Office 2016 & 2019 End of Support: 2026 Upgrade Guide

What Does Office 2016 and 2019 End of Support Mean?

End of support does not mean that Microsoft remotely disables your Office applications. Your documents will not suddenly disappear, and the software may continue to open normally.

However, Microsoft no longer routinely provides:

• Security updates for newly discovered vulnerabilities
• Bug fixes and reliability improvements
• Technical support by phone or chat
• Updates to most online support content
• Compatibility improvements for newer services and technologies

Microsoft warns that continuing to use Office 2016 or Office 2019 may expose users to security risks and that performance and compatibility may decline over time.

For home users, the risk grows when opening email attachments, downloading documents, enabling macros, or working with files from unfamiliar sources. For businesses, unsupported Office software can also create compliance, cybersecurity, and application-management concerns.

Learn more from Microsoft's official Office 2016 and 2019 end-of-support guidance.

Is Office 2016 or Office 2019 Still Safe to Use?

Office 2016 and Office 2019 may still function, but they should no longer be considered suitable for long-term use on internet-connected computers.

Security vulnerabilities discovered after the end-of-support date may remain unpatched. Antivirus software and firewalls are still important, but they cannot replace security fixes within Word, Excel, Outlook, and the rest of the Office suite.

You should prioritise an upgrade if you:

• Use Outlook for business email
• Regularly open files received from customers or suppliers
• Use macros, add-ins, or shared templates
• Handle financial, customer, employee, or confidential information
• Work in a regulated or security-sensitive industry
• Depend on integrations with cloud platforms and newer applications

What Should Replace Office 2016 or Office 2019?

Most users have two practical upgrade paths:

1. Office 2024, for users who prefer a one-time purchase and a fixed feature set
2. Microsoft 365, for users who want a subscription with continuous feature updates and cloud services

Office 2024: A One-Time-Purchase Option

Office 2024 is the newer perpetual generation of Microsoft Office. Depending on the edition, it can include familiar desktop applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Access.

Office 2024 receives applicable security and quality updates during its support lifecycle, but it does not continually receive major new features in the way Microsoft 365 does.

Microsoft lists support for consumer Office 2024 editions until October 9, 2029. Office LTSC 2024 Professional Plus and Standard also follow a fixed lifecycle ending on October 9, 2029.

Office 2024 is best suited to users who:

• Prefer a one-time purchase
• Primarily use desktop applications
• Want a stable and predictable interface
• Do not require continuous feature additions
• Store most files locally or manage cloud storage separately

Review the official Office 2024 lifecycle information for current support dates.

Microsoft 365: A Subscription With Ongoing Updates

Microsoft 365 provides the desktop Office applications through a recurring subscription.

It also includes ongoing feature releases and, depending on the selected plan, services such as OneDrive cloud storage, collaboration tools, web applications, mobile applications, and multi-device access.

Microsoft 365 is generally the better fit for users who:

• Want the newest Office features as they are released
• Work across several devices
• Need cloud file storage and syncing
• Collaborate on documents in real time
• Prefer a subscription rather than purchasing a fixed version

Office 2024 vs Microsoft 365: Which Should You Choose?

Choose Office 2024 if you want familiar desktop applications without an ongoing subscription.

Choose Microsoft 365 if cloud collaboration, frequent feature updates, cross-device access, and online services are more important to you.

What Is New in Office 2024?

Office 2024 introduces several improvements over Office 2016 and Office 2019, although the exact features available vary between applications and editions.

Notable updates include:

• New and improved Excel functions
• Better session recovery in Word
• Improved accessibility tools
• New capabilities in Access
• Support for newer file and document standards
• Performance and stability improvements
• A more modern and consistent visual design

Users upgrading from Office 2016 are also likely to notice broader improvements in document compatibility, application reliability, interface consistency, and support for modern hardware.

See what is new in Office 2024 and Office LTSC 2024 on Microsoft's website.

Should You Upgrade Windows 10 at the Same Time?

Standard support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025, the same day as support for Office 2016 and Office 2019.

Windows 10 PCs still operate, but Microsoft no longer provides free security fixes, feature updates, or general technical support for standard Windows 10 installations. Microsoft recommends upgrading compatible devices to Windows 11.

Upgrading Office does not automatically upgrade Windows, and installing Office 2024 does not resolve the security risks associated with an unsupported operating system.

For a more secure long-term setup, consider using:

• A supported edition of Office
• Windows 11 on compatible hardware
• Current device drivers
• Supported versions of essential add-ins and business applications
• Regular file and system backups

Read our complete Windows 10 end-of-support guide for more information about your upgrade and extended-support options.

What If Your PC Cannot Run Windows 11?

Use Microsoft's PC Health Check application to determine whether your computer meets the Windows 11 requirements.

The main requirements include:

• A compatible 64-bit processor with at least two cores
• 4GB of RAM
• At least 64GB of storage
• UEFI firmware with Secure Boot capability
• TPM 2.0
• DirectX 12-compatible graphics
• A compatible display

PC Health Check explains whether your device qualifies and identifies the requirements it does not meet.

If the device is not compatible, your main options are to replace the computer, use an eligible Windows 10 Extended Security Updates arrangement temporarily, or review whether a supported Windows LTSC edition applies to your organisation.

Windows 10 ESU is a bridge rather than a permanent replacement for Windows 11. It provides eligible enrolled devices with important security updates, but does not restore general support or add new features.

Learn how to use the PC Health Check app before planning your upgrade.

How to Upgrade From Office 2016 or Office 2019

Follow this process to reduce the likelihood of lost files, activation problems, or application conflicts.

1. Check Which Office Version You Have

   Open Word or Excel and go to:

   File > Account > Product Information

   Record the edition, bit version, activation method, and Microsoft account associated with the installation.

   For business environments, create an inventory of every device still running Office 2016 or Office 2019.

2. Back Up Your Files and Settings

   Before removing the old version, back up:

   • Documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and templates
   • Outlook PST files and local archives
   • Email signatures
   • Custom dictionaries
   • Macros and add-ins
   • Access databases
   • Application templates
   • Product-key and account information

   A backup is particularly important if Outlook stores email locally or if your organisation uses custom macros and templates.

3. Check Your Operating System and Hardware

   Confirm whether the computer is running Windows 10 or Windows 11.

   If it uses Windows 10, run PC Health Check before planning a Windows 11 upgrade. Also confirm that printers, scanners, specialist software, and essential drivers will continue to work.

4. Choose Your Office Edition

   For eligible Windows business environments, common one-time-purchase options include:

   • Office LTSC 2024 Professional Plus
   • Office LTSC 2024 Standard

   Review the applications included in each edition before purchasing. The right choice depends on whether you need applications such as Outlook, Access, or other business tools.

   Users who need frequent feature additions, cloud storage, and real-time collaboration should compare the available Microsoft 365 plans instead.

5. Remove Incompatible Older Installations

   Avoid keeping conflicting Office installations unless your environment has been specifically tested for side-by-side use.

   Microsoft's Office Deployment Tool can remove older MSI-based Office installations by using the RemoveMSI setting. Office Click-to-Run installations can also be removed through the appropriate configuration settings before Office LTSC 2024 is deployed.

   Back up Outlook data and custom settings before uninstalling anything.

6. Install and Activate the New Version

   Home and small-business users should follow the installation instructions supplied with their selected Office edition.

   IT administrators deploying Office LTSC 2024 can use the Office Deployment Tool to:

   1. Create a configuration.xml file
   2. Select the required product and language
   3. Download the files or install from Microsoft's CDN
   4. Configure update and activation settings
   5. Deploy the applications to one or more computers

   See our Office Deployment Tool guide for a step-by-step walkthrough.

7. Test Before Completing the Rollout

   After installation:

   • Open Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook
   • Confirm that Office is activated
   • Install the latest available updates
   • Test email profiles and archives
   • Open important templates and documents
   • Test macros and add-ins
   • Confirm printer and scanner compatibility
   • Verify that shared folders and cloud locations remain accessible

   Businesses should test the upgrade on a small group of devices before deploying it across the entire organisation.

Recommended Upgrade Paths for Common Users

Home User With Office 2016

Choose a suitable consumer Office 2024 edition if you want a one-time purchase. Consider Microsoft 365 if you need cloud storage, multiple-device access, or regular feature additions.

If the computer still runs Windows 10, check whether it can be upgraded to Windows 11.

Freelancer or Small Business Using Office 2019

Consider an Office 2024 edition that includes the applications required for your work. Confirm whether Outlook and any specialist business tools are included before purchasing.

Microsoft 365 may be more suitable when several people need to share and edit files.

Business With Fixed Workstations

Office LTSC 2024 may suit eligible organisations that require a predictable feature set and controlled deployment.

Test line-of-business applications, add-ins, macros, and document-management integrations before rollout.

Team Working Remotely

Microsoft 365 is usually the stronger option for teams that need cloud file access, document co-authoring, mobile applications, and collaboration across locations.

Organisation With Restricted or Offline Systems

Office LTSC 2024 is designed for managed environments that cannot receive regular feature updates or that require greater control over application changes.