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How to Stop Microsoft Companion Apps Reappearing on Windows 11 Taskbar
Question details
The user needs to prevent Microsoft companion apps from automatically installing and pinning themselves to the Windows 11 taskbar after every reboot in a managed enterprise environment.
- Product
- Windows 11, Microsoft Intune, Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- Windows 11
- Scenario
- Managing taskbar pins and app deployments in a hybrid Microsoft Entra environment via Intune.
- Observed behavior
- Manually unpinning the apps from the taskbar does not persist; the companion apps automatically reappear after the device is rebooted.
Ensure you have administrative access to Microsoft Intune, the Microsoft 365 admin center, and Group Policy management tools before attempting these configuration changes.
Disable Companion App Pinning via Microsoft 365 Admin Center
Change the Copilot user access settings in the Microsoft 365 admin center to prevent the apps from being automatically pinned to the taskbar.
In managed environments, Microsoft 365 policies can override local user preferences, which is why apps keep reappearing after a reboot. Disabling the forced pinning policy at the admin level resolves this.
Go to the Microsoft 365 admin center in your web browser and log in with global administrator credentials.
Locate 'Copilot' in the left-hand navigation menu and click on 'Settings'.
Click on 'User access' to view the specific deployment options for your organization.
Locate the setting that controls whether Microsoft 365 Copilot and its companion apps are pinned to the user's taskbar and toggle it to the off position.
Save your changes. Allow some time for the policies to sync across your network, then restart the affected Windows 11 devices to ensure the manual unpin persists.
Remove Applications via Intune and Group Policy
If you need to completely remove the apps rather than just unpinning them, update your Intune app deployment and provisioning policies.
Switch to WPS Office for a Hassle-Free Desktop Experience
If you are tired of intrusive forced installations and automatic taskbar pins dictated by heavy enterprise software, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a clean, user-friendly environment without aggressive companion apps, while maintaining complete compatibility with standard office documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do unpinned companion apps keep reappearing on my Windows 11 taskbar?
In managed corporate environments like Intune or hybrid Microsoft Entra, IT policies and Microsoft 365 provisioning rules automatically re-apply device configurations upon every reboot. This forces any manually unpinned or uninstalled companion apps to be restored.
How long does it take for Microsoft 365 Admin Center policy changes to apply?
Policy changes made in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center or Intune can take anywhere from a few minutes to up to 24 hours to sync across all endpoints. Users can force a manual sync by going to Windows Settings > Accounts > Access work or school, selecting their account, and clicking 'Info' then 'Sync'.
Can a standard user stop these apps from pinning to the taskbar?
No, standard users generally cannot override these settings. If the device is managed by an organization, taskbar layouts and forced app installations are strictly controlled by administrator-level policies (Intune or GPO). You must contact your IT administrator to adjust the configuration.
