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Microsoft to retire Microsoft 365 Companion apps on December 16, 2026
Key points
- Microsoft 365 companion apps will be retired December 16, 2026.
- Apps include Calendar, People, and Files.
- Admins are advised to remove apps from managed devices.
- Automatic installation of these apps has stopped.
Retirement of Companion Apps Announced
Microsoft announced the retirement of its Microsoft 365 companion apps: Calendar, People, and Files. These applications will reach their end-of-life on December 16, 2026, after which they will no longer be supported or function. Microsoft has advised IT administrators to remove these apps from managed devices within their organizations before this date.
Background on App Deployment
The decision to retire these apps follows an earlier announcement in October 2025, where Microsoft stated it would begin automatically installing them on all Windows 11 enterprise devices equipped with Microsoft 365 desktop client apps by the end of December 2025. These companion apps integrated Copilot for AI assistance, helped locate contacts, access files, and manage schedules directly from the Windows 11 taskbar.
App Functionality and Admin Controls
Upon installation, these apps were configured to launch automatically at startup by default, aiming to provide quick access to contacts, files, and schedules. While automatic installation was standard for compatible systems, IT admins had the option to opt out via Device Configuration settings in the Apps Admin Center. Users could also disable the auto-launch feature through each app's settings.
Cessation of Installation and User Action
As of Friday, Microsoft has stopped installing these companion apps through Microsoft 365 Apps updates. For users and administrators of unmanaged devices where these apps were previously installed, Microsoft recommends manual uninstallation. The company's message center update described the apps as tools designed to streamline workflows and reduce context switching.
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Reporting from
Microsoft will retire its Calendar, People, and Files Microsoft 365 companion apps on December 16, 2026, ceasing support and functionality. This decision comes after Microsoft began automatically installing these apps on Windows 11 enterprise devices with Microsoft 365 desktop client apps.