Microsoft is releasing lightweight taskbar apps for Microsoft 365 business users on Windows 11. These "companion apps"—People, File Search, and Calendar—offer quick access to contacts, files, and schedules directly from the taskbar. Rolling out this month, they automatically install (though IT admins can disable this), providing features like browsable org charts, keyword-based file searches across platforms, and calendar event viewing. These apps were initially showcased at Ignite 2022 and have been in beta testing.

Prepared by Jonathan Pierce and reviewed by editorial team.