The Microsoft 365 Developer Program has always been a trusted hub for developers creating solutions on the Microsoft 365 platform. Today, we’re excited to announce updates that simplify onboarding, enhance environments for Copilot development, and accelerate your build process.
Smarter subscription and tenant management
- Faster, automated onboarding for eligible ISV & MAICPP partners. Eligible members can now request a developer sandbox directly from the Microsoft 365 Developer Program portal using your corporate email. Just look for Set up E5 subscription on your dashboard—no manual steps required. Getting started is quicker and simpler than ever.
- Copilot-ready environments with license flexibility. New Developer Program members will receive sandboxes that support add-on license purchases, including Microsoft 365 Copilot. This rollout begins at Microsoft Ignite 2025 (November 18–21). With these sandboxes, you can experiment, build, and test Copilot extensions in a production-like setup. Configure your tenant, connect data sources, and bring your Copilot scenarios to life—all within the Developer Program environment. After the initial rollout, existing members will also gain access to commercially enabled sandboxes.
Coming soon: even more enhancements!
- Link your Visual Studio subscription with ease: You asked, and we listened. Soon, you’ll be able to link a new Visual Studio subscription to your existing Developer Program tenant through a simple self-service experience. This is especially helpful if your previous subscription has expired—keeping your sandbox active and your environment uninterrupted.
- Microsoft 365 Copilot Starter Pack: We’re also excited to announce a new Starter Pack, designed to help you build your first Microsoft 365 Copilot extension, in matter of minutes. The starter pack automatically installs all the prerequisites needed for Microsoft 365 Copilot extensibility development, giving you a ready-to-use environment and saving valuable setup time.
What’s next?
Thank you for being part of our journey! Your feedback helps us make the Microsoft 365 Developer Program even better. We’re just getting started, and your insights ensure we invest where it matters most. Have ideas or questions? Share them in the comments below and we’re listening and ready to respond.
Could we please add this link to https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-copilot/extensibility/build-mcp-plugins. We had to ask copilot to figure out how to enable Public Preview to get the the published features in the build-mcp-plugins doc.
How do I release my cell phone number from my previous employer that’s linked to their tenant? I can’t create a new developer account since my personal cell number is tied to the account I setup at that company?
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This all sounds very interesting, but I still cannot find a way to renew or recreate my subscription after I let my previous one expire. I tried deleting my profile, then wait for 2 months and make a new profile, or delete my profile and create a new one and then wait for two months – the deleted subscription is still there and apparently prevents me getting a new one. Can this be fixed, Microsoft?
They got rid of the free sandbox tenants, and it doesn't look like they have any intention of bringing them back. You have to either be a Microsoft partner in one of their various partnership programs, or you can purchase a Visual Studio Pro subscription for $100/mo. When you compare the $100/mo to $1425/mo (25x E5 licenses) it makes it easier to justify. I just wish Microsoft would update all their documentation to reflect the fact that they killed off the free dev tenant. For Example, the Microsoft Identity Platform Doc still says you can get...
When there will be the way for the tenant owner (Microsoft personal account) in the Developer program to reset the account MFA when the global Admin account locked out? The Improved tenant ownership and management. https://devblogs.microsoft.com/microsoft365dev/exciting-updates-coming-to-the-microsoft-365-developer-program/
Right now there is no link from the Developer dashboard and the generated tenant from this Microsoft 365 Developer program. Supposed this feature would be released from September 2025 as the announcement from April 2025.
This is a great opportunity, and the ease of access is great.
Hi, I´m already a member of the Developer Program program. Will there be a way to have support add on license purchases including Microsoft 365 Copilot for my tenant, which is not new?
I got my developer tenant via my Visual Studio license. If not, is there a workaround in my case?
Thanks
Thank you for all the things you’ve done. One question: Will there be a tool to migrate existing MS365 developer program sandbox tenant to commercial enabled sandbox tenant?