Microsoft Axes Companion Taskbar Apps in December

Microsoft is phasing out its Companion taskbar mini-apps by December 16th, 2026. The People, Files, and Calendar apps will be removed from users' systems at that time, but existing data will not be lost during the transition.

The Companions were launched in August 2025 as a middle-ground solution between simple notifications and complex widgets. They allowed users to access certain Microsoft 365 features directly from the taskbar, such as searching contacts or previewing cloud files.

While Microsoft has not provided a reason for discontinuing the Companions, it suggests that users can switch to alternative tools like Outlook, Teams, or Copilot for similar functionality. Users who rely on these apps should take action to remove them before December 16th to avoid any issues.