Microsoft Teams is moving ahead with the rollout of a controversial feature that lets organizations track when you’re at the office via Wi-Fi. Teams’ location-tracking feature is officially called “Workplace check-in,” and it first appeared on the company’s roadmap in September 2025. Microsoft says you will be able to connect to your company’s Wi-Fi, and Teams will automatically flag the location.
Teams’ Workplace check-in tracking is strictly an in-the-moment signal when users connect to Wi-Fi at their office. It’s not real-time location tracking like Google or Apple Maps. Instead, it detects if you were present at the office and what floor or building you were in based on the connected Wi-Fi network. When your device connects to an approved office Wi-Fi network, Teams will automatically alter your status, indicating to colleagues and supervisors that you are physically at the office.
Microsoft’s documentation clearly states that this feature is disabled by default. Users’ locations will not be monitored without both administrator setup and the individual’s permission. For the system to work, IT administrators must first enable it at the tenant level, and then individual users must explicitly consent to location autodetection within the Teams desktop client. Additionally, location updates are currently designed to only occur during a user’s pre-set working hours as defined in Outlook, theoretically preventing tracking outside of business hours.
The feature is slated for a global rollout starting in early June 2026 and is expected to complete by late June 2026. This applies to both Windows and macOS devices. The initial implementation of Teams workplace check-in is tied to organizations that also use the Microsoft Places directoryso it won’t immediately affect everyone.
Administrators can configure automatic detection via Wi-Fi network by associating SSIDs and BSSIDs with buildings in Microsoft Places, or via desktop peripherals by mapping monitors or other equipment to specific desks. The feature allows organizations to map Wi-Fi access points (BSSIDs) networks and devices to buildings, which allows users to have their work location automatically updated when they connect.
The feature has sparked privacy debate, with reports suggesting it could theoretically still be used to penalize employees who are on a VPN rather than physically in the office. However, the automatic check-in eliminates the need for manual check-ins and check-outs to indicate presence, making it easier for users to coordinate work with coworkers and connect in person.
