Microsoft Office 2021

Version of the Microsoft Office productivity suite

Microsoft Office 2021 (third release codenamed Office 16) is a version of the Microsoft Office suite of applications for the Microsoft Windows and macOS operating systems. It was released on October 5, 2021.^[6] A successor, Microsoft Office 2024 is expected to be rolled out in the second half of 2024.^[7]

Office 2021 retains the same major version number of 16 that previous versions of Office had. It introduces new dynamic arrays, XLOOKUP^[8] features for Excel, full dark-mode support and performance improvements.^[9][10][11] Support for retail versions of Office 2021 will end on October 13, 2026; unlike older versions of Office, there is no extended support period.^[12]

Development

The office suite updates include better support for the OASIS OpenDocument file format. The version update adds features to the LET function, has better search for XMATCH function, dynamic arrays, XLOOKUP.^[13] It enhances Ink for Translate in Microsoft Outlook and PowerPoint.

Editions

Office 2021

• Office Home & Student 2021: Office Home & Student 2021 includes the core applications: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. Office Home & Student 2021 can be installed either on PC or on Mac.
• Office Home & Business 2021: Office Home & Business 2021 includes the core applications and Outlook. Office Home & Business 2021 can be installed either on PC or on Mac.
• Office Professional 2021: Office Professional 2021 includes the core applications, as well as Outlook, Publisher, and Access. Office Professional 2021 is exclusive for PC only.
• Office Professional Plus 2021: Office Professional Plus 2021 includes the core applications, as well as Outlook, Publisher, Access, and Teams (replacement of previous Skype for Business). Office Professional Plus 2021 is exclusive for PC only.

Office 2021 supports installation by using a product key to associate with a Microsoft Account (MSA), then by activation.

Office LTSC 2021

Volume licensing perpetual branch of Microsoft Office, 3 editions were released:

• Office LTSC Standard for Mac 2021: Office LTSC Standard for Mac 2021 includes the core applications as well as Outlook. It is only available for Apple Macintosh computers.
• Office LTSC Standard 2021: Office LTSC Standard 2021 includes the core applications, as well as Outlook and Publisher. Office LTSC Standard 2021 is only available for Microsoft Windows PCs.
• Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021: Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021 includes the core applications, as well as Outlook, Publisher, Access, and Teams. Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021 is only available for Microsoft Windows PCs.

Default font change

Midway through the life cycle of Office 2021, in July 2023 – after two years of evaluating five newly commissioned fonts – ^[14] the default font across all Office applications was changed to Aptos.^[15][16] This marked the first time since Office 2007 that Microsoft had changed default fonts.

Version history

Retail

Volume licensed

References

1. "Update history for Office LTSC 2021 and Office 2021". Archived from the original on August 24, 2024. Retrieved September 3, 2024.
2. "Language Accessory Pack for Office". Office. Microsoft. Archived from the original on November 11, 2021. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
3. "Update history for Office for Mac". Microsoft. Archived from the original on July 4, 2024.
4. "Office 2021 and Office LTSC for Windows and Mac FAQ". Microsoft. Archived from the original on May 25, 2024. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
5. Price, David (March 20, 2024). "Office 2024 for Mac is coming and you won't need a subscription to get it". Macworld. IDG Communications. Archived from the original on May 15, 2024.
6. Griffin, Andrew (October 14, 2022). "Microsoft Office is no more, company says, as it is renamed 'Microsoft 365'". The Independent. Archived from the original on December 27, 2022. Retrieved December 27, 2022.
7. Hazarika, Skanda (November 8, 2023). "Exclusive: Microsoft Office 2024 is coming next year, and you can try the preview now". XDA Developers. Retrieved November 14, 2023.
8. "XLOOKUP Function". Microsoft. Archived from the original on January 18, 2022. Retrieved January 16, 2022.
9. "Microsoft rolls out Windows 11; Office 2021 in line: Here's how to upgrade". Hindustan Times. October 5, 2021. Archived from the original on December 3, 2021. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
10. Gralla, Preston (October 6, 2021). "What's new in Office 2021?". Computer World. Archived from the original on April 27, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
11. Conditt, Jessica (October 1, 2021). "Microsoft Office 2021 starts at $150 and arrives on October 5th". Engadget. Archived from the original on January 16, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2021.
12. "Office 2021". Microsoft Docs. Archived from the original on March 24, 2022. Retrieved November 11, 2021.
13. "What's new in Office 2021". Microsoft. Archived from the original on October 21, 2021. Retrieved October 21, 2021.
14. Design, Microsoft (April 28, 2021). "Beyond Calibri: Finding The Next Microsoft 365 Default Font". Microsoft Design. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
15. "New Office theme - Microsoft Support". support.microsoft.com. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
16. Design, Microsoft (July 13, 2023). "A change of typeface: Microsoft's new default font has arrived". Microsoft Design. Retrieved January 29, 2024.