Everyone’s heard that Windows 10 has reached the end of the road. Fewer people know that the same thing has happened to older versions of Microsoft Office. If you bought Word and Excel a few years ago and have used them ever since, it’s worth checking where you stand.
Which versions are out of support?
- Office 2016 and Office 2019: support ended on 14 October 2025.
- Office 2021: support ended on 13 October 2026.
Unlike Windows 10, Microsoft isn’t offering any paid extension for Office.
What does “out of support” mean?
Your Office apps still open and work. But Microsoft no longer provides:
- Security updates
- Bug fixes
- Technical support
That matters because documents are one of the most common ways attackers get in. A booby-trapped Word or Excel file attached to an email can exploit a security hole in an unpatched version of Office.
How to check your version
- Open Word (or Excel).
- Click File → Account.
- Look under Product Information. You’ll see something like: – Microsoft 365 (subscription, always up to date) – Office 2024, Office 2021, Office 2019 or Office 2016
On a Mac, open Word and choose Word → About Word.
Your options
1. Microsoft 365 (subscription)
A monthly or yearly subscription that always has the latest version.
- Personal covers one person, on up to five devices
- Family covers up to six people
- Includes 1 TB of OneDrive storage per person
- Works on Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad and Android
Best for: families, people with several devices, or anyone who wants cloud storage and backups included.
2. Office 2024 (one-off purchase)
Pay once, use it for years, for one PC or Mac. You get Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote (Outlook in the business edition). It’s supported until October 2029.
Best for: one computer, no subscription, and you don’t need extra cloud storage.
3. Office on the web (free)
Free, simplified versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint in your browser at office.com, with a free Microsoft account. You need an internet connection, and some advanced features are missing.
Best for: occasional letters and simple spreadsheets.
4. LibreOffice (free)
A free, full office suite that you install on your computer. It opens and saves Word, Excel and PowerPoint files, although complex formatting can sometimes shift.
Best for: people who want a free program that works offline.
5. Google Docs (free)
Free, browser-based documents and spreadsheets with a Google account. Great for sharing and working together.
A warning about cheap keys
You’ll see “Office Professional” licence keys for £10 on marketplace sites. These are often volume licences being resold against Microsoft’s terms, keys bought with stolen cards, or simply fake. They can be deactivated without warning. Buy from Microsoft or a reputable retailer.
What about Outlook and your email?
If you use the Outlook desktop app from an old version of Office, it’s affected too. Your emails are stored with your email provider, so moving to a newer Outlook, or to webmail, won’t lose them. If you use old-style PST files, back them up before changing anything.
💡 Tip: if you mainly write the odd letter and keep a household budget, the free web version of Office or LibreOffice may be all you need. Don’t pay for more than you’ll use.
Wrapping up
Old versions of Office still open, but they’re no longer being patched. Check your version under File → Account, and if it’s 2021 or older, choose between Microsoft 365, Office 2024 or a free alternative.
Next in the series: Tax Return Due? So Are the Scammers: HMRC Scams to Watch For
Sources: Microsoft: End of support for Office 2021 · Microsoft: End of support for Office 2016 and Office 2019 · heise: Office 2021 support ends October 13, 2026
