Office 2021 End of Support (13 Oct 2026): Your 5 Options Now

Office 2021 end of support arrived on 13 October 2026. Microsoft no longer provides security fixes, bug fixes or technical support for Office 2021, Office LTSC 2021, Visio 2021 or Project 2021, and there is no paid extended security programme. The apps still open and work, but every month without patches adds risk. These are your five realistic options.

When did Office 2021 support end?

Office 2021 support ended on 13 October 2026, the same Patch Tuesday that delivered its last security update. Microsoft's 2026 end-of-support list shows that date for Office 2021 and each of its apps, Office LTSC 2021 (Windows and Mac), Visio 2021, Project 2021 and Publisher 2021.

Retail Office 2021 followed the Modern Lifecycle Policy, while the volume-licensed LTSC 2021 editions followed the Fixed Lifecycle Policy. Different policies, same end date.

Unlike Windows 10, Office 2021 has no Extended Security Updates programme. Microsoft's end of support notice for Office 2021 states that there will be no extension.

What happens now that Office 2021 is out of support?

Office 2021 keeps working after end of support: your documents open, your licence stays activated and nothing is deleted. What stops is maintenance. Microsoft no longer releases security fixes for newly discovered vulnerabilities or bug fixes, and phone and chat support for the product has ended.

• Security: new vulnerabilities in Word, Excel, Outlook and the other apps stay unpatched.
• Help content: Microsoft says most online help for Office 2021 is being retired.
• Microsoft 365 services: Microsoft's Office connectivity policy lists 13 October 2026 as the last supported date for Office LTSC 2021 to connect to Microsoft 365 services such as Exchange Online and OneDrive.

Cause and effect: "unsupported for connecting" does not mean Outlook 2021 stops syncing on a set date. It means Microsoft no longer tests or fixes compatibility, so problems that appear later may never be resolved.

Option 1: should I upgrade from Office 2021 to Office 2024?

Upgrading to Office 2024 is the closest like-for-like replacement: it is a one-time purchase with the same familiar desktop apps, and Microsoft supports it until 9 October 2029. It brings the Excel, Word and PowerPoint improvements Microsoft added since 2021, a refreshed design and OpenDocument 1.4 support, but it does not include Copilot.

Choose the edition by the apps you used in Office 2021:

• Office Home & Student 2021 users: Office Home 2024 (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote).
• Office Home & Business 2021 users: Office 2024 Home & Business, which adds Outlook and runs on PC or Mac.
• Office Professional Plus 2021 users: Office 2024 Professional Plus for Windows, which keeps Access.

Publisher is not part of Office 2024 because Microsoft is retiring it. Our Office 2024 vs Office 2021 comparison lists every change between the two releases.

Option 2: is Microsoft 365 better than buying Office again?

Microsoft 365 is better if you want 1 TB of OneDrive storage, Copilot in the apps, continuous feature updates and multi-device installs, and you accept a recurring bill. It is not better if you only need Word, Excel and Outlook on one computer, because a one-time licence costs less across a typical four-to-five-year PC lifespan.

Subscriptions also rose in price recently. Our Microsoft 365 price increase 2026 guide sets out the current consumer and business list prices, including the July 2026 change for business plans.

A Microsoft 365 subscription never reaches an end-of-support date in the way Office 2021 did, which is its strongest argument for anyone who does not want to repeat this upgrade in 2029.

Option 3: can I use free Office instead of Office 2021?

Yes, for light use. Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook on the web are free with a Microsoft account and always up to date. They lack advanced desktop features such as complex macros, Power Pivot, some PivotTable options and Access, and they need an internet connection, so they suit occasional documents rather than daily office work.

Files you created in Office 2021 open in the web apps without conversion, because both use the same .docx, .xlsx and .pptx formats. Save them to OneDrive and open them from office.com.

Option 4: can I keep using Office 2021 safely?

You can keep using Office 2021, but the risk grows over time because new vulnerabilities will not be fixed. It is most defensible on a PC that rarely opens files from email or the internet, or one kept offline for a specific legacy task. On a daily-use, internet-connected PC, plan a replacement rather than staying indefinitely.

If you do stay for now, make sure the final October 2026 update is installed and reduce exposure:

1. Open any Office app and select File > Account > Update Options > Update Now to apply the last security update.
2. Leave macros disabled unless a file comes from a trusted source, and avoid opening unexpected attachments.
3. Keep Windows and Microsoft Defender fully updated, since they still block many document-borne threats.

Option 5: are there paid security patches for Office 2021?

Microsoft does not sell extended security updates for Office 2021. Some third-party vendors offer unofficial "micropatches" for selected high-risk vulnerabilities in out-of-support Office versions, sold as a per-computer annual subscription. They can be a short-term bridge, but they are not Microsoft fixes and do not restore Microsoft support.

What we commonly see: small offices treat a third-party patch subscription as a permanent fix. After two or three years of fees, the total often approaches the cost of a supported licence, without gaining any of the newer features.

How do I upgrade from Office 2021 to Office 2024?

To upgrade, buy an Office 2024 licence, check that your PC runs Windows 10 or 11 (or a supported macOS), then download and install Office 2024. Setup normally removes the earlier version automatically. Your documents are not affected, but back up Outlook data files first if your edition includes Outlook.

1. Back up your documents and, if you use Outlook, export or copy your .pst files.
2. Note your add-ins and custom templates so you can reinstall them.
3. Run the Office 2024 installer from Microsoft's official download source and sign in or enter your product key.
4. If setup reports a conflict, remove the old version first using our guide to completely uninstalling old Office.
5. Open Word and check File > Account to confirm the product is activated.

Microsoft's How do I upgrade Office? page covers the same process for Windows and Mac. For a step-by-step walkthrough with screenshots, follow our Office 2024 Professional Plus install and activation guide.

Advanced nuance: businesses that standardised on Office LTSC 2021 for its fixed feature set can move to Office 2024 Pro Plus LTSC, which keeps the same no-feature-updates model, though Microsoft has turned ActiveX controls off by default in LTSC 2024.

Frequently asked questions

Is Office 2021 still supported in 2026?

No. Microsoft ended support for Office 2021, Office LTSC 2021, Visio 2021 and Project 2021 on 13 October 2026. The software still runs and stays activated, but it receives no further security updates, bug fixes or technical support, and Microsoft has confirmed there will be no extension.

Will Office 2021 stop working after end of support?

No, Office 2021 does not stop working or lose its activation. You can still open, edit and save documents. The difference is that Microsoft no longer fixes newly found security flaws, so the software becomes riskier to use on an internet-connected PC as time passes.

Can I still activate Office 2021 after end of support?

Activation is separate from support, and existing installations remain activated. New installations have generally continued to activate after earlier Office versions left support, but Microsoft does not guarantee activation services for unsupported products indefinitely, which is another reason not to buy Office 2021 now.

Is Office 2024 a free upgrade for Office 2021 users?

No. Office 2021 and Office 2024 are separate one-time purchases, and Microsoft states that one-time purchases have no upgrade option. You need a new Office 2024 licence, or a Microsoft 365 subscription, which always includes the current apps while it is active.

Does Office 2021 end of support affect Visio and Project?

Yes. Visio 2021 and Project 2021, in both retail and LTSC editions, also reached end of support on 13 October 2026. The 2024 versions of Visio and Project are supported until October 2029, so plan to replace them alongside your main Office suite if you use them.

Related guides

• Office 2019 end of support: what it means and upgrade options
• Microsoft Office versions compared: 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2024
• Office 2024 and 2021 Pro Plus offline installer (64-bit)
• How to check if Microsoft Office is activated

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