Guides
Office 2021 End of Support: What Happens on 13 October 2026 and What to Do
Office 2021 end of support is on 13 October 2026. Microsoft has confirmed that there will be no extension and no paid extended security updates. Your Office 2021 apps will keep opening after that date, but they will no longer receive security fixes, bug fixes or technical support. This guide explains what changes, what the risks are and what you can do.
Last updated: 21 September 2026. Dates come from Microsoft: see Microsoft: End of support for Office 2021 and Microsoft Lifecycle: Office LTSC 2021.
What happens on 13 October 2026?
- No more security updates: new vulnerabilities found after that date stay unpatched.
- No more bug fixes or software updates.
- No more phone or chat support from Microsoft.
- No extended support: there is no paid extension for Office 2021.
Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook will not stop working on that day. The risk is gradual: every problem found after the deadline stays open. Office files such as invoices, spreadsheets and CVs are a common way to deliver malware, so unsupported Office is a real security risk for business use.
Which Office versions are affected?
- Office 2021 (Home & Student, Home & Business, Professional Plus) and Office LTSC 2021: support ends on 13 October 2026.
- Visio 2021 and Project 2021: check the Microsoft Lifecycle page for the exact date of your edition.
- Office 2016 and Office 2019: support already ended on 14 October 2025.
Office 2021 end of support: your three options
1. Upgrade to Office 2024
Office 2024 is the current one-time purchase version of Office. Microsoft supports it until 9 October 2029. You pay once and there is no subscription. Office 2024 installs on Windows 10 and Windows 11. Microsoft only supports Office on supported versions of Windows, and Windows 10 itself reached end of support on 14 October 2025, so Windows 11 is the safer choice. See our full Office 2024 vs Office 2021 comparison to see exactly what changes.
Office 2024 Professional Plus (1 PC license) includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote and Access.
2. Move to Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 is a subscription. The apps update themselves, and they stay supported for as long as your subscription is active and you keep them up to date.
3. Keep using Office 2021
It will keep working, but without security updates. We do not recommend it for business use or for any computer that opens email attachments and downloaded files.
Office 2021 vs Office 2024 at a glance
| Office 2021 | Office 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Support ends | 13 October 2026 | 9 October 2029 |
| Purchase type | One-time purchase | One-time purchase |
| Excel | XLOOKUP, dynamic arrays and LET | Adds new text and array functions such as TEXTSPLIT, TEXTBEFORE, VSTACK and HSTACK |
| Runs on | Windows 10 and 11 | Windows 10 and 11 |
How to check which version of Office you have
Open Word or Excel, click File, then Account. The product information on the right shows the name of your version, for example Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2021.
Before you upgrade
- Your Office 2021 product key does not activate Office 2024. You need a new Office 2024 license.
- Back up your important files before you install.
- Follow the download and activation steps sent with your new license — see our step-by-step activation guide.
Ready to switch? See Office 2024 Professional Plus or browse all Microsoft Office licenses.
No. The apps keep opening and working, but Microsoft stops providing security fixes, bug fixes and support.
No. Microsoft has confirmed there will be no extension and no extended security updates.
If you want to pay once, Office 2024 is the current one-time purchase version. If you prefer a subscription with continuous updates, choose Microsoft 365.
No. Office 2024 needs its own license key.
