Description
Microsoft Project 2021 Professional is a desktop project management application for one Windows PC. It suits project managers, planners and consultants who schedule tasks, balance resources and report progress. You buy it once, with no subscription. The product key, an official download link and installation instructions are delivered to you by email.
What's included in Project 2021 Professional
Project 2021 Professional includes the full scheduling engine plus the resource and server features that Standard does not have. These are the tools you get:
- Task scheduling: Gantt charts, task dependencies, milestones and critical path analysis.
- Timeline view: one or more timelines to show phases and key dates to stakeholders.
- Team Planner: a drag-and-drop view to see who is over-allocated and move work between people.
- Timesheets: record time spent on project and non-project work.
- Generic resources: plan with roles such as "Engineer" before you assign named people.
- Project Server connection: publish plans to an on-premises Project Server (including Subscription Edition) if your organisation runs one.
- Reports: built-in visual reports for cost, progress and resource use, with export to Excel.
Microsoft retired Project Online on 30 September 2026. The desktop licence works on its own; connecting to an on-premises Project Server requires separate server licences.
Licence details
| Product | Microsoft Project 2021 |
|---|---|
| Edition | Professional |
| Licence type | Perpetual licence, one-time purchase, no subscription |
| Devices | 1 Windows PC |
| Platform | Windows 10 or Windows 11 (not available for Mac) |
| Activation | Product key, online activation |
| Delivery | By email: key, download link and guide |
| Microsoft support status | Support ended 13 October 2026 |
Microsoft ended support for Project 2021 on 13 October 2026. It still installs and activates, but it receives no further security updates. For a plan with support to October 2029, consider Project 2024 Professional LTSC. You can check dates on the Microsoft Lifecycle site.
System requirements
- Windows 10 or Windows 11
- 1.6 GHz or faster dual-core processor
- 4 GB RAM
- 4 GB free disk space
- Internet connection for download and activation
How to download, install and activate Project 2021 Professional
Direct download: Project Professional 2021 disc image from Microsoft (English, .img). Mount the .img file in Windows (right-click, Mount) and run Setup.exe.
You download Project 2021 from the official link in your email, install it, and enter your key. Our Project 2021 Professional download, install and activation guide shows every screen in detail.
- Open the delivery email and copy your product key.
- Download the Project 2021 Professional installer from the link provided.
- If the file is a disk image, double-click it so Windows mounts it as a new drive.
- Run setup.exe and wait for the Click-to-Run installer to finish.
- Open Project, go to File > Account, and enter the product key when asked.
- Confirm that the Account page shows "Product Activated".
Check one detail first if Office is already on the PC. Project and Office must use the same architecture (32-bit or 64-bit) and the same installation technology. A Click-to-Run Project cannot sit beside an older MSI-based Office, so setup will stop with an error.
Project 2021 Professional or Standard: which edition do you need?
Choose Professional if you manage shared resources or work with a project server. Choose Project 2021 Standard if you plan alone and only need scheduling and reports.
| Feature | Professional 2021 | Standard 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Gantt charts, scheduling, reports | Yes | Yes |
| Team Planner for resource capacity | Yes | No |
| Timesheets and generic resources | Yes | No |
| Project Server connection | Yes | No |
| Grouping and graphical indicators in sheet views | Yes | No |
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get the Microsoft Project Professional download?
The download link arrives in the same email as your product key. Use that official link rather than third-party mirrors, which may contain modified files. If you need help, follow our step-by-step Project 2021 download guide. It covers mounting the image, running setup and entering the key on Windows 10 or Windows 11.
Is Microsoft Project 2021 available for Mac?
No. Microsoft has never released Project desktop for macOS. Project 2021 Professional runs only on Windows 10 and Windows 11. Mac users can run it inside a Windows virtual machine, but that needs a separate, licensed copy of Windows. Check that your setup meets the system requirements before you buy.
What does the end of Project 2021 support mean?
The software keeps working and your key stays valid. Microsoft simply stopped releasing security updates and fixes on 13 October 2026. For a PC that is offline or used for occasional planning, that may be acceptable. For connected business use, Project 2024 Professional is the supported option until 9 October 2029.
Can I install Project 2021 Professional on two computers?
No. This key activates Project 2021 Professional on one Windows PC only. A second computer needs its own licence. If several planners need the newer version, the Project 2024 Professional 3-device licence covers three PCs with one key. Contact our support team if activation reports an error.
Related products and guides
Payment & Security
Your payment information is processed securely. We do not store credit card details nor have access to your credit card information.
- Instant email deliveryYour key is emailed within minutes of payment
- Genuine licence keyCovered by our 30-day warranty
- Secure checkoutEncrypted payment – we never see your card details
- Free activation helpStep-by-step install & activation guides
How it works
- 1Order securely
- 2Get your key by email
- 3Install & activate