If you use Spindle Document Distribution to send emails through Microsoft 365 and haven’t yet upgraded or applied the relevant patch, there is a temporary option available to help you avoid disruption from 1 October 2026.

Microsoft is retiring Exchange Web Services (EWS) in Exchange Online. As part of this change, customers using affected versions of Spindle Document Distribution could find that emails stop sending on or shortly after 1 October 2026.

Not ready to upgrade or patch? You can temporarily re-enable EWS

Upgrading to Spindle Document Distribution v10.16 or later, or applying the Spindle Document Distribution patch, remains the recommended permanent solution.

However, if you’re unable to complete either of these before 1 October, your Microsoft 365 administrator can configure Exchange Online to allow Spindle to continue using EWS temporarily.

This option is designed to keep EWS working specifically for Spindle and help you avoid an interruption to email sending while you arrange your permanent upgrade or patch.

Who needs to take action?

You may be affected if you use Exchange Online (Microsoft 365 / Office 365) with:

• Spindle Document Distribution v8.15 to v10.15.1, or
• Spindle Document Management v8.15 to v10.14.1

and you have not already applied the Spindle Document Distribution patch.

If you’re already running v10.16 or later, have applied the relevant patch, or use Exchange on-premises, you are not affected by this change.

Don’t leave the EWS change until 1 October

The temporary EWS option needs to be configured by someone with the appropriate Exchange Administrator or Global Administrator permissions in Microsoft 365.

Importantly, changes to the application allow list can take up to 24 hours to take effect, so we strongly recommend completing the configuration several days before 1 October and testing that Spindle can successfully send a document afterwards.

If your Microsoft 365 environment is managed by an external IT provider or managed service provider, please pass the customer notice to them as soon as possible so they can make the necessary changes on your behalf.

This is a temporary measure

Re-enabling EWS for Spindle gives affected customers additional time, but it does not replace the need to upgrade or patch.

EWS will be permanently retired on 1 April 2027, after which no Microsoft 365 tenant setting will keep it working. Before then, affected customers will need to upgrade their Spindle software to the latest version or apply the Spindle Document Distribution patch.

Already experiencing problems sending email?

There is also an emergency recovery option if email has already stopped. This differs from the recommended pre-deadline configuration because it restores EWS for all applications in the tenant, rather than allowing it specifically for Spindle. It should therefore be treated as an emergency recovery measure rather than a precautionary step.

What should I do now?

If you haven’t yet upgraded or patched, don’t wait until 1 October. Ask your Microsoft 365 administrator or IT provider to review the EWS re-enablement instructions and complete the configuration in advance.

Not sure whether you’re affected? Your business partner or Draycir Support can help confirm which version of Spindle Document Distribution you’re running and whether you need to take action.

Please contact your business partner or email ews-support@draycir.com for assistance.