On 2nd April 2026, Microsoft SharePoint Online workflows will be retired. That sounds a little way off. But if you use this handy automation tool in your business, figuring out what to do about SharePoint workflow end-of-life is something you need to do sooner rather than later.
Here is everything you need to know about what is happening to native SharePoint workflows and what you need to do about it:
What is SharePoint workflows?
SharePoint workflows is a highly useful and powerful tool that enables businesses to set up all kinds of automations for their information-related processes.
SharePoint Online sort of inherited two workflow development models from older versions of SharePoint Server. These were SharePoint 2010 workflows and SharePoint 2013 workflows, a.k.a. “classic workflows” or “SharePoint native workflows”.
Although tried and tested, these have been treated as an old-school or “legacy” approach to using automation within SharePoint for some time. These days, newer platforms like Power Automate are the go-to choice.
What is happening with SharePoint workflow?
Microsoft SharePoint 2010 workflows has already been retired on SharePoint online. SharePoint 2013 workflows are already disabled in new tenants as a matter of course.
However, Microsoft has finally decided that the time has come for SharePoint 2013 workflows to follow in its elder brother’s footsteps. SharePoint workflows will be fully retired and removed in April 2026.
For businesses that have relied on this tool for many years, this could be a serious issue. Their dependency on native workflows can be deep, unique, and complex to replace.
This means that despite the end-of-life being scheduled for well over a year in advance at this point, now is the time to start considering how you will put an alternative in place.
What should I do about SharePoint workflow end-of-life?
- Find out where you’re using native workflows – you can do this manually, but it’s much (much) easier to use Microsoft’s specific tool, the Microsoft 365 Assessment tool, to automatically see where you’re using SharePoint 2013 workflows.
- Get a report from the Assessment tool – the Assessment tool can actually report on any of your workflows that can be automatically upgraded to Power Automate (one of the most highly recommended replacements).
- Choose your desired replacement – however, you may not want to go with Power Automate. You actually have a few different options.
What are my options for SharePoint workflow replacements?
There are a number of different options to replace SharePoint native workflows:
- Microsoft Power Automate – is perhaps the best known. It’s very easy to use and integrates well with a broad variety of other platforms and services, including – of course – SharePoint online. Automate’s basic functionality is included in all Microsoft 365 licences.
- Azure Logic Apps – is sometimes regarded as an enterprise-level version of Power Automate. It comes in a range of price points that vary depending on your volume of use.
You also have an array of third-party options with an array of capabilities and qualities.
Whichever you choose though, it is worth starting your workflow migration journey now. Microsoft has provided quite a lot of guidance if you want to migrate to Power Automate, but handling SharePoint workflow end-of-life is not something you want to leave to the last minute.
Not sure how you want to go about replacing these vital workflows?
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