Microsoft Adds Taskbar Companion Apps to Windows 11 for 365 Users

Microsoft on 12 August began the general roll-out of three lightweight “companion” apps that embed Microsoft 365 functions directly into the Windows 11 taskbar. The People, File Search and Calendar mini-applications give users one-click access to organisational contacts, document search across OneDrive, SharePoint and Teams, and upcoming meetings or appointments. The tools launch automatically at start-up on Windows 11 devices that already run Microsoft 365 and draw on Microsoft Graph to surface enterprise data. Although installed by default, corporate IT administrators can block the deployment or disable the auto-launch behaviour, and individual users may also turn the apps off. The release marks the first broad availability of the taskbar companions, which were previewed earlier this year and demonstrated at Microsoft’s 2024 Ignite conference. Microsoft said all business-tier Microsoft 365 subscribers will receive the apps over the coming weeks, while support for consumer editions has not been announced.