Inactive teams

Last updated Oct 17, 2026 Policies Sprawl & Lifecycle

AI summary

Identifies Microsoft Teams with no messages posted and no SharePoint content modified for six months, indicating they are no longer in use. These teams waste storage space and their outdated content can appear in search results and Copilot answers. You should work with team owners to archive or delete them.

Severity: Medium Sprawl Generally available

What it detects

Shows teams with no message posted in last 6 month and no SharePoint content modified in last 6 month.

Why it matters

A team with no messages and no file changes for six months is usually finished. Its members keep access to its files, it takes up storage, and its old content can still show up in search and Microsoft 365 Copilot answers. Ask the owners, then archive the team with the Archive Microsoft Team or Archive unused teams automation, or delete it.

The rule

Every Team where Last Message Posted is more than 6 months ago that has all Teams SharePoint Sites where Last Used is more than 6 months ago and no Teams Private Channel Site Collections where Last Used is less than 6 months ago and any Teams Private Channel Site Collections where Last Used is more than 6 months ago

In Rencore Governance

Details

Applies to	Team
Connector	Teams
Severity	Medium
Category	Sprawl
Recommended	No
Recommended automation	None
License type	Standard

Other policies that check Team objects:

Teams with a disabled owner account (Medium)
Teams with private channels (Information)
Teams with many channels (Information)
Teams that use forbidden/misleading words in display name (Low)
Teams with only disabled owner accounts (Medium)
Teams that reach the 200 channel limit (Medium)
Teams with very few owners (High)
Teams with very few users (Medium)
Teams with many users (High)
Teams that reach the 100 owner limit (Medium)
Teams with inactive external users (Information)
New Teams (Information)
Public Teams (Information)
Team contains Copilot agent and external members (High)
Teams with external users (Low)
Teams with less than 2 owners (Medium)
Teams with many owners (Low)
Teams without owners (Medium)
Teams that use prohibited words in the name or description (High)

Frequently asked questions

What does the inactive teams policy detect?

The Inactive teams policy shows teams with no message posted in the last 6 months and no SharePoint content modified in the last 6 months.

Which objects does the inactive teams policy check?

The Inactive teams policy checks Team objects from the Teams inventory and reports each one that matches its rule as a violation.

How severe is a violation of the inactive teams policy?

Violations of the Inactive teams policy have Medium severity. The policy is in the Sprawl category.

Which module includes the inactive teams policy?

The Inactive teams policy comes with the Teams connector in the Digital Workplace module of Rencore Governance, which every Plan includes.

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