Microsoft 365 Companion Apps Retirement 2026

Microsoft is retiring the Microsoft 365 companion apps: Calendar, People and Files. Message centre post MC1474111, published on 18 September 2026, confirms the apps will no longer function or be supported after 16 December 2026.

The companion apps were the taskbar apps that gave quick access to calendar information, colleagues and recent files on Windows 11. Microsoft began installing them automatically on Windows 11 devices with Microsoft 365 Apps from late October 2025. Removing them does not delete any Microsoft 365 data. Calendar events, contacts and files live in Microsoft 365 services, not in the apps.

The part SMEs need to act on is simple: Microsoft stops its own automatic installs, but tenant admins must remove the apps from devices where they are installed.

Quick answer

1. Clear the automatic installation setting in the Microsoft 365 Apps admin center.
2. Delete any Required or Available for enrolled devices assignments for the companion apps in Intune.
3. Tell staff what is going and what to use instead.
4. Remove install instructions and links from internal guides and software catalogues.
5. Create an Intune Uninstall assignment for all users or devices and monitor it.
6. Send self-uninstall steps to anyone on an unmanaged device.

How the apps got onto your devices

Microsoft Learn lists three installation routes:

• Automatically on eligible Windows 11 devices through Microsoft 365 Apps updates, unless admins opted out.
• Through Microsoft Intune or another software distribution tool.
• Directly by users.

Microsoft has stopped the first route. The other two are yours to close. If you are unsure which applied in your tenant, assume all three until your Intune reporting says otherwise.

Stop new installations first

Order matters here. Microsoft's troubleshooting guidance is clear that a remaining Required assignment in Intune will reinstall the apps after you uninstall them.

In the Microsoft 365 Apps admin center, go to Device Configuration, select the Modern App settings tab, select Microsoft 365 companion apps and untick Enable automatic installation of Microsoft 365 companion apps. Microsoft's own change does not clear this setting, and leaving it ticked causes confusion later.

In the Intune admin center, go to Apps, Windows and select the Microsoft 365 companion apps Win32 app entry. Under Manage, Properties, edit Assignments and delete any Required assignment and any Available for enrolled devices assignment. If the entry does not exist, you have no such assignments.

If you are cleaning up other Intune assignments at the same time, our Intune policy conflict map explains how to keep overlapping targets under control.

Uninstall with Intune and monitor it

Microsoft says uninstalling through Intune removes the companion apps from managed devices regardless of how they were originally installed. You do not need to remove taskbar pins or automatic startup first.

1. Confirm every deployment route is closed.
2. In Apps, Windows, open the Microsoft 365 companion apps Win32 app entry and go to Manage, Properties. If the entry does not exist, add the Win32 app using Microsoft's companion apps deployment guide.
3. Edit Assignments and create an Uninstall assignment covering all users or devices.
4. Watch Monitor, Device install status or User install status.

Microsoft notes that apps may stay available until users close them or sign out, and some devices may need a restart. Work through failures and offline devices as they check in. Removal is complete when Intune no longer reports the apps as installed and there are no failures left to investigate.

Tell users, and tidy up documentation

Microsoft recommends sending an internal announcement before or at the time of uninstallation, and provides an email template on Microsoft Learn. Keep your version short: the apps are retiring, nothing is deleted, and here is what to use instead. For calendar and people information, that is Outlook and Teams. For files, it is Windows Search, File Explorer, SharePoint, OneDrive and the Office apps.

For staff on unmanaged devices, such as personal laptops used under a BYOD arrangement, include the self-service steps. Go to Settings, Apps, Installed apps, search for Microsoft 365 companions and select Uninstall. Alternatively, type Calendar, People or Files into Windows Search, right-click the app and choose Uninstall. Microsoft says uninstalling one removes all of them.

Then search your own material. Onboarding checklists, laptop build guides, intranet pages and help desk macros often mention new apps that were promoted at launch. Remove or rewrite those references so new starters are not sent looking for an app that no longer works.

Why not simply wait for 16 December

Microsoft states that updates and fixes, including security fixes, are no longer being provided for the companion apps. If a problem occurs during the retirement period, Microsoft's answer is to uninstall. Unsupported software sitting on managed endpoints is exactly the kind of loose end that shows up in a Microsoft 365 security cleanup, so it is better removed on your schedule than left to fail.

Source basis

• Microsoft 365 message centre MC1474111 via mc.merill.net
• Microsoft Learn: Microsoft 365 companion apps retirement
• Microsoft Learn: Microsoft 365 companions apps overview