Microsoft has set 13 October 2026 as the end-of-support date for Office 2021, with no extension or Extended Security Updates programme. For Indian households using a copy bought with a laptop or separately, the immediate issue is the end of fixes. Microsoft says the applications may continue to work after support ends.
The company’s support notice says it will stop providing software updates, security fixes and bug fixes, as well as phone and chat help. It warns that continued use could expose users to security risks. This is a scheduled support deadline, rather than an announcement that Word documents or Excel files will suddenly become inaccessible.
Check the installed edition first
The Office 2021 lifecycle listing covers Home and Business, Home and Student and Professional, including the listed Mac editions. Microsoft expresses its lifecycle dates in Pacific Time. Its published 13 October cutoff should not be read as an Indian midnight shutdown.
On a Windows computer, open Word or Excel and choose File, then Account. Microsoft’s version-check instructions say the Product Information area shows the product name. About Word or About Excel gives further version and build details. On a Mac, open Word, choose the Word menu and select About Word to see the version and licence type.
If the installation belongs to an employer or college, Microsoft advises contacting the organisation’s IT help desk about its upgrade plan. Check that before paying for a personal licence for a managed machine. A Microsoft 365 installation has its own subscription and support conditions.
What Microsoft’s India store charges
The prices below are Microsoft India store prices as of 13 October 2026, 8:31 pm IST, including GST. They are current direct-store listings, with purchase controls displayed, rather than a newly announced discount or a claim that every retailer charges the same amount.
Office Home 2024 is ₹10,999 as a one-time purchase for one PC or Mac. It includes desktop Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote. The licence is for non-commercial use. Outlook is absent from this package, so someone replacing a Home and Business installation should check the apps they use before choosing the cheaper edition.
Office Home & Business 2024 is ₹27,999, also a one-time purchase for one PC or Mac. It adds Outlook and is described for use at home or work. Both listings name Windows and macOS compatibility, but the operating-system version still needs checking against Microsoft’s current requirements.
Microsoft 365 Personal is ₹6,899 a year for one person. It permits sign-in on five devices at once and includes 1 TB of cloud storage, alongside apps including Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. The subscription renews automatically unless cancelled in the Microsoft account. That recurring annual charge is a different commitment from buying one Office 2024 licence.
A one-time Office 2024 purchase does not include the next major Office release; Microsoft says that would require another full-price purchase. Nor is it intended for a computer kept permanently offline. The Office 2024 FAQ requires internet access for activation and updates, and periodic access to keep the apps activated.
Free routes and the Windows check
A paid subscription is not the only route. Microsoft offers Word, Excel and PowerPoint for the web free with a Microsoft account, with 5 GB of OneDrive storage. These are browser apps. Microsoft’s collaboration note requires files to be saved in and shared from OneDrive, which matters when deciding where personal or work documents can be stored.
Students and teachers should also check institutional eligibility. Microsoft’s Office 365 Education page offers its A1 plan to those with an eligible education email address; the core apps are web-based. Eligibility lasts while the person works at or attends a qualifying institution and may be checked again. A school email address alone should not be treated as a promise of free desktop apps.
The operating system has a separate support timetable. Dalimss News has reported the Windows 10 consumer ESU extension; it does not extend Office 2021 support. Microsoft separately says Microsoft 365 apps on Windows 10 will receive security updates through 10 October 2028, while recommending a move to Windows 11. That assurance concerns Microsoft 365, not every Office edition.
For anyone choosing the web apps, browser updates remain another check. Dalimss News’ current CERT-In Chrome report explains the affected desktop builds and update steps. Checking Office, Windows and the browser separately avoids assuming that an update to one has renewed support for the others.
