Office 2021 support ended on 13 October 2026. Your Word, Excel, PowerPoint or Outlook 2021 applications did not stop working that day: they remain installed, activated and usable. What stopped are Microsoft's security updates, bug fixes and technical support. So you have three options: keep using Office 2021 while limiting the risks, move to Office 2024 (supported until October 2029) or switch to a Microsoft 365 subscription.
Since September, this has been the question we see most often in our support tickets. Here are the practical answers, without the drama, with the steps to follow for your situation.
What exactly happened on 13 October 2026?
Office 2021 follows Microsoft's Fixed Lifecycle Policy: five years of support from its release in October 2021, with no extended support. Microsoft confirmed this on its page dedicated to the end of support for Office 2021: there is no extension and no paid Extended Security Updates (ESU) programme, unlike Windows 10.
In practice, here is what has changed and what has not:
| Item | Before 13/10/2026 | After 13/10/2026 |
|---|---|---|
| Opening and using the applications | Yes | Yes |
| Licence activation | Valid | Still valid |
| Security updates | Monthly | None |
| Bug fixes | Yes | No |
| Microsoft support (chat, phone) | Yes | No |
| Connection to Microsoft 365 services | Supported | Possible but not guaranteed |
Your documents are not affected: a .docx or .xlsx file created with Office 2021 opens in exactly the same way in Office 2024, Microsoft 365 or the free web version.
Which versions of Office 2021 are affected?
The whole 2021 generation shares the same date. The Office 2021 lifecycle page on Microsoft Learn lists the consumer editions, and Microsoft applies the same deadline to the volume versions:
- Office Home & Student 2021 and Home & Business 2021, on both Windows and Mac;
- Office Professional 2021 and Office Professional Plus 2021 (retail or Bind licences);
- Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021 and Office LTSC Standard 2021 (volume licences, MAK);
- Visio 2021 and Project 2021, Standard and Professional.
To check your version, open Word then File > Account: the “Product Information” area shows, for example, “Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2021”. If you see “Microsoft 365” or “Office 2024”, you are not affected.
Can you keep using Office 2021 after the end of support?
Yes, and it is perfectly legal: your perpetual licence does not expire. Microsoft itself states that home users can keep using their Office 2021, while recommending a newer version. Many of our customers will do so for months or even years, particularly those who need Publisher.
The real issue is the security risk, which grows over time. Office applications are a classic entry point for attacks: booby-trapped Word attachments, malicious Excel macros, links in PowerPoint documents. With no patches, a vulnerability discovered in 2027 will stay open. The risk is low for someone who mostly opens their own files, and higher for anyone who receives documents from outside every day.
If you keep Office 2021, apply these settings, which we always recommend in support:
- Install the final update: in Word, File > Account > Update Options > Update Now. This locks in the safest version available.
- Block macros: File > Options > Trust Center > Trust Center Settings > Macro Settings, then “Disable all macros with notification”.
- Keep Protected View switched on for files from the internet and Outlook attachments (same menu, “Protected View” section).
- Keep Windows and your antivirus up to date: Microsoft Defender still detects known malicious documents, even though Office is no longer patched.
- Be wary of unexpected attachments, especially .docm and .xlsm files and any file asking you to “Enable Content”.
One thing to know if you use Outlook 2021 with an Exchange Online mailbox or work on OneDrive for Business: Microsoft no longer supports connecting an out-of-support version to Microsoft 365 services. It generally still works, but with no guarantee of performance or access to new features. With a Gmail, Outlook.com or other IMAP mailbox, this is much less of a concern.
Office 2021 on Windows 10: a PC to watch closely
Mainstream support for Windows 10 ended on 14 October 2025. Microsoft has since offered its consumer Extended Security Updates (ESU) programme until 12 October 2027; in the European Economic Area it is free provided you sign in to Windows with a Microsoft account. Check that it is active in Settings > Windows Update. Even then, since 13 October 2026 a Windows 10 PC running Office 2021 combines an operating system on borrowed time with an office suite that no longer receives fixes. That setup should be upgraded as a priority on a PC used to browse the web and receive emails every day.
If your hardware allows it, the operating system comes first: see our guide to upgrade from Windows 10 to Windows 11 and check your product key's compatibility. For a PC you want to set up from scratch, the Office 2024 Pro Plus + Windows 11 Professional bundle deals with both deadlines in one go.
Stay on Office 2021, move to Office 2024 or to Microsoft 365?
There is no universally wrong answer, just different needs. The table below sums up what we explain to our customers.
| Criterion | Keep Office 2021 | Office 2024 | Microsoft 365 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licence type | Perpetual, already paid for | Perpetual, one-off purchase | Annual or monthly subscription |
| Security updates | Ended | Until October 2029 | As long as the subscription is active |
| Publisher | Included (Pro Plus) | Not included | Removed since October 2026 |
| Copilot (AI) | No | No | Yes, depending on the plan |
| Cloud storage | Free OneDrive (5 GB) | Free OneDrive (5 GB) | 1 TB per person |
| Number of devices | Depends on the licence | Depends on the licence | 5 signed in at the same time |
Option 1: keep Office 2021
Reasonable if your PC is mainly used for writing and spreadsheets, you receive few external documents and you apply the settings above. It is also the only option for continuing to use the desktop version of Publisher, since Microsoft removed it from Microsoft 365 in early October 2026 and Office 2024 does not include it. In that case, export your important .pub files to PDF as a precaution.
Option 2: move to Office 2024
This is the most logical option for most Office 2021 users: the same one-off purchase model, an almost identical interface, and support until October 2029. Office 2024 also brings new Excel functions (IMAGE, TEXTSPLIT, VSTACK…), faster Outlook search and support for the OpenDocument 1.4 format. Office 2024 Professional Plus for Windows includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote and Access. Every edition is grouped in our Office 2024 collection.
Option 3: move to Microsoft 365
Worth considering if you work across several devices (PC, Mac, tablet, smartphone), want 1 TB of OneDrive or would find Copilot useful. The trade-off: a cost that comes round every year and applications that switch to read-only if the subscription is not renewed. We cover this choice in detail in a dedicated Office 2021 vs Microsoft 365 comparison.
How do you move from Office 2021 to Office 2024 without losing data?
The migration is simple, because your documents, templates and Outlook accounts are not stored in the program itself. Here is the procedure we follow with our customers:
- Note your Outlook configuration: accounts, signatures and the location of your .pst or .ost files (File > Account Settings > Account Settings > Data Files). Backing up your .pst files only takes a few minutes.
- Uninstall Office 2021 via Settings > Apps > Installed apps, then “Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2021” > Uninstall. Two different perpetual versions do not coexist cleanly.
- Restart the PC, then install Office 2024 by following our guide to download, install and activate Office 2024 Professional Plus.
- Activate with your new product key when Word opens, or via File > Account > Change Product Key.
- Open Outlook: the existing profile is usually picked up automatically. If not, attach your .pst file via File > Open & Export.
Allow around thirty minutes with a good connection. The only applications to plan for are Publisher, which is not in Office 2024, and any older (COM) add-ins that need reinstalling.
What about businesses running Office LTSC 2021?
Office LTSC 2021 volume licences (MAK) follow the same date. The PCs keep working, but an unpatched fleet raises compliance issues (GDPR, cyber insurance, your customers' requirements). The most direct path is Office LTSC 2024, deployed with the Office Deployment Tool and an updated configuration.xml file. Businesses that rely heavily on Teams, SharePoint and Exchange Online are often better served by the Microsoft 365 Business plans, which are designed for those services.
Frequently asked questions
Did Office 2021 deactivate on 13 October 2026?
No. Your perpetual licence stays activated and the applications keep working normally. Only updates and support have stopped.
Can I still install or reinstall Office 2021 after the end of support?
Yes, your key remains valid for installation and activation. Keep it safe, along with the Microsoft account it may be linked to.
Are there Extended Security Updates (ESU) for Office 2021?
No. Microsoft has stated that no ESU programme is planned for Office 2021, unlike Windows 10.
Will my Office 2021 files be compatible with Office 2024?
Yes. Office 2021, Office 2024 and Microsoft 365 use the same formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx). No conversion is needed.
Is Office 2021 for Mac affected too?
Yes, Office Home & Student 2021 and Home & Business 2021 for Mac have the same end of support date. On Mac, compatibility with new versions of macOS is no longer guaranteed after this date.
Our advice going forward
If your Office 2021 suits you and your use is simple, there is no rush: apply the security settings and plan the move to a newer version at your own pace. If you want several more years of updates without a subscription, Office 2024 Professional Plus is the natural successor to Office 2021, also available as an Office 2024 Pro Plus licence for three devices if you are equipping several PCs. A question about your specific case (Publisher, Outlook, business fleet)? Our support team will answer before you buy, by email and chat, 7 days a week.