Office 2016 and 2019 reach End of Life as Microsoft pushes 365
As of October 14, Microsoft has officially ended support for all Office 2016 and Office 2019 products, including standalone apps and related servers. This marks another major step in Microsoft’s shift away from one-time license software toward its subscription-based Microsoft 365 platform.
From now on, these products will no longer receive security updates, bug fixes, or technical support. That includes Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, Access, and Visio 2016/2019, as well as Exchange Server 2016 and 2019 and Skype for Business Server versions.
Microsoft is urging users to upgrade to one of its modern offerings, such as Microsoft 365 E3, Office 365 E3, or Microsoft 365 Business Standard. For businesses that need an offline, non-cloud option, there’s Office LTSC 2024, designed for PCs that can’t connect to the internet or accept regular feature updates.
Those still using Skype for Business 2016 or 2019 are encouraged to switch to Microsoft Teams, or to the Skype for Business Server Subscription Edition if they need an on-premises setup.
Microsoft warns that continuing to use these outdated products could put organizations at risk by compromising security, compliance, and productivity. Larger organizations (with 150+ licenses) can get free migration help through Microsoft FastTrack, which assists with setup and transition to Microsoft 365.
