Microsoft is rolling out lightweight taskbar apps for Microsoft 365 users on Windows 11, designed to provide quick access to essential tools. These apps will launch automatically at startup, allowing users to easily access contacts, file searches, and their calendar directly from the taskbar.
The newly launched Microsoft 365 companion apps are being made available to business users this month. The People companion features a browsable organizational chart and enables users to look up colleagues, start Teams messages or calls, or send emails directly.
The File Search companion facilitates quick access to Microsoft 365 files via the taskbar, allowing users to search by file name, author, or keywords across OneDrive, SharePoint, Microsoft Teams, and Outlook. Users can also preview files before opening them and enjoy various filtering and sharing options.
ICYMI: Ghana Declares War on Opioid Abuse With Education, Research Initiatives
The Calendar app offers a quick view of upcoming events, appointment searches, and meeting join links directly from the taskbar.
Having been in beta testing for several months following their announcement at last year’s Ignite conference, these apps are now being released to all Microsoft 365 business users. They will be automatically installed if Microsoft 365 apps are already on a Windows 11 system. IT administrators can disable the automatic installation of these companion apps, and users have the option to prevent them from launching at startup.
SOURCE: THE VERGE
