What’s new in Microsoft Planner – July 2025
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Authentication is often the first touchpoint users have with their organization, and it sets the tone for everything that follows. To align with modern design principles and meet evolving user expectations, we’re reimagining the Microsoft Entra sign-in experience with a user- and customer-driven lens, starting with a refreshed default background for all Microsoft authentication screens. This change is a visible result of our modernization journey for Microsoft Entra and a steppingstone to broader consistency across the personal and Microsoft Entra authentication experiences.
Megna Kokkalera, Product Manager leading the Microsoft Entra authentication UX modernization effort, will highlight the change for Microsoft Entra customers and talk about what’s next. Mike Scari, Principal Product Manager overseeing the authentication experiences platform, will outline the changes on the consumer side.
A new default sign-in background for Microsoft authentication
A new background image for sign-in screens will appear starting August 2025 for Microsoft personal accounts, and September 29, 2025, for Microsoft Entra work or school accounts. Aligning with broader efforts to modernize our end-user UX via Microsoft’s Fluent design language, this update aims to provide a cleaner, distraction-free experience and ensure consistent visuals across all authentication flows. When our experiences look and feel consistent, it gives all users a familiar experience that they know and trust.
The new background for the Microsoft Entra authentication flows.
No action required: Visual update only
This update is visual-only and does not affect sign-in functionality or require any action from users or administrators. It will be applied automatically across Microsoft Entra tenants and Microsoft Account (aka. Personal) sign-in pages. Company branding will still override the default background for Microsoft Entra work or school tenants. Microsoft Entra External ID tenants are not affected by this change.
For more information, see General Availability – Update to Microsoft Entra Work or School Default Background Image in the June 2025 Microsoft Entra releases and announcements article on Microsoft Learn.
Dark Mode support for personal Microsoft account UX
Personal Microsoft account users will see the new background beginning in August 2025. A full dark mode sign-in experience will be available soon after, depending on device and browser settings.
The new background in Fluent Dark Mode for personal Microsoft accounts.
What’s next in Microsoft Entra authentication
This effort is part of an amazing customer-driven journey to improve our authentication experience for all users. We’ve already engaged with over 300 customers, using their targeted feedback to actively shape the future of Microsoft Entra’s authentication UX. We’re excited to take you on the journey with us!
Please let us know if you have any feedback – and stay tuned for what’s to come!
–Megna Kokkalera
Product Manager
Microsoft Identity, Authentication Experiences
LinkedIn: Megna Kokkalera | LinkedIn
–Mike Scari
Principal Product Manager
Microsoft Identity, Authentication Experiences
Additional resources
- Learn more about Microsoft’s Fluent 2 design language.
- Read the latest article on the new authentication UX for consumers.
- Configure Company Branding to change the Microsoft Entra default background.
Learn more about Microsoft Entra
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