In early 2025, Microsoft introduced three applications—“People,” “Files,” and “Calendar”—as part of its initiative to enhance productivity through the “Microsoft 365 companions.” These apps were designed to integrate seamlessly into the Windows 11 taskbar, allowing users to manage Microsoft 365 and Copilot-related features more efficiently. However, despite the initial enthusiasm and a push for automatic installation on eligible PCs, Microsoft has decided to discontinue these applications.
Microsoft’s vision was clear: the taskbar should serve as the central hub for managing Microsoft 365 functionalities. This led to various modifications in the taskbar, including the introduction of “Ask Copilot,” which was later retracted. The company believed that these mini applications would save users time and enhance productivity, even going so far as to force-install them on devices with a Microsoft 365 subscription.
As part of its rollout strategy, Microsoft confirmed that starting in late October 2025, the Microsoft 365 companion apps would be automatically installed on Windows 11 devices already equipped with Microsoft 365 desktop client applications. While administrators had the option to opt out, the plan was to facilitate widespread adoption of these apps through Microsoft 365 updates. However, the company has since reversed its stance on these applications, which many users found unnecessary.
How People, Files, and Calendar mini apps worked
Initially, access to these apps was limited to users with a Microsoft 365 business license, although there were expectations for broader availability in the future. For those unfamiliar with their functionality, the apps essentially served as WebView2 wrappers, aggregating information from various Microsoft 365 services.
- People: This app provided insights about colleagues within an organization, akin to the contact card feature in Outlook. Users could quickly access contact details and even initiate a Teams chat directly from the app.
- Files: Designed to facilitate file searches in OneDrive or SharePoint, this app included a Copilot button for document analysis, although its effectiveness was variable.
- Calendar: This app primarily functioned as a calendar viewer, focusing on joining Teams meetings and managing schedules.
Microsoft envisioned a scenario where users could effortlessly access contact information, locate files, or check their calendars without the need to switch between applications during meetings. However, the forced installation of these apps sparked discontent among users, many of whom felt they were being burdened with unnecessary software.
Microsoft says it’s killing companion apps it once forced, and you’ll need to remove them yourself
In a recent update, Microsoft announced that the MS 365 companion apps will be retired by December 16, 2026. The company has not provided a clear rationale for this decision, leaving many to speculate about the effectiveness of the apps that were once touted as productivity enhancers. Microsoft stated, “The companion apps were an additional way to find calendar information, people, and files,” assuring users that their existing Microsoft 365 capabilities would remain unaffected.
Despite the impending retirement, users will need to manually uninstall these applications, as they will not automatically remove themselves. Microsoft has ceased automatic installations through Microsoft 365 updates, but organizations must also ensure that they do not redeploy the apps. For those unaware of the apps’ presence on their systems, it may be worth checking for their installation status.
How to remove Microsoft 365 companion apps from Windows 11
To uninstall the Microsoft 365 companion apps, users can navigate to Windows Settings > Apps > Installed apps, search for “Microsoft 365 companions,” and select the option to uninstall. Alternatively, users can search for each app individually—People, Files, or Calendar—right-click, and choose to uninstall. Removing any one of these apps will eliminate the others as well.
For those who prefer command-line methods, PowerShell can be utilized to remove the applications. For a single user account, the command is:
powershell -NoProfile -Command "Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.M365Companions | Remove-AppxPackage"
To remove the apps for all users, run the following command as an administrator:
powershell -NoProfile -Command "Get-AppxPackage -AllUsers Microsoft.M365Companions | Remove-AppxPackage -AllUsers"
To ensure all local app data is cleared, users can close the apps and execute the following optional command in Command Prompt:
rmdir /s /q "%LOCALAPPDATA%PackagesMicrosoft.M365Companions_8wekyb3d8bbweLocalState"
As Microsoft retracts its push for these mini apps, users are left to navigate the cleanup process, reflecting a shift in the company’s approach to software integration and user autonomy.
