Nothing is more exciting than new apps that do get installed automatically on your devices, right? That’s probably Microsoft’s official argument for starting to force-install new Microsoft 365 companion apps on Windows 11 devices from next month onward.
Microsoft confirmed the decision to Microsoft 365 administrators, but it has not informed regular customers of its Microsoft 365 service about it to my knowledge.
Here is what is going to happen: Starting in “early October 2025”, Microsoft will install the Companion apps People, Files, and Calendar on any Windows 11 device, provided that Microsoft 365 desktop client apps are installed.
Wonder what those do?
- People app: Extends search functionality for contacts, option to send messages and start chats, use Copilot, view profile cards and availability.
- File app: Find cloud and local files, preview file content, share with colleagues, filter using new filters, e.g., by activity, and use Copilot.
- Calendar app: view agendas or days, open meeting details, find events, edit meetings, use Copilot.
These apps will appear in the Start menu by default. What they have in common is that they introduce even more Copilot AI functionality on the Windows system. The integration focuses on app-specific tasks, for instance to find out what a specific user is working on at the time or drafting a new message to catch up.
Microsoft gives system administrators options to disable the rollout. Means, the apps won’t get installed automatically on managed devices, if the administrator does not allow it.
Home users, on the other hand, are once again kept in the dark by Microsoft. Users may uninstall the apps after they have been installed, according to Microsoft.
While there is a chance that Microsoft is making last-minute changes to its plans, for instance by making the apps install manually only, nothing of the kind has been confirmed officially at this point.
Now You: what is your stance on auto-installing apps on your devices? Feel free to leave a comment down below.
Since when does Microsoft own my machine? After all, you wouldn’t be happy if you came home one day and found somebody sitting on your new sofa which you didn’t order and don’t want and tells you you don’t have any say in the matter because it’s here to stay so stop complaining and sit yourself down.
And what if there isn’t enough space left on your HD for Microsoft’s new apps. Will it erase the ones you installed to make room for its own crap? Wouldn’t surprise me in the least.
Theoretically at least, being signed in with a local account should prevent that from happening.
It used to be that you choose apps and companies adjust their AIs to work with them. Microsoft is now building apps around their AI. This smells “walled garden” approach. And if Microsoft in a year or two says: “No more downloading programs outside our app store or programs that do not interface with Copilot,” I will be very worried.
I also heard of Android OS coming to desktop computer, and they will have “walled garden” around their AI. Not good time coming to PC market.
And try to convince somebody to switch to an alternative platform. I am one of the best examples. I am technically capable to switch to Lunix, but I am still on the fence, delaying my decision until buying the next computer or if my current computer performance deteriorates. Imagine asking somebody to switch, who would need constant help with the new OS.
So they have to auto install because if MS left it up to the consumer to install them. So few would that these apps would be considered failures. MS does silly things like this rather than have the secureboot update roolout done prior to the the October 14 when millions of windows systems will lose the ability to get the update do to the ESU requirement for updates after that date.
I think we need to file a class action lawsuit against M.$. for hacking our pc’s. There are several federal laws that apply in the U.S.