Microsoft Project 2021 End of Support: What to Do Next

Quick answer: Microsoft Project 2021 and Project 2021 (LTSC) reached the end of support on October 13, 2026. The desktop apps may still open, but Microsoft no longer provides security updates, bug fixes, or technical support for these releases. If you rely on Project for active schedules, the practical next step is to identify your edition, back up your project files, and move to a supported version.

For most people using the one-time-purchase Project 2021, Project 2024 Professional is the corresponding newer release. If your organization deployed Project 2021 (LTSC), review Project LTSC 2024 Professional instead. Check your existing edition, Office installation, and IT requirements before purchasing.

When did Microsoft Project 2021 support end?

Microsoft lists October 13, 2026 as the end-of-support date for both Project 2021 and Project 2021 (LTSC) in its 2026 lifecycle overview. The standard and LTSC editions have separate lifecycle entries, but they share this deadline. Both Standard and Professional editions are affected.

End of support does not remove Project from your computer or erase an existing schedule. It means you should no longer count on Microsoft to fix newly discovered problems in that version. A file that opens today may continue to open, but keeping an unsupported app in a business workflow increases the work your team must do to manage security and compatibility risks.

Which Project 2021 edition do you have?

Before choosing an upgrade, open Project and go to File > Account. Note the product name and whether it says Standard, Professional, or LTSC. If your company installed Project for you, ask your IT administrator which edition and deployment method your team uses. This is especially useful when Project is installed alongside Office, because the installation technologies and update channels can affect which products can run together.

Microsoft maintains separate lifecycle records for Project 2021 and Project 2021 (LTSC). If you are uncertain which one you own, confirm the edition before ordering a replacement key.

What should you upgrade to?

The simplest starting point is to stay on the same licensing path: Project 2021 users should evaluate Project 2024, while Project 2021 (LTSC) users should evaluate Project 2024 (LTSC). Then choose Standard or Professional according to the features your team actually uses. For example, a small team managing local schedules may have different needs from an organization that depends on connected services and centrally managed deployments.

Microsoft lists both Project 2024 and Project 2024 (LTSC) as supported releases. Brytesoft’s Microsoft Project range shows the editions currently offered. Availability can change, so check the product page before deciding.

A practical upgrade checklist

1. List where Project is installed. Include the computers used to create or edit schedules, plus any shared or managed devices. Record the Project edition, Office edition, Windows version, and whether the installation is managed by IT.
2. Back up your work. Save copies of active .mpp plans, templates, resource pools, reports, and custom views. Keep the originals until you have tested the new installation.
3. Check dependencies. Ask whether your team uses add-ins, Excel imports, macros, third-party integrations, shared resource pools, or connected Project services. These are the workflows most likely to need a test after upgrading.
4. Choose the matching 2024 release and edition. Decide whether you need Standard or Professional, then confirm whether your current environment calls for Project 2024 or Project 2024 (LTSC).
5. Check installation compatibility. Microsoft’s Office, Project, and Visio coexistence guide explains which combinations are supported on one computer. Review it before removing the old version or deploying the new one.
6. Test representative schedules. Open a copy of a simple plan and a complex plan in Project 2024. Check task dates, dependencies, calendars, custom fields, resources, reports, and print layouts. Have the people who use those plans confirm the results.
7. Roll out and document the change. Install the chosen release, activate it using the instructions for that edition, and tell your team where the current project files live. Keep a short record of any add-ins or templates that needed updating.

Will Project 2024 open your Project 2021 files?

Project uses .mpp files, and Microsoft provides guidance on opening Project files across versions. Still, an openable file is not the same as a fully tested workflow. Test a copy of a real schedule before moving everyone over, particularly if it uses custom fields, calendars, formulas, or linked plans.

If colleagues will keep editing the same plan in an older Project release, test that round trip carefully. Microsoft warns that opening a file created in a later version in an earlier version can lose data or formatting associated with newer features. The safest team practice is to agree on one working version for shared schedules after the migration.

Can you keep using Project 2021?

Project 2021 does not automatically stop launching when support ends. You can still view or edit files on a machine where it remains installed and activated. The issue is that Microsoft no longer supplies fixes for that release. For an active business workflow, especially one that handles project files from outside your organization, moving to a supported version is the sensible long-term choice.

If you cannot upgrade immediately, identify the affected computers, keep reliable backups, and set a date to test and complete the move. Avoid assuming that a working installation today will remain suitable for future Windows, Office, or integration changes.

Choosing your next Project edition

Start with the edition your team uses today, then check whether its features still meet your needs. Brytesoft currently lists Project 2024 Professional and Project LTSC 2024 Professional. If you need Standard, a different licensing arrangement, or several seats, use the Project category page to compare current options.

Do not base the decision on the year alone. Match the edition and deployment path to the Office products on each PC, the number of people who need to edit schedules, and any IT restrictions. A short pilot with one real project file is often more useful than a long feature list.