Update: Support for Office 2016 and Office 2019 Ending Soon (OCT 2025)
If you rely on Microsoft Office 2016 or 2019, note that extended support for these versions ends in October 2025. This means that after that date, Microsoft will no longer provide critical security updates, bug fixes, or technical support for these products.
What does this mean for you?
- Security Risks: Without ongoing security patches, your systems become more vulnerable to malware, viruses, and other cyber threats.
- Compatibility Issues: As newer technologies emerge, older software versions may struggle to keep up, leading to compatibility problems with other programs and services.
- Limited Functionality: You'll miss out on new features and functionality that Microsoft releases in newer versions of Office.
What should you do?
Microsoft recommends upgrading to Microsoft 365, the subscription-based service that offers the latest versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other productivity tools. Microsoft 365 provides several advantages:
- Always Up to Date: You'll always have access to the latest features, security updates, and bug fixes.
- Cloud Storage: Get cloud storage for your documents and collaborate with others easily.
- Additional Services: Depending on your chosen plan, you may benefit from additional services like Teams for communication and collaboration.
Other Options
If you're unable to switch to Microsoft 365 due to budget constraints or other reasons, there are limited alternatives:
- Office LTSC: Consider Office LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel), a one-time purchase option that receives security updates for a fixed period (until October 2026 for Office LTSC 2021). However, you won't get the new features and functionality of Microsoft 365.
- On-Premises Exchange Server: Organizations using Exchange Server 2016 can migrate to Exchange Server 2019, with the next version expected in the latter half of 2025.
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