Office 2021 end of support arrives on 13 October 2026 — and if you’re still running the suite on that date, Microsoft will stop delivering security patches, bug fixes, and technical support for it entirely. That’s not a minor inconvenience; it’s a genuine security risk for anyone who uses Word, Excel, Outlook, or PowerPoint daily. The good news is you still have time to make a smart, unhurried decision about what comes next.
What Does Office 2021 End of Support Actually Mean?
According to Microsoft’s official Lifecycle page, Office 2021 (including Office LTSC 2021 for commercial users) reaches its retirement date on 13 October 2026. From that point, Microsoft will no longer release:
- Security updates to patch newly discovered vulnerabilities
- Bug fixes for crashes, compatibility issues, or data errors
- Technical support via phone, chat, or online assistance
- Compatibility improvements for newer Windows versions or cloud services
Your copy of Office 2021 will not suddenly stop working on 14 October 2026. Word will open, Excel will calculate, PowerPoint will present. But every week that passes after the Office 2021 expiry date, unpatched vulnerabilities accumulate — and attackers know exactly which products are no longer defended.
Who Is Most at Risk After the Office 2021 Support End?
Not every user faces the same level of exposure after the Office 2021 support end, but some groups should act faster than others.
- Small businesses handling client data — unpatched Office vulnerabilities are a common ransomware entry point via malicious Word macros and Excel files.
- Remote workers using Outlook — email clients are prime targets for phishing exploits that depend on unpatched rendering engines.
- Schools and non-profits — often slow to update, which makes them attractive targets for opportunistic attacks.
- Anyone on Windows 10 — Windows 10 itself reached end of support in October 2025, so pairing an unsupported OS with unsupported Office is a double vulnerability.
Home users who browse carefully and don’t open unknown attachments face lower immediate risk, but the exposure still compounds over time.
Option 1: Upgrade to Office 2024 — Best for One-Time Buyers
The most direct like-for-like Office 2021 upgrade is Microsoft Office 2024. It’s a perpetual licence — you buy it once, own it forever, and owe Microsoft nothing further. Office 2024 is supported until October 2029, buying you another three years of security updates out of the box.
What’s new over Office 2021? Key improvements include better Excel dynamic array functions, a refreshed Outlook UI, performance boosts across Word and PowerPoint, and Teams integration built in. For most home users and small businesses, the feature delta is modest but meaningful — and the security timeline is the real prize.
At Buy Now Key, Office 2024 Professional Plus for Windows is available from €19.95 — a one-time lifetime licence that costs far less than a single year of a Microsoft 365 subscription. If you want to combine it with a fresh Windows 11 licence at the same time, the Windows 11 Pro + Office 2024 bundle brings both for €27.80.
Option 2: Switch to Microsoft 365 — Best for Teams and Cloud Users
Microsoft is actively steering users from the Office 2021 upgrade path towards Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365), its subscription model. At around £79.99/year for the personal plan or £99.99/year for the family plan (up to six users), you get:
- Always up-to-date desktop apps — no further end-of-support deadlines to worry about
- 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage per user
- Real-time collaboration in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint
- Access to web and mobile versions of every app
- Microsoft Copilot AI features (where available on your plan)
The trade-off is obvious: you pay every year, forever. If you use Office heavily across multiple devices, collaborate constantly, or value the OneDrive storage, the maths can work in your favour. If you’re a solo user who fires up Word occasionally, paying indefinitely for a word processor is hard to justify — especially when perpetual alternatives exist.
Option 3: Free Alternatives — LibreOffice and Google Workspace
The Office 2021 expiry also opens the door to reconsidering whether you need Microsoft Office at all. Two free options cover most use cases surprisingly well.
LibreOffice
LibreOffice is a free, open-source desktop suite that reads and writes .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx files. It runs offline, has no subscription, and is actively maintained by a global community. Compatibility with complex Excel formulae or heavy Word formatting can occasionally break, but for straightforward documents, spreadsheets, and presentations, it does the job competently.
Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides
Google’s browser-based suite is free for personal use, works on any device, and auto-saves every change. Collaboration is excellent. The main limitation: you need an internet connection for full functionality, and very complex spreadsheet models don’t always translate cleanly from Excel. Businesses should also consider data privacy implications of storing files on Google’s servers.
Option 4: Stay on Office 2021 — and Understand the Real Risk
Some users will choose not to upgrade immediately after the Office 2021 support end, and that’s a personal or business decision — not an instant catastrophe. Here’s how to minimise risk if you go that route:
- Keep Windows fully updated — Windows-level patches sometimes mitigate Office-level vulnerabilities indirectly.
- Run a reputable antivirus — compensating controls matter when the application itself is unpatched.
- Disable macros by default — most Office-based malware relies on macros being enabled.
- Avoid opening attachments from unknown senders — the most common Office exploit vector.
- Plan a firm upgrade date — “not right now” should have a deadline, not be indefinite.
This approach is sensible for a few weeks or months post-deadline. It is not a long-term strategy — the risk curve steepens with every month of the Office 2021 upgrade you defer.
What About Office 2019 and Office 2016 Users?
If you’re still on an even older version, the urgency is higher. Office 2019 reached its mainstream end of support in October 2023, and Office 2016 hit its final end of extended support in October 2025. Both versions are already operating without security patches. If that’s your situation, upgrading is overdue, not just approaching.
Which Office 2021 Upgrade Path Is Right for You?
A simple framework to guide your decision:
- Solo home user, light usage → LibreOffice or Google Docs (free), or Office 2024 perpetual licence for full Microsoft compatibility
- Power user, offline-first, no subscription preference → Office 2024 Professional Plus — best value perpetual choice
- Team of 2–6 people, regular collaboration → Microsoft 365 Family plan for shared storage and real-time co-editing
- Business with 10+ seats → Microsoft 365 Business plans or Office 2024 LTSC volume licensing, depending on IT policy
- Budget-conscious, very occasional use → Google Workspace free tier or LibreOffice
How to Prepare Before October 2026
You have roughly four months from publication to get organised. Here’s a practical checklist:
- Audit your installs — check every PC in your home or office for the version of Office installed (File → Account → About).
- Decide your path — use the framework above to pick perpetual, subscription, or free.
- Back up your files — before any software change, back up documents, templates, and Outlook PST files.
- Purchase and activate a new licence — if going the perpetual route, there’s no rush past October, but early movers avoid last-minute chaos.
- Test compatibility — run your most complex Excel sheets and Word templates in the new environment before removing Office 2021.
- Remove Office 2021 — once you’ve confirmed everything works, uninstall the old version cleanly via Settings → Apps.
FAQ
When exactly does Office 2021 end of support happen?
Microsoft has confirmed the Office 2021 support end date as 13 October 2026. This applies to both the retail consumer versions (Home & Student, Home & Business, Professional Plus) and the volume-licensed Office LTSC 2021 edition. After that date, no further security updates or bug fixes will be issued.
Will Office 2021 stop working after the Office 2021 expiry date?
No — Office 2021 will continue to run after its support end date. The applications will open and function as normal. What stops is Microsoft’s commitment to patch newly discovered security flaws, meaning your software becomes progressively more exposed to exploits over time. Think of it like driving a car with no manufacturer support for safety recalls.
Is Office 2024 worth the Office 2021 upgrade cost?
For most users, yes. Office 2024 extends your support window to 2029, includes meaningful functional improvements, and — when purchased as a perpetual licence from a reputable reseller — costs significantly less than even one year of Microsoft 365. It’s the lowest-friction upgrade path for anyone who prefers not to pay a recurring subscription.
Does the Office 2021 support end affect Microsoft 365 subscribers?
No. If you’re already a Microsoft 365 subscriber, this deadline doesn’t apply to you — your apps update continuously and you’re always on the latest supported version. The Office 2021 expiry only affects users of the standalone perpetual-licence version of Office 2021.
Can I keep using Outlook after the Office 2021 support end?
Technically yes, but it’s one of the higher-risk applications to leave unpatched. Outlook handles email attachments and HTML rendering — two of the most commonly exploited attack surfaces. If you rely on Outlook for business email, upgrading it should be a priority before the Office 2021 expiry date in October 2026.
What is the cheapest legitimate way to handle the Office 2021 upgrade?
The most affordable legitimate route is a genuine perpetual licence key from an authorised reseller. At Buy Now Key, Office 2021 Professional Plus is available from €28.90 if you still want to run the current version, or you can step directly to Office 2024 Professional Plus from €19.95 — a lifetime licence with support through 2029. All keys are sourced from authorised distributors and come with a money-back guarantee if activation fails.