Microsoft Teams is preparing to introduce new QR code protection controls designed to reduce phishing and fraud risks in chats involving external users.
The feature, currently listed as “In Development” on the Microsoft 365 roadmap, will automatically obscure images containing QR codes when they are sent in Teams messages by people outside an organization.
Microsoft Teams QR Code Protection
The upcoming Microsoft Teams QR code protection feature is scheduled to begin rolling out in October 2026. It will be available across Teams desktop, Mac, Android, and iOS clients, covering organizations in the Worldwide Standard Multi-Tenant cloud environment. Microsoft has classified the update for both Targeted Release and General Availability phases under Roadmap ID 570439.
QR codes have become a common way to share links quickly, but attackers can also use them to move victims away from monitored messaging environments and onto malicious websites. A QR code embedded in an image may appear harmless in a chat conversation, particularly when it is delivered by an external contact, compromised account, or unfamiliar sender.
By requiring users to take an additional action before viewing such content, Microsoft Teams aims to make people pause before scanning a potentially risky code.
Under the planned protection, QR code images shared by external senders will be obscured by default. A Teams user who receives one of these images will need to actively reveal it before they can view or scan the QR code.
The change is intended to encourage more deliberate interaction with QR code content rather than allowing a code to be scanned immediately from within a message thread.
The feature is particularly relevant for organizations that use Teams for collaboration with customers, suppliers, contractors, partners, and other external contacts.
External messaging can be essential for business operations, but it also creates an opportunity for social-engineering attempts that rely on trusted-looking conversations. A fraudster may attempt to imitate a vendor, project stakeholder, or support representative and send a QR code that directs recipients to a credential-harvesting page or other fraudulent destination.
Microsoft’s approach does not remove a user’s ability to access legitimate QR codes. Instead, it adds a visible friction point before an external QR code becomes available for viewing.
This allows recipients to consider the sender, the context of the conversation, and whether the request is expected before proceeding.
Security teams should review how external access and guest communications are used within their Teams environments ahead of the rollout.
Organizations may also want to remind employees that revealing a QR code is not the same as confirming that it is safe. Users should verify unexpected QR codes through a trusted communication channel, especially when the code is connected to login requests, document sharing, payment instructions, or urgent account-related messages.
The Microsoft Teams QR code protection update was added to the Microsoft 365 roadmap on September 3, 2026, and was last modified on the same date.
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