Microsoft Kills Redundant Companion Apps for Windows 11

Microsoft has announced that it will be retiring its Microsoft 365 companion apps for Windows 11. The apps, which were introduced last year, will cease to function by December 16, 2026.

The companion apps, including Calendar Companion, People Companion, and Files Companion, were initially released in March 2025. They were designed to provide users with easy access to calendar information, people, and files, but have been criticized for being redundant and unnecessary.

According to Microsoft's Learn site, the company will be fully retiring the apps before December 16, allowing administrators to remove them from managed organizations at any time. Users are advised to switch to other Microsoft 365 apps, such as Outlook, Teams, or Copilot, for these functions.