Office 2021 End of Life (October 13, 2026): What Happens Now, Office 2021 vs 2024, and How to Upgrade
Short version: Office 2021 reaches end of life on October 13, 2026. It keeps opening, but Microsoft stops fixing security holes in it.
Microsoft calls it end of support. If you use Office for email, attachments or work files, plan your move now. Below: what changes, Office 2021 vs 2024, Office 2019 end of life, and the simplest way to upgrade to Office 2024, a one-time purchase Microsoft supports until October 2029.
Office 2021 End of Life: What Changes on October 13, 2026
Microsoft ends support for Office 2021 (and Office LTSC 2021) on October 13, 2026. Microsoft has said there will be no extension and no paid extended security updates for it. After that date, Office 2021 no longer gets:
- Security fixes, including protection against new viruses and spyware that target Office files
- Bug fixes and software updates
- Microsoft phone and chat support
- Most of Microsoft's online help content
Does Office 2021 stop working?
No. Microsoft says your Office 2021 apps may continue to function. Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook will still open your files. The risk is that new security problems found after October 13 will never be patched.
Is It Safe to Keep Using Office 2021?
For a while it will feel exactly the same. The problem is attachments. Attackers often hide malware inside Word and Excel files, and Outlook is how most of those files arrive. Once Office 2021 stops getting patches, any new hole that gets discovered stays open on your computer for good.
If Office is how you open email attachments, invoices, or files from people you don't know, upgrading is the safe move. If you only use it offline to type the occasional letter, the risk is lower, but it only grows over time.
Office 2019 End of Life Already Happened
If you're on Office 2019 or older, you are already past the deadline. Office 2019 reached end of support on October 14, 2025, so it hasn't had a security fix since. The same upgrade options below apply to you.
Office 2021 vs 2024: What Changes When You Upgrade
| Office 2021 | Office 2024 | |
|---|---|---|
| Security updates | End October 13, 2026 | Until October 9, 2029 |
| How you pay | One-time purchase | One-time purchase |
| Home editions | Home & Student, Home & Business | Home, Home & Business |
| Outlook included | Home & Business | Home & Business only |
| File formats | .docx, .xlsx, .pptx | Same formats, so your files open as they are |
In short, Office 2021 vs 2024 isn't a big change in how Office works day to day. The real difference is three more years of security updates, plus the newer features covered in What's new in Office 2024.
Upgrade Options: Office Home 2024 vs Office Home & Business 2024
| Option | What you get | How you pay | Supported until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Office Home 2024 | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote. 1 PC or Mac | One-time purchase | Oct 2029 |
| Office Home & Business 2024 | Everything in Home plus Outlook, and it's the edition Microsoft sells for use at work. 1 PC or Mac | One-time purchase | Oct 2029 |
| Microsoft 365 | Always the latest apps, cloud storage, Copilot features | Yearly subscription | As long as you pay |
Most people coming from Office 2021 want the same thing they have now: pay once, keep it for years. That's Office 2024. Pick Home & Business if you use Outlook or use Office for work, and Home if you only need Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Office Home & Business 2024 for PC →
Office Home & Business 2024 for Mac →
Still weighing a subscription? Our Microsoft 365 vs Office 2024 guide walks through the cost over three years, and What's new in Office 2024 covers the new features.
How to Move from Office 2021 to Office 2024
- Your files don't change. Office 2024 uses the same .docx, .xlsx and .pptx formats, so everything you made in Office 2021 opens normally.
- Install Office 2024. You'll get your license key by email, then install and activate with your Microsoft account. Our install and activation guide walks through it step by step.
- Remove the old version. Running two Office versions side by side causes problems, so uninstall Office 2021 when the installer asks or from Windows Settings.
- Check Outlook. If you use Outlook, your email account will need to be signed in again after the switch. Your mail stays with your email provider.
Still on Windows 10?
Microsoft only supported Office 2024 on Windows 10 until October 14, 2025, so Windows 11 is the platform to be on. If your PC is due for an upgrade anyway, see our Windows 11 keys.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does Office 2021 support end?
October 13, 2026. Microsoft has said there will be no extension and no extended security updates for Office 2021 or Office LTSC 2021.
Will Office 2021 stop working after October 13, 2026?
No. Microsoft says the apps may continue to function. They just stop receiving security fixes, updates and support.
What should I upgrade to from Office 2021?
Office 2024 is the closest match: a one-time purchase supported until October 2029. Choose Home & Business if you need Outlook or use Office for work, or Home for Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote.
How long will Office 2024 be supported?
Microsoft lists Office 2024 support through October 9, 2029.
Does Office 2024 Home include Outlook?
No. Outlook is included in Office Home & Business 2024, not in Office Home 2024.
Is Office 2021 end of life the same as end of support?
Yes. Microsoft calls it end of support. After October 13, 2026, Office 2021 gets no more security fixes, updates or Microsoft support, which is what most people mean by end of life.
What is the difference between Office 2021 vs 2024?
Both are one-time purchases that use the same file formats. The main difference is support: Office 2021 stops getting security updates on October 13, 2026, while Office 2024 is supported until October 9, 2029.
When was Office 2019 end of life?
October 14, 2025. Office 2019 no longer gets security updates, so the same upgrade advice applies.
Sources
- Microsoft: End of support for Office 2021
- Microsoft Lifecycle: Office LTSC 2021
- Microsoft Lifecycle: Office 2024
- Microsoft Lifecycle: Office 2019
- Microsoft: Office 2024 and Office LTSC 2024 FAQ
Last reviewed October 10, 2026.