Office 2021 End of Support: Will Word and Excel Stop Working?
Office 2021 end of support is October 13, 2026. Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook will not shut off that day, but Microsoft stops security fixes, bug fixes, updates and support. Check your version below and see what to do next.
Live status, October 5, 2026: Office 2021 is still supported for another few days. Publisher already left Microsoft 365 subscriptions on October 1. The same October 13 date also ends support for Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro.
Quick answer
Office 2021 apps may continue running after October 13, 2026, and your existing files are not automatically deleted or locked. What ends is Microsoft’s support for the software: no security fixes, no bug fixes, no software updates and no phone or chat help. Microsoft says there is no extension and no Extended Security Updates. For a supported setup, the two paths are Office 2024 as a one-time purchase, or Microsoft 365 as a subscription.
Check your Office version
Pick the version you use and whether it is for home or for work. Not sure which version you have? Choose “I am not sure” for the steps.
Use Publisher? Publisher left Microsoft 365 on October 1, 2026, and the perpetual version loses support on October 13. See what to do with your .pub files.
Will Office 2021 stop working on October 13, 2026?
No. Microsoft says all of your Office 2021 apps may continue to function after the date. Microsoft does not state that Office 2021 will automatically deactivate on the support date, and your existing documents are not deleted.
You may still be able to open Word documents, edit Excel workbooks, build PowerPoint decks and use Outlook. The change is that Microsoft stops looking after the software.
What Microsoft stops providing
After October 13, 2026, Microsoft says you will no longer get:
- Security fixes for Office 2021 vulnerabilities found after that date.
- Bug fixes and Office 2021 software updates.
- Phone and chat support.
- Support content updates. Microsoft will no longer update support content, and most online help content will be retired.
Works is not the same as supported. Microsoft warns that after the date you could be exposed to serious and potentially harmful security risks. It recommends upgrading to a newer version of Office.
There is no extension and no Extended Security Updates program for Office 2021. That is different from Windows 10, where Microsoft sold extra years of security updates.
Source: Microsoft Support, End of support for Office 2021
What it means for Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook
| App | After October 13, 2026 |
|---|---|
| Word 2021 | Keeps opening and editing documents. No new security fixes. |
| Excel 2021 | Keeps opening workbooks and running formulas. No new security fixes. |
| PowerPoint 2021 | Keeps opening and editing presentations. No new security fixes. |
| Outlook 2021 | The app may continue running, but it handles email and attachments from outside, so the missing fixes matter more. Connecting to Microsoft 365 services is no longer a supported configuration after October 13, 2026. |
| Publisher 2021 | Keeps opening .pub files but loses support. See the Publisher section below. |
Microsoft lists the Office versions that are supported for connecting to Microsoft 365 services such as Exchange Online, SharePoint Online and OneDrive. Office LTSC 2021 is listed until October 13, 2026, and Office LTSC 2024 until October 9, 2029. Older versions might still connect, but Microsoft no longer considers those connections supported and warns of unexpected performance or reliability issues over time.
Source: Microsoft Learn, Office versions and connectivity to Microsoft 365 services
Office 2021 vs Office 2024 vs Microsoft 365
| Office 2021 | Office 2024 | Microsoft 365 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| How you pay | One-time purchase | One-time purchase | Subscription |
| Support ends | October 13, 2026 | October 9, 2029 | Ongoing while you subscribe and keep apps current |
| Security updates | Until support ends | Until support ends | Continuous |
| New features | None after release | None after release | Yes, regularly |
| Cloud services and storage | Limited | Limited | Included, depending on the plan |
| Best for | Existing owners deciding what to do | People who want to pay once | People who want the latest apps on several devices |
Which should you choose?
Office 2024: pay once
Office 2024 is the one-time purchase that follows Office 2021. It is supported until October 9, 2029. It does not get new features after release, and it does not include a free upgrade to the next version of Office. It suits someone who uses one PC and does not need cloud features.
Source: the Office 2024 date comes from Microsoft Learn.
Microsoft 365: always current
Microsoft 365 is a subscription. You get the latest Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook with new features, security updates and bug fixes. It fits you better if you use several devices, work with others or want built-in cloud storage.
Keep Office 2021 for now
Only do this if you accept the security trade-off. It is an easier choice on an offline PC that never opens email or web downloads than on your main computer.
Microsoft Publisher is ending too
Publisher has its own, earlier deadline. On October 1, 2026, Publisher left Microsoft 365 subscriptions, so subscribers can no longer open or edit .pub files in it. The perpetual version that comes with Office 2021 still runs, but loses support on October 13.
- To keep a copy of the content: convert the file to PDF.
- To keep editing: convert to PDF, then to Word, or rebuild the layout in Word or PowerPoint.
- Many files: Microsoft provides a PowerShell script for converting .pub files in bulk.
If you rely on Publisher, convert important .pub files before the retirement date so you are not dependent on an application that is no longer available in Microsoft 365.
Source: Microsoft Support, Publisher retirement
For work and school: Office LTSC 2021
Office LTSC 2021, Office 2021 for Mac, Visio LTSC 2021 and Project LTSC 2021 all reach end of support on October 13, 2026. Microsoft’s guidance for organizations is to move to Microsoft 365 Apps, or to Office LTSC 2024 for devices that need an on-premises version.
If you are not the IT administrator, tell them which machines run Office 2021. Do not buy a replacement yourself on a managed PC.
Office support dates
| Version | End of support | Supported for Microsoft 365 connectivity until | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office 2013 | April 11, 2023 | Not on Microsoft’s list | Ended |
| Office 2016 and Office 2019 | October 14, 2025 | October 10, 2023 | Ended |
| Office 2021 and Office LTSC 2021 | October 13, 2026 | October 13, 2026 | Ending soon |
| Office 2024 and Office LTSC 2024 | October 9, 2029 | October 9, 2029 | Supported |
| Microsoft 365 Apps | No fixed date | While on a supported version | Supported while current |
How to check which Office version you have
On Windows
- Open Word, Excel or another Office app.
- Select File, then Account.
- Read the product name under Product Information.
On a Mac
- Open Word, Excel or another Office app.
- Choose About from the app menu, for example About Word.
The name tells you whether you have Office 2021, Office 2024 or a Microsoft 365 subscription.
What to do before October 13
- Find out what you have. Use the steps above or the checker.
- Pick a path. Office 2024 to pay once, Microsoft 365 for continuous updates.
- Convert Publisher files to PDF or Word before you lose the app.
- Back up your documents. A backup helps whichever path you pick.
- If it is a work PC, tell your IT team and wait for their plan.
October 13 is a busy deadline. Windows 11 24H2 Home and Pro also reach end of updates that day. See Windows 11 24H2 end of support to check your PC.
Office 2021 end of support FAQ
Will Office 2021 stop working on October 13, 2026?
When does Office 2021 support end?
Is there an extension or Extended Security Updates for Office 2021?
Is it safe to keep using Office 2021 after support ends?
Will Word, Excel and PowerPoint 2021 still open my files?
What happens to Outlook 2021 and my Microsoft 365 email?
Should I buy Office 2024 or Microsoft 365?
What happens to Microsoft Publisher?
Does Office 2021 end of support apply to Mac?
What about Office 2019 and Office 2016?
Is Office 2021 end of life the same as end of support?
How do I check which Office version I have?
How this page is built
The October 13, 2026 date and what stops come from Microsoft’s end of support notice for Office 2021. The Microsoft 365 connectivity rules, including the October 10, 2023 date for Office 2016 and 2019, come from Microsoft Learn’s page on Office versions and connectivity, which also lists Office LTSC 2024 until October 9, 2029. The Publisher dates come from Microsoft’s Publisher retirement notice. The Office LTSC 2021, Mac, Visio and Project dates come from Microsoft’s administrator announcements as reported by IT sources.
Sources checked: Microsoft Support: End of support for Office 2021, Microsoft Learn: Office versions and connectivity to Microsoft 365 services, Microsoft Support: Publisher retirement, Microsoft Learn: Office 2021 lifecycle.
Built and checked by R.K., Creator and Business Economics Analyst. We will update this page after October 13 and if Microsoft changes any date.