ZDNET’s key takeaways
- Microsoft is ending assist and updates for Workplace 2021.
- You possibly can improve to Workplace 2024 or subscribe to Microsoft 365.
- You may as well strive a special, free on-line or desktop workplace suite.
Microsoft continues to supply one-time buy variations of Workplace for individuals who don’t need to pay a daily month-to-month or annual charge for Microsoft 365. However even these non-subscription variations can put on out their welcome, and that’s taking place with Workplace 2021.
In a brand new assist doc, Microsoft revealed that it’s ending assist for Workplace 2021 as of Tuesday, October 13. Which means the corporate will now not present technical assist, software program updates, bug fixes, or safety patches, leaving the software program unprotected towards vulnerabilities which will pop up.
Additional, Microsoft will cease updating the net assist and assist pages for the product. You probably have a query or downside, you received’t discover the answer on-line, no less than not from Microsoft. You’ll nonetheless be capable of use the software program for so long as you need, simply with out the same old assist and updates.
Additionally: How one can get Microsoft 365 (previously Workplace) without cost – 3 simple methods
Microsoft sometimes ends assist for sure desktop merchandise in some unspecified time in the future. Home windows is the obvious instance. However right here, the deadline is a hefty ten years. On Oct. 15, 2025, assist ended for Home windows 10 after its debut again in 2015. Microsoft has thrown a lifesaver to folks nonetheless on this model with its Prolonged Safety Updates (ESU) program, guaranteeing safety updates no less than till Oct. 12, 2027.
Launched in 2021, Home windows 11 nonetheless has a protracted assist life forward of it. However every new annual iteration of Home windows 11 Dwelling and Professional will get reduce off after two years. At the moment, Home windows 11 23H2 is now not supported. Model 24H2 Dwelling and Professional version will hit finish of assist on October 13 of this 12 months. Assist for model 25H2 will cease on Oct. 12, 2027. However with the brand new 26H2 version, you’ll be supported till Oct. 10, 2028.
Additionally: Microsoft Workplace 2024 now out there and not using a subscription for PC and Mac
The one-time buy version of Workplace used to get pleasure from a for much longer assist interval, lasting for 10 years. Assist ended for Workplace 2010 in 2020 and for Workplace 2013 in 2023. Since then, nevertheless, Microsoft has gotten stingier. Assist for Workplace 2019 ran out after six years in 2025. And now assist for Workplace 2021 is ending after solely 5 years.
The possible purpose? Microsoft desires to push extra folks to its subscription-based Microsoft 365 product. To try this, the corporate has to make it harder for them to make use of the one-time license model.
Workplace 2021 customers have 5 choices
Now, what do you do in case you are nonetheless utilizing Workplace 2021? As I see it, you could have 5 choices.
- You possibly can proceed to make use of the software program with out assist. I’d warning towards that simply in case any critical safety flaws pop up that might in any other case must be patched.
- You possibly can improve to the 2024 model of Workplace, which naturally is likely one of the suggestions from Microsoft.
- You possibly can transfer to Microsoft 365 with its month-to-month and annual subscription worth. To no shock, that’s Microsoft’s different advice.
- You possibly can cease paying for Workplace fully and change to the free on-line model. The disadvantage right here is that this one lacks most of the superior instructions and options discovered within the desktop product.
- You possibly can surrender Microsoft and change to a special productiveness suite. Google Docs (together with Sheets and Slides) is freely out there. LibreOffice, Collabora Workplace, and OnlyOffice are just some different free choices on the market. Except you depend on Microsoft Workplace for particular options and capabilities that you simply simply can’t lose, do not forget that there are all the time alternate options.
See full bio
