M365 Changelog: Microsoft Exchange Online – Change to soft-deleted period for inactive mailboxes

MC411428 – When all holds and retention policies are removed from an inactive mailbox, it becomes soft-deleted and remains in Exchange for a period of time to allow for recovery before permanent deletion. Based on customer feedback, and to maintain consistency with other solutions, Microsoft will be changing this period to 30 days (from current 183 days).

Following this change, after 30 days, any inactive mailboxes which are in a soft-deleted state are permanently deleted and are no longer recoverable.  

When this will happen:

Rollout will begin in late August and is expected to be complete by end of September 2022.

How this will affect your organization:

When this change takes place, inactive mailboxes in the soft-deleted state which have been in this state for more than 30 days will be permanently deleted and no longer recoverable.  

What you need to do to prepare:

No action is needed to enable this change.

Learn more: Delete an inactive mailbox

Additional information