Microsoft Teams to Add Efficiency Mode to Improve Performance on Low-End Devices

Microsoft has been pumping bunch of new features, like Video Recaps, to Teams lately, and has plans to add a few more down the line. Speaking of which, Teams will reportedly get a new Efficiency Mode that will help improve performance on devices with limited CPU and memory.

It should be noted that the new feature will focus on making the app more responsive while also adjusting how resources are used during meetings. The news comes via Bleeping Computer, which spotted a message center update (MC1287373) from yesterday where the company detailed how the feature will work across desktop devices.

When enabled, Teams will automatically adjust video quality during meetings based on device capabilities. It will also change how the app launches, removing the default chat selection and replacing it with a static image in the message pane to reduce system load. Here’s what Microsoft notes about Efficiency Mode in Teams:

“Microsoft Teams will roll out Efficiency Mode in May 2026 for hardware-constrained devices, improving responsiveness by adjusting video resolution and app behavior.”

It’s worth noting that Efficiency Mode in Teams will be enabled by default on eligible Windows and Mac devices. However, users will still have control over it and can disable it through Settings > General by selecting the “Never use efficiency mode” option. The rollout, as you read in the quoted text above, is expected to start in early May 2026 and finish by mid-May.

Speaking of Microsoft apps, let’s not forget that the company will also deprecate Clipchamp’s iOS app on June 9, 2026.