InfoPath Retirement: What IT Professionals Need to Know

Microsoft InfoPath, a forms tool that has been in use for over two decades, is officially retiring. With InfoPath Forms Services scheduled to be removed from Microsoft 365 in July 2026, organizations still relying on InfoPath forms need to understand the timeline and prepare for transition.

The Retirement Timeline

Here are the critical dates for InfoPath retirement:

Microsoft 365 (Cloud) Environments

• July 14, 2026: InfoPath Forms Services completely removed from SharePoint Online
• Applies to all Microsoft 365 tenants (Commercial, GCC, GCC High, DoD)
• No extensions or exceptions will be granted by Microsoft
• InfoPath Client 2013 reaches end of extended support on the same date

On-Premises Environments

InfoPath support varies by SharePoint Server version:

• SharePoint Server 2016: InfoPath Forms Services support ends July 14, 2026
• SharePoint Server 2019: InfoPath Forms Services support ends July 14, 2026
• SharePoint Server Subscription Edition: InfoPath Forms Services support ends July 14, 2026

Important note: Unlike some other Microsoft products, on-premises environments receive no extended support beyond this date for InfoPath.

Configuration Changes Already in Effect

Microsoft has already begun restricting InfoPath capabilities:

• Creating new custom InfoPath forms in SharePoint Online is being phased out
• Configuration options are being removed from the SharePoint Admin Center
• New tenants created after the retirement announcement have limited InfoPath functionality

What Happens on July 15, 2026?

Understanding the immediate impact is critical for planning:

For End Users:

• Will be completely unable to submit new form responses using InfoPath service
• Cannot fill out InfoPath forms through web browsers
• Existing form data remains in SharePoint lists but forms become non-functional
• Can download InfoPath templates (.xsn) or form data (.xml) to view with InfoPath Client 2013 (if they have file permissions)

For Designers/Publishers:

• Completely disallowed from creating, modifying, or publishing InfoPath templates
• Cannot make any changes to existing InfoPath forms
• All form design capabilities removed from SharePoint Online

For Business Processes:

• Critical workflows dependent on InfoPath forms will immediately break
• Data collection processes (surveys, requests, intake forms) will halt
• Approval processes using InfoPath will stop functioning
• Integration with other systems relying on InfoPath data will fail

What Remains:

• Historical form data stored in SharePoint lists persists
• Form templates (.xsn files) can be downloaded for archival purposes
• Raw XML data from submitted forms remains accessible

Why There's No Extension Coming

Microsoft has explicitly stated there will not be an option to extend InfoPath Forms Services in SharePoint Online beyond July 14, 2026. The reasons are clear:

• InfoPath was last updated in 2013—over a decade ago with no new features
• The technology doesn't support modern requirements for mobile, cross-platform, or cloud-native experiences
• Microsoft has invested heavily in Power Apps as the official successor
• Maintaining legacy infrastructure creates security and compliance risks
• Industry feedback indicates businesses need integrated forms experiences that InfoPath cannot provide

The Migration Challenge

Unlike some Microsoft migrations, there is no automated migration tool for InfoPath to Power Apps. Every InfoPath form must be:

1. Analyzed for functionality, data connections, and business logic
2. Manually rebuilt in the new platform (typically Power Apps)
3. Tested thoroughly before deployment
4. Validated with end users and business owners

This reality makes early planning essential. Organizations with dozens or hundreds of InfoPath forms face months of migration work.

Immediate Actions for IT Teams

If your organization still uses InfoPath forms, take these steps immediately:

This week:

1. Run the Microsoft 365 Assessment Tool to scan your tenant for all InfoPath usage
2. Generate the Power BI InfoPath Report to identify:
• All InfoPath forms across site collections and sites
• Recency and volume of form usage
• Lists, libraries, and content types using InfoPath
3. Identify business owners for each form
4. Categorize forms by business criticality

This month:

1. Prioritize forms for migration based on business impact
2. Assess which forms can be retired instead of migrated
3. Evaluate Power Apps licensing requirements for your organization
4. Determine if you need external consulting assistance
5. Create a detailed migration timeline working backward from July 2026

Within 90 days:

1. Begin rebuilding your highest-priority forms in Power Apps
2. Establish design patterns and governance for new Power Apps forms
3. Pilot migrated forms with small user groups
4. Document standard approaches for common form patterns
5. Train power users and form designers on Power Apps

Microsoft's Recommended Alternatives

Microsoft suggests migrating to their modern Power Platform tools based on your specific scenarios:

Microsoft Forms:

• Best for: Simple surveys, polls, quizzes, and basic data collection
• Key capabilities: Quick deployment, built-in analytics, automatic Excel integration
• Limitations: Limited customization, basic data connections, no complex business logic

Power Apps:

• Best for: Complex forms with business logic, data connections, and integration requirements
• Key capabilities: Full customization, connects to 1,000+ data sources, advanced validation, offline capability
• Microsoft's official recommendation: Primary successor to InfoPath
• Consideration: Requires learning curve and potentially Premium licensing for advanced features

Power Automate (complementary):

• Use case: Automate workflows triggered by form submissions
• Integration: Works seamlessly with both Forms and Power Apps
• Replaces: SharePoint Designer workflows often paired with InfoPath

Common migration patterns:

• Simple data collection: InfoPath → Microsoft Forms
• Complex business forms: InfoPath → Power Apps
• Forms + workflows: InfoPath + SharePoint Designer → Power Apps + Power Automate
• Multi-source data: InfoPath with data connections → Power Apps with connectors

Common InfoPath Form Scenarios and Solutions

To help plan your migration, here are typical InfoPath use cases and their modern equivalents:

Scenario 1: Employee Onboarding Forms

• Legacy: InfoPath form collecting employee information
• Modern: Power Apps form with data connections to HR systems, automated workflows via Power Automate

Scenario 2: IT Service Request Forms

• Legacy: InfoPath form for help desk requests
• Modern: Power Apps integrated with Microsoft Teams, automated ticket creation in service management system

Scenario 3: Approval Workflows (PO approvals, time-off requests)

• Legacy: InfoPath form + SharePoint Designer workflow
• Modern: Power Apps form + Power Automate approval flows with email/Teams notifications

Scenario 4: Survey or Feedback Collection

• Legacy: InfoPath form for simple surveys
• Modern: Microsoft Forms (for basic needs) or Power Apps (for complex scenarios)

Scenario 5: Multi-Source Data Integration

• Legacy: InfoPath with data connections to SQL, SharePoint lists, web services
• Modern: Power Apps with connectors to databases, SharePoint, APIs, and 1,000+ other sources

The Reality of InfoPath Migration

Based on lessons learned from other Microsoft retirements, organizations should expect:

Timeline considerations:

• Discovery phase often reveals more forms than initially known
• Each complex form can take days or weeks to rebuild and test
• User acceptance testing and training add significant time
• Organizations with 50+ forms should plan 6-12 months for complete migration

Resource requirements:

• Internal IT staff need training on Power Apps development
• Business users need training on using and managing new forms
• Consider Microsoft partners for large-scale migrations
• Budget for Power Apps Premium licensing if advanced features are needed

Common pitfalls:

• Underestimating the number of forms in use
• Attempting last-minute migrations in late 2025/early 2026
• Not involving business owners early in the process
• Treating migration as purely technical rather than business transformation
• Ignoring the opportunity to modernize and improve forms during migration

Why You Can't Wait

The July 2026 deadline may seem distant, but successful InfoPath migrations are complex and time-intensive:

Risk of delay:

• High demand for migration resources as deadline approaches (expect consultant scarcity in 2025-2026)
• Rushed migrations lead to errors and business disruptions
• Missing the deadline means immediate business process failures
• Forms stop working mid-process with no warning or grace period

Opportunity of early action:

• Time to modernize processes, not just replicate old forms
• Ability to consolidate redundant forms
• Properly train users on new tools
• Avoid emergency mode and last-minute workarounds
• Negotiate better rates with consultants before market demand peaks

The Bottom Line

July 14, 2026 is a firm deadline with no extensions. InfoPath forms will completely stop functioning in Microsoft 365 on July 15, 2026. Organizations waiting until 2025 to begin planning face serious risks of business disruption.

The transition from InfoPath to Power Apps isn't just about maintaining existing functionality—it's an opportunity to modernize your forms, improve user experience, and build on a platform that Microsoft is actively developing and supporting.

Start your InfoPath assessment and migration planning now. The organizations that begin early will have time to do it right, while those who wait will face costly emergency migrations.

Resources:

• InfoPath Forms Services Retirement Announcement