Microsoft Office 2021 support will end in October 2026 , and this is important information for both business and consumer users. Microsoft has confirmed that Office 2021 will reach its end of support on October 13, 2026. After this date, there will be no more security updates, bug fixes, or technical support.
What does stopping support mean?
When Microsoft Office 2021 support ends in October 2026 , the software will technically continue to work. However, continuing to use unsupported software carries clear risks. New security vulnerabilities discovered after this date will not be fixed. This can lead to vulnerabilities in privacy, data protection, and compliance.
For organizations and self-employed persons, this may have consequences for internal guidelines and external legislation regarding information security.
Microsoft's Modern Lifecycle Policy
Microsoft uses the so-called Modern Lifecycle policy , which predetermines the support duration of software versions. Within this policy, the following applies:
- Office 2016 and 2019: Support ends on October 14, 2025
- Office 2021: Support until October 13, 2026
- Office 2024: Support until October 9, 2029
This means that support for Microsoft Office 2021 will end in October 2026 according to a pre-determined schedule and will not be an exception.
What choices can you make now?
As the end of support approaches, it's wise to determine a strategy in advance. There are roughly three options:
-
Upgrade to Office 2024
Suitable if you want a one-time purchase without a subscription. This version offers several years of support. -
Switch to Microsoft 365
A subscription model with continuous updates and new features for as long as the subscription is active. -
Continue using Office 2021 until October 2026
This is still possible temporarily, but requires that you switch before the deadline to avoid security risks.
Why we recommend Office 2024
Now that Microsoft Office 2021 support ends in October 2026 , it's wise to plan ahead. We recommend Office 2024 because it's the latest one-time Office version, supported until October 9, 2029. This way, you're assured of security updates and a stable work environment for years to come, without being tied to monthly subscription fees.
Office 2024 is ideal if you're used to a classic Office installation with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, but want to stay future-proof. By choosing Office 2024 now, you avoid a last-minute switch and ensure you're set up well before support ends.
