allowed to access your SharePoint data. So they stop working entirely.
This isn’t Microsoft being awkward – the old system genuinely has security vulnerabilities. But that doesn’t help you if your invoice approval process breaks on April 3rd.
What You Need to Do
First, identify what add-ins you’re using. In SharePoint, look for “Site Contents” or “Add an app” – anything listed there that isn’t standard Microsoft functionality is probably an add-in.
Second, contact the vendors who supplied these tools. Many have updated versions using modern authentication, but you need to arrange migration before April 2nd.
Third, if you’ve got custom-developed add-ins (built specifically for your business), they need rebuilding using SharePoint Framework. That’s not a quick job.
Time’s running short now. If you’re not sure what you’re using or how to check, contact be braver online for an assessment. We can scan your SharePoint environment and tell you exactly what’s at risk.
Don’t discover this on April 3rd when your workflows have stopped. Let’s talk about your risk exposure today.
Key Sources:
- SharePoint Add-In retirement in Microsoft 365
- Azure ACS retirement in Microsoft 365
- SharePoint Add-Ins and Azure ACS retirement FAQ
- SharePoint Add-In Retirement: What You Need to Know
