Microsoft will officially end support for specific versions of Office. The news comes from Mariana Prudencio, Microsoft’s senior product marketing manager, who made the announcement via a blog post. Below, you’ll find the versions of Office that will be impacted. Each one has a link to its support page at Microsoft, so be sure to check it out.
Microsoft will no longer be supporting the following versions of Office
- Office 2016 (introduced in September 2015), Office 2019 (introduced in September 2018): Access 2016, Access 2019, Excel 2016, Excel 2019, OneNote 2016, Outlook 2016, Outlook 2019, PowerPoint 2016, PowerPoint 2019, Project 2016, Project 2019, Publisher 2016, Publisher 2019, Skype for Business 2016, Skype for Business 2019, Visio 2016, Visio 2019, Word 2016, Word 2019
- Productivity Servers: Exchange Server 2016, Exchange Server 2019, Skype for Business Server 2015, Skype for Business Server 2019
So, when is the cut off date?
Support will end on October 14th, 2025.
What does that mean for me?
After October 14th, 2025, Microsoft will no longer provide security fixes, bug fixes, or technical support. If you continue to use those versions after the end date, you’re opening yourself up to security threats, so please be mindful. In other words, there won’t be a monthly Microsoft patch day for Office 2016 and Office 2019.
How do I proceed?
Right now, you don’t have to worry about switching to a new version of Office. That said, when that expiration date hits, you shouldn’t use Office 2016 or Office 2019 anymore, at least not on computers that are connected to the internet.
Microsoft Office Long-Term Servicing Channel
Microsoft also offers Office Long-Term Servicing Channel (LTSC). This allows you to use Office LTSC 2021 until October 13th, 2026. The company developed this version for devices that cannot accept feature updates or connect to the internet.
This article originally appeared on PC Welt and has been translated from German to English.