Microsoft confirms launch of exclusive Office apps for Windows 11, automatically installed and launched

Microsoft has just officially announced a series of new applications in the Microsoft 365 utility suite, called 'Microsoft 365 Companions' . According to the plan, these applications will begin to be deployed in August 2025.

Rumors of these 'companion apps' have actually been around since November 2024, when the community discovered traces of a 'resurrected' People app and a new File Search app. Earlier this month, information about the new People app was revealed, and by the end of the month, File Search was officially released.

So what are Microsoft 365 Companions ? According to Microsoft, they are 'mini apps' designed to enhance productivity, with quick access right from the Windows 11 taskbar. The suite is exclusive to Windows 11 on the desktop (at least for now) and won't work on Windows 10. This makes sense, since Windows 10 is about to end support and, according to performance tests, it's significantly behind Windows 11.

On the Microsoft 365 Roadmap, Microsoft describes:

Microsoft 365 Companions : A suite of mini apps including People, File Search, and Calendar, giving users quick access to essential tools right from the Windows 11 taskbar. Thanks to tight integration with Microsoft 365, users can easily search for contacts, view organizational charts, locate files, manage schedules, and optimize workflows without distraction.

This feature is currently listed with ID 486856 .

Additionally, Microsoft says the apps will be automatically installed on eligible PCs as part of the Microsoft 365 update process. Once installed, the apps will launch automatically with Windows , but users can turn this feature off in the app settings.

Samuel Daniel

Update 13 August 2025