Microsoft is phasing out the free Office companion apps that ship with Windows 11, and the company has published guidance explaining how the change will roll out.
These lightweight Office apps—Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote—have been a staple of the Windows 11 experience, preinstalled and ready to go the moment you unbox a PC. Now, Microsoft is quietly retiring them, marking another shift in how the company delivers its productivity software.
What are the Office companion apps?
The Office companion apps are the Universal Windows Platform (UWP) versions of Microsoft’s productivity suite. Unlike the classic desktop Office applications, these are streamlined, touch-first apps designed to work seamlessly with Windows 11’s modern interface.
They were bundled with the operating system, meaning most Windows 11 users never had to install them manually. When you opened Word or Excel on a fresh Windows 11 machine, you were launching these companion apps, not the traditional desktop versions.
The apps offered quick access to document creation and editing, making them a convenient option for casual users who needed to jot down notes or put together a simple spreadsheet without committing to the full Office suite.
For years, they’ve served as the default Office experience for millions of Windows 11 owners, which is exactly why their removal matters.
Why is Microsoft removing them?
Microsoft’s move comes as part of a broader strategy to consolidate its Office offerings. The company has been developing Lynx, a new native Office app that combines Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote into a single, unified experience.
Lynx represents Microsoft’s vision for the future of Office on Windows—a faster, more modern app built specifically for the platform rather than adapted to it. Microsoft first teased Lynx in 2024 as a next-generation Office experience, and the app has been gradually rolling out to Microsoft 365 subscribers since then.
As Lynx continues to mature and reach more users, the companion apps are becoming redundant. By retiring them, Microsoft is clearing the way for Lynx to become the primary Office experience on Windows 11.
This aligns with the company’s effort to streamline its product lineup and provide a more consistent experience across devices, rather than maintaining two overlapping ways to open the same documents.
What does the guidance say?
Microsoft has shared detailed guidance regarding the removal of these apps, according to reporting by Neowin. The guidance is aimed at IT administrators and enterprise users who need to understand how the change will affect their deployments.
For most consumers, the transition should be relatively seamless. The companion apps will be removed from new Windows 11 installations, but existing users may continue to have access to them until they’re replaced by Lynx or other alternatives.
The guidance likely includes information on how admins can manage the transition, including options for deploying Lynx and ensuring users have the tools they need. IT teams managing a fleet of machines should review the details to plan the rollout effectively.
From an administrative standpoint, this is the kind of change where proactive planning matters—organizations should verify that their users have a clear path to the apps they rely on before the companion versions disappear.
What does this mean for you?
If you’re a Windows 11 user who relies on the companion apps, you may notice changes as the transition progresses. For casual users, the removal shouldn’t have a major impact, as Microsoft is providing alternatives through Lynx and the web-based versions of Office.
However, if you’ve grown accustomed to the companion apps, you may want to explore Lynx to see how it compares. The new app offers a more integrated experience, though it may take some time to adjust to its features and layout.
For enterprise users, the guidance provides the necessary information to manage the transition effectively. IT admins should review the guidance to understand how the change will affect their deployments and plan accordingly, rather than waiting for users to complain about missing apps.
How to get it
As the transition progresses, Microsoft will continue to provide access to Office through multiple channels. Lynx is available to Microsoft 365 subscribers, while the web-based versions of Office remain free for anyone with a Microsoft account.
If you’re using Windows 11 and want to try Lynx, check your Microsoft 365 subscription for access. For those who prefer the classic desktop apps, Office 2021 and Office LTSC remain available for purchase.
The removal of the Office companion apps is a significant change to the Windows 11 experience, but it’s part of Microsoft’s ongoing effort to improve its Office offerings. As Lynx continues to develop, users can expect a more modern, integrated experience that better meets their needs.
Source: Neowin
Over to you: Will you switch to Lynx, or do you prefer the classic Office apps you’ve been using?
