timetobail
My stack

Microsoft Office · Forced move · Tracked since October 13, 2026 · Sources checked Oct 13

Time to bail on Office 2021 and Office LTSC 2021?

Time to Bail · Boarding pass

FromOffice 2021 and Office LTSC 2021
ToLibreOffice

Gone.

Support ends October 13, 2026. After that, Microsoft sends no more security updates.[1]

Gone means the date has passed. Check what you can still save.

Gate closes
Support ends
Flight
Departed
Status
Gone

Office 2021 and Office LTSC 2021 support ends October 13, 2026

Microsoft ends support for Office 2021 and Office LTSC 2021 on October 13, 2026. After that, these apps get no more security updates.

What you can do now

Tick steps as you go. Your progress stays in this browser.

  1. Check which Office you have

    Open Word, then File > Account. It shows the version name.

  2. Save Publisher files as PDF

    If you use Publisher, open each .pub file and choose File > Save as > PDF.

  3. Pick what comes next

    Choose a newer Office, a Microsoft 365 plan or another office suite. Test your files in it before you switch.

Facts we checked

Facts and their sources
Support endsOctober 13, 2026[1]
Office version2021[1]
What is includedOffice 2021 and Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, OneNote, Publisher, Visio and Project 2021[1]
Volume license versionOffice LTSC 2021 and its apps, also October 13, 2026[1]
After that dateNo new security updates, non-security updates or paid or free support[1]
Office 2021 editionsHome and Business, Home and Student (also for Mac), Professional[2]
PublisherRemoved from Microsoft 365 on or shortly after October 1, 2026[3]
People who bought Office 2021Get no security updates after October 13, 2026[1]

Where people go

Listed for convenience. Not ranked. Not paid.

Editor's picks 1

Chosen by an editor. An importer claim links to its source.

  • LibreOffice

    Free office suite you install on your PC. Its makers say it costs nothing.

    Option people mention

Sources

Check it yourself. Every fact above links here.

  1. Ending Support in 2026 Microsoft · primary · checked Oct 13
  2. Office 2021 lifecycle Microsoft · primary · checked Oct 13
  3. Microsoft Publisher end of support Microsoft · primary · checked Oct 13
  4. LibreOffice The Document Foundation · primary · checked Oct 13
Read the published editorial report

What changed

Time to bail on Office 2021 and Office LTSC 2021? Gone. Support ends October 13, 2026. After that, Microsoft sends no more security updates.

On our scale this is Gone: the date has passed. Check what you can still save.

Microsoft ends support for Office 2021 and Office LTSC 2021 on October 13, 2026. After that, these apps get no more security updates.

Here are the facts we checked:

  • Support ends: October 13, 2026 (Microsoft)
  • Office version: 2021 (Microsoft)
  • What is included: Office 2021 and Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, OneNote, Publisher, Visio and Project 2021 (Microsoft)
  • Volume license version: Office LTSC 2021 and its apps, also October 13, 2026 (Microsoft)
  • After that date: No new security updates, non-security updates or paid or free support (Microsoft)
  • Office 2021 editions: Home and Business, Home and Student (also for Mac), Professional (Microsoft)
  • Publisher: Removed from Microsoft 365 on or shortly after October 1, 2026 (Microsoft)
  • People who bought Office 2021: Get no security updates after October 13, 2026 (Microsoft)

You cannot stay on the old setup. You have to move to the new one, or leave.

A forced move is a good time to check if the tool still fits you. Moving again later is more work than moving once.

Microsoft is the main source for this page. Microsoft Office has not said more than what is listed here. If a fact is not on this page, we do not know it yet.

Who is affected

People who bought Office 2021: Get no security updates after October 13, 2026.

Export takes some work. Do not leave it for the last day.

The date to remember is October 13, 2026. After that, it may be too late to save what you need.

What to do before October 13

  1. Check which Office you have. Open Word, then File > Account. It shows the version name.
  2. Save Publisher files as PDF. If you use Publisher, open each .pub file and choose File > Save as > PDF.
  3. Pick what comes next. Choose a newer Office, a Microsoft 365 plan or another office suite. Test your files in it before you switch.

A few rules help every move go well:

  • Keep the old account open until the new tool works. Do not cancel first.
  • Keep every export in two places, like your laptop and a cloud drive.
  • Test the new tool with a small part of your data before you move it all.
  • Tell your users or team once, in one short and clear message.

How to tell your users

Send one short email. Say what changed, where to find you now, and what they need to do. Put the most important line first.

If there is a date, send a short reminder a few days before it. Keep a copy of the list you sent it to.

Options people mention

Listed for convenience. Not ranked. Not paid. These names come up in threads and reviews; that does not show where people moved.

  • LibreOffice: Free office suite you install on your PC. Its makers say it costs nothing.

Before you pay, check the price page of each tool yourself. Prices change, and we only list what our sources say.

Questions people ask

No questions collected yet.

Sources

Thanks.

Did this answer your question?

Run SaaS spend at work? Get these changes before the invoice

Arrivals · for builders

Building where they land?

People leaving Office 2021 and Office LTSC 2021 need a new home. Get the playbook for this change, and list your product here.

Listing is free. An editor checks it. Not ranked. Not paid.

Open the playbookList your product