Microsoft Ends New Office Features for Windows 10 — Upgrade to Windows 11 Soon

Microsoft's Plan to Phase Out New Features for Windows 10 Users

Microsoft has announced that it will stop providing new features for Office applications on Windows 10 users starting next year. This decision marks a significant shift in the company’s strategy, as it encourages users to transition to newer operating systems.

Key Dates and Implications

From August 2026 onwards, Windows 10 users will no longer receive new feature updates for Microsoft Office. However, security updates will continue to be provided until 2028. This means that there is still a window of just over a year for Windows 10 users to benefit from new features before they are locked out.

If you wish to continue receiving these updates beyond October 2026, upgrading to Windows 11 becomes essential. Microsoft has clarified that while the apps themselves will continue to function normally, the lack of new features could limit user experience.

Different Channels and Their Timelines

The impact of this change varies across different subscription models. For example:

Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscribers will stop receiving new features with the version 2608 release in August 2026.
Monthly enterprise channel users will see the same restriction in October 2026.
Semi-annual enterprise channel users will have their feature set frozen in January 2027.

All three release channels will have their feature sets locked at version 2608, regardless of whether the user is on a consumer or business subscription.

Support and Troubleshooting

Microsoft has also outlined how support for Office on Windows 10 will evolve. If an issue is specific to Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10, and not present on Windows 11, support may request the customer to move to Windows 11. However, if moving to Windows 11 is not feasible, support will provide troubleshooting assistance only, which might be limited.

It is important to note that support incidents for Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10 do not include the option to log bugs or request other product updates.

Extended Security Updates

In recent developments, Microsoft has allowed Windows 10 users an additional year of free security updates, provided they back up their PC settings to the cloud via a Microsoft Account. Alternatively, users can pay 1000 Microsoft Reward points or $30 per device.

These extended security updates will only last until October 2026 for individuals and consumers. After that, users will be without updated security patches. Enterprises, however, can continue to pay Microsoft to remain on Windows 10 until October 2028.

The Shift to Windows 11

Extended security updates cover only security patches, not bug fixes or new features. They also do not include support from app developers or driver makers. Over time, Windows 10 may face compatibility issues with newer apps and drivers, though this is not expected to happen immediately.

Windows 11 has recently become the most used version of Windows, surpassing Windows 10 after four years on the market. Currently, Windows 11 holds 52% of the market share, while Windows 10 stands at 44%. This trend is expected to continue as more users switch to Windows 11.

What This Means for Office Users

For Microsoft Office users, the message is clear: to keep receiving feature updates and maximize the value of their subscription, upgrading to Windows 11 is necessary. Without this upgrade, users will be paying for an app that is essentially in maintenance mode beyond August 2026.

This strategic move by Microsoft reflects its broader goal to phase out support for Windows 10, encouraging users to adopt the newer operating system. Whether through an in-place upgrade or purchasing a new PC, the transition to Windows 11 is becoming increasingly inevitable.