How-To Geek - Monday, August 31, 2020 at 2:40 AM

Is Your Microsoft Office Still Getting Security Updates?

Is your version of Office still getting security updates? It depends which version you’re using. Microsoft has a published support lifecycle, but it can be difficult to dig up the info. Here’s what you need to know.

Software updates are important for Office. An out-of-date version of Microsoft Outlook is vulnerable to malicious emails, but even an out-of-date version of Microsoft Word is vulnerable to malicious DOC and DOCX documents you might download and open. Even a malicious image you copy-paste into an Office document could potentially compromise your system if you don’t have the latest updates.

Mainstream vs. Extended Support

First, let’s go over the difference between “Mainstream Support” and “Extended Support.” , every Office version receives “Mainstream Support” for several years when it’s first released. Microsoft will continue updating that version of Office with new features.

Several years after that, it’s put into an “Extended Support” period. Microsoft will stop adding new features, but will continue issuing security updates throughout the Extended Support period.

Organizations may also be able to buy after the period, just as they can with Windows 7.

As long as your version of Microsoft Office is still receiving at least extended support, it’s still getting security updates.

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How Long Will Microsoft Support Your Version of Office?

These versions of Office are still getting security updates:

• Office 365, available through a?, is always kept up-to-date with the latest software.
• Office 2019 for both Windows and Mac will get security updates until October 14, 2025. The mainstream support end date is October 10, 2023, while the extended support end date is October 14, 2025. ()
• Office 2016 for both Windows and Mac will get security updates until October 14, 2025. The mainstream support end date is October 13, 2020, while the extended support end date is October 14, 2025. ()
• Office 2013 for Windows will get security updates until April 11, 2023—as long as you have Service Pack 1 installed. The mainstream support period ended April 10, 2018, while the extended support end date is April 11, 2023. ()
• Office 2010 for Windows will get security updates until October 13, 2020. The mainstream support period ended on October 13, 2015, while the extended support end date is October 13, 2020. ()

Office applications normally get automatic updates. Here’s .

The following versions of Office are no longer supported:

• Office 2011 for Mac no longer gets security updates. Microsoft stopped supporting it on October 10, 2017. ()
• Office 2007, Office 2003, Office XP, Office 2000, Office 97, Office 95, and older versions of Microsoft Office no longer receive security updates. Office 2007, for example, reached the end of its extended support period on October 10, 2017. ()

Want to know whether a Microsoft product is still getting security updates? Head to and search for the name of the product you want information about.

What to Do If Your Version of Office Isn’t Getting Security Updates

if you’re still using an older version of Office that isn’t getting security updates, you should upgrade immediately to something modern and supported.

For example, you could get a Microsoft 365 subscription or . There are several?.

You don’t necessarily have to spend money—you could like , use a web-based office suite like or , or install Apple’s free software for Macs.

Whatever you do, however, we recommend you use office software that’s modern and up-to-date with security updates.

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? ? ?David Goldfield