Microsoft is set to respond to concerns raised by the European Union (EU) by allowing users to completely remove the Microsoft Teams Chat feature. This move comes amidst the threat of potential antitrust investigations by EU regulators. Although the change has not been officially announced, it has been discovered in Windows 11 preview builds released in May and could soon be rolled out to production.

Currently, users can only unpin the Chat feature from the taskbar, but it remains present in the operating system. Unpinning the Chat feature simply hides it from view, but it still resides within the taskbar and settings. However, with the upcoming change, Microsoft will enable users to remove the feature entirely, including from the settings. Clues found in the preview builds also hint at a possible connection between the ability to remove Chat and a new geographical API. This raises the question of whether Microsoft may consider unbundling Teams in specific regions, although this remains uncertain for now.

Windows 11 introduced a new feature called Chat, which provides users with a convenient way to communicate with friends and family through the Microsoft Teams platform. The announcement of Chat garnered significant attention during the October 2021 event, as it integrates seamlessly into the Windows 11 Shell and taskbar, offering a user-friendly experience that enables users to connect with their loved ones outside of work at no cost.

However, in the consumer market, Microsoft Teams has not gained the same popularity as other platforms like WhatsApp and Facebook, which people prefer for personal communication. The inclusion of Chat as part of Windows 11 was Microsoft’s attempt to remain relevant and capture the interest of consumers. Instead of rebranding Teams, Microsoft opted to modify the Teams app and introduce additional features to cater to users seeking a chat-focused experience. Adding “Chat” to the Windows 11 taskbar was yet another effort to reposition the existing Teams app and attract individuals looking for novel ways to communicate.

The screenshot below demonstrates how the Chat app seamlessly integrates into the Windows 11 Shell and taskbar, requiring users to install Microsoft Teams from the Store. It facilitates the creation and scheduling of meetings, as well as group video and audio calls with friends and family.

Microsoft is currently testing a potential feature or option to remove Chat from the operating system, as evidenced by references to “RemoveChat” found in the Windows 11 preview builds released in May. Once activated, this feature completely eliminates the Chat app and any associated mentions from Windows 11.

While users can currently remove the Chat shortcut from the taskbar, the inclusion of “RemoveChat” indicates a more comprehensive removal of the feature from the entire operating system. This development raises the question of whether Microsoft intends to unbundle Chat from select regions. Although details remain unclear at this point, this move appears to be a proactive measure to evade potential antitrust scrutiny from EU regulators, and it may soon be implemented in the final version of Windows 11.

Interestingly, “RemoveChat” seems to be linked to a geographical API, further reinforcing the speculation that Microsoft may either unbundle the feature by default or allow users to do so in specific regions, potentially including Europe.

Our speculation gains support from a previous report by the Financial Times, which suggested that Microsoft might stop bundling Teams with Office software to mitigate the EU investigation.

It is worth noting that companies such as Slack, a direct competitor to Microsoft Teams, have raised concerns and protested against Microsoft’s alleged anti-competitive practices. Slack contends that bundling Teams with various Microsoft products provides Microsoft with a competitive advantage.

Previous reports have also indicated that Microsoft might consider unbundling Teams from Microsoft 365 or Office 365 for businesses. It now appears that Windows 11 is the next platform where this unbundling may take place, aligning with Microsoft’s efforts to address regulatory concerns and promote fair competition in the marketplace.