ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Microsoft is ending support and updates for Office 2021.
- You can upgrade to Office 2024 or subscribe to Microsoft 365.
- You can also try a different, free online or desktop office suite.
Microsoft continues to offer one-time purchase versions of Office for people who don’t want to pay a regular monthly or annual fee for Microsoft 365. But even these non-subscription versions can wear out their welcome, and that’s happening with Office 2021.
In a new support document, Microsoft revealed that it’s ending support for Office 2021 as of Tuesday, October 13. This means that the company will no longer provide technical support, software updates, bug fixes, or security patches, leaving the software unprotected against vulnerabilities that may pop up.
Further, Microsoft will stop updating the online help and support pages for the product. If you have a question or problem, you won’t find the solution online, at least not from Microsoft. You’ll still be able to use the software for as long as you want, just without the usual support and updates.
Also: How you can get Microsoft 365 (formerly Office) for free – 3 easy ways
Microsoft typically ends support for certain desktop products at some point. Windows is the most obvious example. But here, the deadline is a hefty ten years. On Oct. 15, 2025, support ended for Windows 10 after its debut back in 2015. Microsoft has thrown a lifesaver to people still on this version with its Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, guaranteeing security updates at least until Oct. 12, 2027.
Released in 2021, Windows 11 still has a long support life ahead of it. But each new annual iteration of Windows 11 Home and Pro gets cut off after two years. Currently, Windows 11 23H2 is no longer supported. Version 24H2 Home and Pro edition will hit end of support on October 13 of this year. Support for version 25H2 will stop on Oct. 12, 2027. But with the new 26H2 edition, you’ll be supported until Oct. 10, 2028.
Also: Microsoft Office 2024 now available without a subscription for PC and Mac
The one-time purchase edition of Office used to enjoy a much longer support period, lasting for 10 years. Support ended for Office 2010 in 2020 and for Office 2013 in 2023. Since then, however, Microsoft has gotten stingier. Support for Office 2019 ran out after six years in 2025. And now support for Office 2021 is ending after only five years.
The likely reason? Microsoft wants to push more people to its subscription-based Microsoft 365 product. To do that, the company has to make it more difficult for them to use the one-time license version.
Office 2021 users have 5 options
Now, what do you do if you are still using Office 2021? As I see it, you have five options.
- You can continue to use the software without support. I would caution against that just in case any serious security flaws pop up that would otherwise need to be patched.
- You can upgrade to the 2024 version of Office, which naturally is one of the recommendations from Microsoft.
- You can move to Microsoft 365 with its monthly and annual subscription price. To no surprise, that’s Microsoft’s other recommendation.
- You can stop paying for Office entirely and switch to the free online version. The drawback here is that this one lacks many of the advanced commands and features found in the desktop product.
- You can renounce Microsoft and switch to a different productivity suite. Google Docs (along with Sheets and Slides) is freely available. LibreOffice, Collabora Office, and OnlyOffice are just a few other free options out there. Unless you rely on Microsoft Office for specific features and capabilities that you just can’t lose, remember that there are always alternatives.
