- Microsoft to organize its web apps into the ‘cloud.microsoft’ domain.
- The news also means that the company is leaving the “.com” top-level domain for apps.
- The new change will affect apps like Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and others.
Microsoft has announced that it will move Microsoft 365 apps onto a single domain, “cloud.microsoft,” ditching the “.com” top-level domain. This change aims to make it easier for users to find the apps using URLs on the web browser, such as “outlook.cloud.microsoft,” “word.cloud.microsoft,” and “teams.cloud.microsoft.”
This is a much cleaner system. Currently, the company’s apps are scattered across various domains (such as “teams.microsoft.com,” “outlook.office.com,” “microsoft365.com,” etc.), which makes it confusing to know where to find a specific service if you don’t already have it saved in your bookmarks, in the browser history, or memorized.
This new domain scheme will only initially deploy “net-new services,” while “existing workloads” will transition slower. Microsoft did not specify how long that transition might take. However, in most cases, users won’t need to do anything to keep using Microsoft 365 apps.
It’s also interesting that this consolidation of services into a single domain moves away from the traditional “.com” top-level domain into the “.microsoft” top-level domain. In addition, according to the company, this is a small change that will bring many benefits. For example, for users, “it will streamline the overall experience by reducing sign-in prompts, redirects, and delays when navigating across apps.” Also, for admins, “it will drastically reduce the complexity of the allow-lists required to help your tenant stay secure while enabling users to access the apps and services they need to do their work.”
In summary, Microsoft’s move to a single domain for its Microsoft 365 apps is a welcome change that will make it easier for users to find the app they’re looking for by using more friendly URLs. The transition will happen gradually, and in most cases, users won’t need to do anything to keep using Microsoft 365 apps.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].