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[Introduction]
Starting in late October 2025, Microsoft will begin automatically installing the Microsoft 365 companion apps—People, Files, and Calendar—on Windows 11 devices that already have Microsoft 365 desktop client apps. These taskbar-integrated apps are designed to streamline everyday workflows, helping users stay focused, reduce context switching, and complete tasks faster.
With Copilot integration, users can ground their prompts in the right context—whether it’s a shared file, a meeting, or a collaborator. This integration allows users to catch up, summarize, and take action more efficiently.
This message is associated with Microsoft 365 Roadmap ID 486856.
[When this will happen:]
General availability: Rollout begins late October 2025 and is expected to complete late December 2025.
[How this affects your organization:]
Who is affected:
All users on Windows 11 devices with Microsoft 365 desktop client apps.
What will happen:
- Microsoft 365 companion apps (People, Files, Calendar) will be automatically installed.
- Admins can opt out of automatic installation via Device Configuration settings.
- If Copilot pinning is not yet enabled, admins will be able to pin both Copilot and companion apps starting mid-October.
- If you’ve already enabled Microsoft 365 Copilot pinning in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, note that companion apps are not included in the pinning configuration at this time but you will be able to enable companions pinning starting mid-October.
- On devices where the apps are already installed, no visible change will occur.
- Installation is enabled by default and does not require user interaction.
- Apps will appear in the Start menu and provide quick access to people, files, and calendar data from the Microsoft Graph.
[What you can do to prepare:]
- Notify users about this change via an internal announcement to set expectations.
- Update any relevant internal documentation to reflect the availability of these apps.
- If you want to opt out of automatic installation:
- Uncheck Enable automatic installation of Microsoft 365 companion apps and Microsoft 365 Apps
- Choose Microsoft 365 companion apps
- Select Modern App settings
- Go to Device Configuration
- Learn more: Overview of Microsoft 365 companion apps – Microsoft 365 Apps | Microsoft Learn
- Check out the latest features here: Get Started with Microsoft 365 companion apps | Microsoft Support
App highlights:
People app features:
- Look up colleagues by name, skills, role, location and more.
- View profile cards, availability, and organizational charts.
- Send messages and start chats.
- Use Copilot to ask people-related questions like, What does this person work on? or Draft a message to catch up.
- Type freeform prompts for any colleague directly in the app.
File app features:
- Find Microsoft 365 and locally downloaded files.
- Preview file content and share with colleagues.
- Filter by person, file type, or activity (Created, Shared, Edited, or @Mentioned).
- Use Copilot to summarize, catch up, and act on files.
Calendar app features:
- Find events by organizer, attendees, or title.
- View agenda or day at a glance.
- Open meeting details and join directly from the calendar.
- Edit meetings, chat with participants, or copy the meeting link.
- Use Copilot to prepare for upcoming meetings or catch up on missed ones.
[Compliance considerations:]
| Question | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Does the change introduce or significantly modify AI/ML or agent capabilities that interact with or provide access to customer data? | Copilot integration enables contextual AI-driven assistance based on user data such as files, meetings, and contacts. |
| Does the change provide end users any new way of interacting with generative AI? | Users can interact with Copilot Companions directly from the taskbar using contextual prompts grounded in Microsoft Graph data |
| Does the change allow a user to enable and disable the feature themselves? | Users can pin or unpin the apps from the taskbar once available. |
Source: Microsoft
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