Microsoft is killing its ‘Companion’ taskbar mini-apps in December

However now, simply over a yr since these Companions have been first introduced, Microsoft has determined to discontinue them. It’s unclear why they’re being discontinued—Microsoft gives no rationalization.

In keeping with this Microsoft 365 assist web page, all three companion apps shall be going into retirement beginning on December sixteenth, 2026. You possibly can preserve utilizing these till then, and as soon as they’re eliminated, you gained’t lose any information and no different current Microsoft 365 options shall be impacted.

Since Microsoft 365 Companions are principally managed by group directors, you might not should do something—they are going to be eliminated when the directors set off the removing. However in case you aren’t a part of a company, you’ll should take away them your self. You are able to do this by navigating to Home windows Settings → Apps → Put in apps.

So far as what you need to use rather than them as soon as eliminated, Microsoft gives the next steering:

For calendar and other people data, use Outlook and Groups. For recordsdata, use Home windows Search Field, File Explorer, SharePoint, OneDrive, Phrase, Excel, PowerPoint, and extra. You can too use Copilot, even once you solely keep in mind just a few particulars about what you’re on the lookout for.