How to Disable Birthday Calendars for an Entire Microsoft 365 Organization
Question details
The user is looking for a way to turn off or disable birthday calendars globally across all users and shared mailboxes within a Microsoft 365 tenant.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- An IT administrator wants to centrally manage calendar views by removing the default birthday calendar feature for the entire organization.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft 365 currently does not provide a centralized, organization-wide switch or native PowerShell cmdlet to disable birthday calendars for everyone at once.
Verify that you have Exchange Administrator privileges in your Microsoft 365 tenant, and ensure you can run Exchange Online PowerShell scripts if you plan to attempt an automated workaround.
Instruct Users to Disable Birthday Calendars Individually
Since there is no global administrative toggle, the most direct and reliable method is to provide instructions for end-users to turn off the birthday calendar in their own settings.
Currently, Microsoft dictates that the birthday calendar is a user-level setting rather than an organization-level configuration. Administrators should distribute a quick guide to their staff on how to hide this calendar.
Have the user log in to their Microsoft 365 account and open Outlook on the web (Outlook Web App).
Click on the Settings (gear) icon located in the top right corner of the screen, and navigate to 'Calendar' then select 'View'.
Scroll down to find the 'Birthday calendar' section. Uncheck the box labeled 'Turn on the birthday calendar' and click 'Save' to apply the changes.
Use PowerShell Automation as a Workaround
Administrators can utilize custom PowerShell scripts to iterate through user mailboxes and systematically hide or remove the birthday calendar folder.
Submit a Feature Request to Microsoft
If you require native support for this feature, submitting feedback directly to Microsoft helps prioritize future updates.
Experience a Seamless and Lightweight Alternative to Microsoft Office
Tired of dealing with complex, hard-to-manage administrative settings in Microsoft 365? WPS Office offers a streamlined, standalone productivity suite that lets you focus entirely on your work. It provides powerful tools for your documents, spreadsheets, and presentations without the heavy management overhead.
- 1. Visit the Website: Go to the official WPS Office website.
- 2. Download the Installer: Click the 'Free Download' button to get the installation file for your operating system.
- 3. Install and Launch: Run the downloaded installer, follow the on-screen instructions, and launch WPS Office to start working immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the Exchange Admin Center to turn off birthday calendars for everyone?
No, the Exchange Admin Center does not currently feature a built-in toggle or policy setting to disable birthday calendars globally for all users in a tenant.
Do shared mailboxes automatically generate birthday calendars?
Yes, shared mailboxes in Microsoft 365 may sometimes generate default folders based on system behavior, which includes birthday calendars. These must also be managed individually or via custom PowerShell scripts.
Will disabling the birthday calendar delete my contact's actual birthday data?
No, turning off the birthday calendar only hides the aggregated calendar view. The actual birthday data saved within your individual contact cards remains intact and is not deleted.
How can I prevent users from seeing each other's birthdays?
Beyond turning off the birthday calendar, administrators should review Azure Active Directory user profile privacy settings to ensure sensitive personal information, such as birth dates, is not broadcasted globally across the organization's directory.
