- Microsoft to launch Office 2021 for consumers on October 5.
- The Office LTSC variant for commercial customers is available now.
Office 2021 for consumers will launch alongside Windows 11 on October 5, 2021. If you are a commercial or government customer, the new version of the suite of apps, part of the Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC), for compatible versions of Windows and macOS is available starting September 16.
Office 2021 is the version that will replace Office 2019. Office 2021 represents the standalone version of the suite of apps (also known as the “on-premises” or “perpetual” version) that allows you to install Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook without a Microsoft 365 subscription.
Although once you purchase this product, you can use it for around five years with maintenance and security updates, and forever without updates, you cannot upgrade to the next version.
Also, this version of Office only comes with a limited set of features compared to the offering from Microsoft 365, such as AI and other cloud-powered features.
As part of the new features, you will find a new dark mode for all apps. Dynamic array support functions and XLookup and Xmatch feature to search on Excel. LET function to assign names to calculation results.
On PowerPoint, you will find new features like replay your ink strokes as they were drawn. You will be able to arrange elements on slides for screen readers. And you will find a new and improved Record Slide Show feature.
Outlook will come with a translator and ink capabilities, and the instant search feature will help to find emails more quickly.
Also, in Word, Microsoft is adding Line Focus, a ready mode-like feature, and more.
For Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, Office 2021 will also include a new visual refresh with a new Start experience and updated tab and ribbon. In the apps, you will get new stock media, performance improvements, updated Draw taps, and much more.
While the release date and other details have been announced, the company hasn’t shared any details on pricing and all the new features.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows expert and the Editor-in-Chief who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He is also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 12 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows, software, and related technologies, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.