Microsoft is often referred to as the software giant — and for a good reason. Windows and Office are among the most profitable products in its ecosystem, thanks to their widespread global adoption. However, the tech giant has seemingly shifted its focus from its bread and butter to chase the elusive generative AI.

It dates back to Microsoft's first investment in OpenAI in 2019. CEO Satya Nadella revealed that his company's original co-founder, Bill Gates, wasn't party to the idea, citing the AI firm's non-profit structure. "Yeah, you're going to burn this billion dollars," Gates warned.

Conversely, a separate report claimed that Bill Gates is still intimately involved in Microsoft's affairs, despite stepping away to focus on his philanthropic efforts. His advice is reportedly regarded as gospel, with Nadella frequently relying on his guidance for the company’s transformative AI initiatives.

Nevertheless, Satya Nadella indicated that the company was moving away from Bill Gates' software factory vision: "That idea has guided us for decades," he indicated. "But today, it's no longer enough." According to Nadella, that original vision is becoming outdated as we edge closer to the AI revolution.

Instead, Microsoft is pivoting to security, quality, and AI transformation as its core business priorities. While it sounds good on paper, reality paints a very different picture (at least in the short term). Microsoft has faced a wide array of challenges in this age of AI, which could potentially undermine the backbone that has propelled it to a market capitalization of 2.82 trillion.

Too little, too late for Windows?

I've used Windows all my life, with a few side quests with Linux (Ubuntu) and macOS. Over that period, there's been a paradigm shift in Microsoft's OS, and not necessarily for the better. Windows 11's slow adoption rate before Windows 10's death is a clear depiction.

Many blatantly expressed their preference for the previous edition for a range of reasons, including Windows 11's stringent hardware requirements, flawed design elements, and more.

According to a recent HP survey, 3 out of 10 HP PCs are still running Windows 10 despite Microsoft pulling the plug on October 14, 2025. Then again, the number of Windows 10 holdouts has slightly decreased from September 2025, when HP and Dell indicated that up to 50% of PCs were still running on the operating system.

As a result, many users may not switch to Windows 11 immediately, instead delaying the upgrade until later this year, likely when ESU support officially ends.

Consequently, groups like The Restart Project group, which helped co-develop the "End of 10" toolkit to support Windows 10 users who can't upgrade to Windows 11, claim Microsoft's move to continue pushing security updates to Windows 10 beyond its end-of-support feels like a last-minute snooze button, which only acts as a band-aid on a bleeding system.

Critics have even branded Windows 10's end of support as programmed obsolescence on Microsoft's end, because the move forced millions of working PCs into early retirement, as they didn't meet the requirements to upgrade to Windows 11.

While it might seem like a stretch to some, rival platforms like Linux have shown some increased traction with incentives like a lack of ads and telemetry tracking fueling the switch from Microsoft's ecosystem. Some of our own Windows Central community members share the same sentiments, too.

That said, it might be too early to write off Windows. At the beginning of the year, Microsoft pledged to improve the overall user sentiment around the operating system, and has made good on its promise with its Windows K2 initiative (an internal initiative designed to address major pain points across Windows 11 based on customer feedback), including reducing where Copilot and other AI integrations appear across the operating system.

The company even brought back Windows Insider meetups to bridge the gap between users and the Windows development team, potentially making it easier to voice concerns and even provide feedback that will help steer the platform in the right direction.

However, Microsoft plans to evolve Windows into an agentic AI operating system — a move that has been received with mixed feelings. It indicated that Windows will ship with a new agentic workspace feature right out of the box, containing AI agents in their own secure sessions.

Last month, Yusuf Mehdi, Microsoft’s head of product marketing for AI and Copilot, transitioned to a new role focused on "reimagining Windows for the agentic era" before eventually departing the company. This is a clear indication that the evolution of Windows into an agentic OS is already on track and could happen sooner than you think.

It'll be interesting to see how this will impact Microsoft's massive market share on desktops with Windows, and whether users will jump ship to "less intrusive" alternatives.

Office lost Teams, and Microsoft thought Copilot would sweeten the deal

In case you missed it, Microsoft unbundled Teams from Office 365 to dodge EU antitrust fines in 2025. The new arrangement offers Office 365 and Microsoft 365 without Teams at a lower cost, at around $2.20 (€2) less per user each month. This means you'll have to get Teams as a standalone service for about $5.50 (€5) per user per month.

In April, Salesforce filed a lawsuit against Microsoft, citing anticompetitive practices related to its Microsoft Teams app: "Microsoft's practices harmed ⁠competition, using tying and bundling of Teams to ​limit customer choice," the Slack maker claimed.

However, Microsoft dismissed the claims, citing that the antitrust case lacked merit. At the same time, it used the opportunity to throw jabs at Slack's lackluster growth and inferior capabilities compared to Teams and Zoom.

In the interim, Microsoft Office could potentially be looking at a competitive threat from the likes of The Document Foundation's LibreOffice and even newcomers like Euro-Office.

Euro-Office is Europe’s bold alternative to Microsoft 365, promising sovereignty and control. Perhaps more interestingly, the service ships a familiar user interface as Microsoft's service, which should technically make the jump less drastic for users.

However, the threat doesn't seem that serious, at least in the short term, unless the rival platforms address major concerns affecting their services and commit to improving compatibility. According to Windows Central member, GraniteStateColin:

"Microsoft Office is cheap and excellent. It's a bargain for anyone who benefits from its feature set. If all you need is a simple text entry window, then it is overkill, but at $20/year/user ($120/year for 6 users), it's still one of the cheapest options. That's $2/mo! If that's what's bankrupting Europe, they have bigger problems."

"LibreOffice's compatibility with MS Office docs is terrible. If there's anything more than the occasional bold or italic word, formatting is almost always a mess when trying to open a LibreOffice document in Word. That's on them, not Microsoft. They have had access to the file standards for more than a decade and CHOSE not to implement them properly."

This isn't the first threat to Microsoft's dominance with Windows and its Office productivity tools. In April, the French government revealed that it was ditching Windows for Linux as part of the country's broader strategy to reduce its dependence on American tools.

Similarly, at the beginning of this year, France announced plans to ditch Microsoft Teams and Zoom for a domestically developed platform called Visio across its public institutions by 2027.

Microsoft's toxic relationship with AI

Last year, Microsoft started automatically installing the Copilot AI app on Microsoft 365 users' Windows PCs. However, it temporarily suspended the forced installation following backlash and complaints from users, including a critical bug that allowed the chatbot to access sensitive data and read confidential emails.

However, the company is resuming automatic Microsoft 365 Copilot installations, starting July 1, for all Microsoft 365 users. It's worth noting that admins can opt out of the experience.

Despite Microsoft's fixation on AI, shareholders recently filed a class action lawsuit against the company, alleging it deliberately overstated Copilot’s success and its partnership with OpenAI. They also claimed that Microsoft failed to disclose Azure’s revenue slump while pouring billions into expanding AI data center infrastructure.

Market analysts and experts warned that Microsoft could be facing its worst quarter since the 2008 financial crisis if it continues blowing money on AI that isn't meeting investor expectations for returns.

Microsoft's big bet on AI and consequent setbacks go beyond Office and Windows; Azure is a victim too. According to a former engineer, Microsoft reportedly rushed the service into the market to compete with Google and Amazon.

This resulted in a talent exodus and lackluster software, which seemingly left Microsoft's cloud fragile and unable to compete on an even playing field with competitors. Either way, the next few years will reveal whether Microsoft's AI gamble strengthens its legacy products or leaves them further behind.

What are your thoughts about the current state of Windows and Office as Microsoft pivots to AI? Share your thoughts with me in the comments.

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Last year, I reported on a controversial tracking feature in Microsoft's video conferencing tool, Microsoft Teams. Several reports suggested that the feature would act as a kind of lapdog for your boss, automatically reporting your exact live location when connected to your company's Wi-Fi.

However, the software giant cleared the controversy around the feature, detailing how it's supposed to work. "The feature is designed to facilitate collaboration, not compliance or oversight," Microsoft clarified.

As you might have picked up, Microsoft has delayed the rollout of the feature multiple times, from mid March 2026 to April 2026. However, it has now officially shipped to general availability in Microsoft Teams. It's also worth noting that it is expected to ship to broad availability for Microsoft Places later this year.

I noticed that Microsoft changed the name of the feature from Automatic Update of work location to workplace check-in via Wi-Fi. I digress, but if Microsoft's track record is anything to go by, naming features and products has never been its strongest suit.

In a new blog post, Microsoft detailed that the feature is "designed to help employees coordinate in-person work by keeping their workplace location up to date when they’re in the office."

Microsoft says the experience is similar to the existing workplace check-in via peripherals. As such, you can keep your workplace location updated by plugging into a configured peripheral like a display or a desk dock. "Organizations enable and configure this feature in their tenant, and individual users control whether and how it is used," Microsoft added.

How will the feature work exactly? "When an employee is in the office and connects their laptop to a configured corporate network, workplace check-in can update their work location for the day, only when enabled by the organization and the individual user," Microsoft explained. "This reduces the need to manually update location while keeping employees in control."

Microsoft says the feature is a new way to help users understand their counterparts' availability at work. "Workplace check-in helps keep the employee’s workplan up to date and includes the ability to check the employee into an existing desk reservation," the company added. "When schedules shift or someone decides to come into the office, employees who choose to use it can have their work location updated without needing to manually adjust their status each time."

• Employees remain in control. Workplace check-in via Wi‑Fi does not replace a user’s choice to share their workplace location, and individuals can configure their setting at any time.
• It does not retain or track information about employee movement or location over time. Workplace location is a current, in-the-moment signal and is not stored as historical data.
• It applies only to workplace contexts. The signal is generated when a device connects to configured corporate office networks through the Teams client and does not extend beyond those environments. Otherwise, if not connected to a configured network in a workplace location, your location will be shown as “Remote”.

It's worth noting that the workplace check-in feature is designed with both organizational controls and individual choice in mind. "Individuals remain in control of whether the feature works on their device," Microsoft added. "If required location settings are turned off, workplace check-in via Wi-Fi will not automatically activate regardless of organizational configuration."

As such, organizations will decide whether to enable the capability for their tenant. What's more, they can decide whether the end-user experience is opt-in or opt-out. You can also update your settings and manually set or override your work location at any time.

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Last month, I reported that a coalition of European enterprises and community organizations, including IONOS, Nextcloud, Eurostack, XWiki, OpenProject, Soverin, Abilian, and BTactic, was getting ready to launch Euro-Office on June 9, 2025. It's a Europe-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) designed to give Microsoft Office and Google Docs a run for their money.

Euro-Office has been heavily promoted as a sovereign alternative for public authorities, education systems, and some enterprises, moving away from overreliance on US-based cloud productivity services.

However, The Document Foundation behind LibreOffice recently published an open letter, sharing its thoughts about Euro-Office just a day before its official launch. The foundation says Euro-Office has been misrepresented as the first European open-source office suite.

The company indicated that LibreOffice and StarOffice were the only genuine open-source office suites while seemingly throwing a jab at Euro-Office. "They are not a freeware clone of MS Office whose code provenance is undisclosed, nor a product that has rebranded itself out of pure opportunism to ride today’s wave of Digital Sovereignty," The Document Foundation added.

It also pointed out that Euro-Office defaults to Microsoft's OOXML document format, which it claims is designed to prevent Digital Sovereignty by maintaining content lock-in. Based on this premise, the company says that it's difficult for Euro-Office to claim to advocate open source.

Euro-Office admitted that its service will feature a user interface nearly identical to Microsoft Office, with the key distinction being that it falls under European governance rather than U.S. oversight. The move may be aimed at enticing users away from Microsoft’s ecosystem.

The Document Foundation says that Euro-Office doesn't bolster sovereignty and control but builds and strengthens "Microsoft's strategy against European Digital Sovereignty, or, if you prefer, against the freedom of European users to control and manage their own content." So far, Euro-Office's launch has ultimately raised more questions than answers.

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Starting from July 13, 2026, Microsoft will no longer allow you to edit documents in Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac. The company attributes the change to the expiration of the digital certificate for its suite of productivity apps (via JimmyTech).

When your Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac license expires, the apps enter reduced functionality mode. That means you’ll still be able to open, view, and print existing documents in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. However, you’ll lose the ability to create new files, edit content, or save changes.

It's worth noting that the change isn't limited to Mac; it cuts across iPhone and iPad apps, too. However, Windows and Android versions will remain unaffected.

In October 2023, Microsoft ended support for Office 2019 for Mac and promised its customers to "rest assured that all your Office 2019 apps will continue to function." But as it now seems, the company is going back on its word. "The fact that Microsoft is using this expiration as a deadline that retires older versions of Office, rather than quietly renewing the certificate, is a choice," added JimmyTech.

The company has since revised the support document to drop the line, and it now reads that the user's data "can be accessed in a supported Microsoft 365 or Office product."

While Microsoft has renewed the productivity suite's certificate, it can only be delivered via a software update. This means that only Microsoft 365 and Office 2021 users are eligible, since Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac hit its end of support in October 2023.

Trying to update or reinstall the software on your device won't resolve the issue. Your best bet is to turn to Microsoft's free Microsoft 365 web apps, get a paid Microsoft 365 subscription, or make a one-time purchase of Office 2024.

It's also worth noting that Office 2021 will only receive updates until October 13, 2026. Once it hits the end of support, Microsoft says the productivity apps will continue to work as expected, but you'll no longer receive any security or feature updates.

This situation reminds me of when Microsoft pulled the plug on Windows 10 on October 14, 2025, leaving millions of users in the lurch. While it provided an extended lifeline for the OS through its Extended Security Updates program, many called it a last-minute snooze button, which only postpones the outcome by one year. Critics branded Microsoft's decision to end support for Windows 10 as planned obsolescence.

Elsewhere, a coalition of European enterprises and community organizations is on the verge of launching Euro-Office. It's a Europe-based, sovereign software-as-a-service (SaaS) designed to rival Microsoft Office and Google Docs, which is slated to ship to general availability on June 9. It will reportedly ship with a familiar user interface that will feel right at home for any Microsoft 365 user. The only difference is that it'll now fall under European governance instead of the US.

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Microsoft is making it easier to access Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Microsoft 365 apps. But instead of adding a bunch of ways to access the AI assistant, Microsoft is giving users just two options.

The two main ways to access Copilot will be an icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen and through a contextual entry point like selecting text.

The streamlined approach keeps Copilot consistent across apps.

Copilot will also offer proactive suggestions from the Copilot button. Those actions will be accessible through keyboard shortcuts or hovering your cursor over the Copilot icon.

"Before you know it, Copilot will be editing your content directly from conversation," promises Microsoft in a Tech Community post.

Microsoft also updated the keyboard shortcuts that open the Copilot pane. Rather than having to press Alt + H, F, or X to open it, you can press F6. That shortcut moves focus to the Copilot button. You can then use the up arrow to navigate between suggestions.

Copilot shortcuts are being unified across Microsoft 365 apps, though the change is only rolling out to Outlook and Word at the moment. Eventually, the Microsoft 365 apps will support the below shortcuts.

People will have to wait a bit to use the Alt + C and Cmd + Control + I shortcuts in all Microsoft 365 apps. But the new Copilot button and other shortcuts are rolling out to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint and will become generally available in June.

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Like many people, my experience with Excel is mainly surface despite it being a profoundly deep program. I've used it to keep track of expenses and to make some charts for the site, but that's about as far as my knowledge allows.

Such a complicated program understandably has a load of support dedicated to proper operation, and scrolling through the Excel section in the Microsoft 365 troubleshooting pages sends a shiver down my spine.

Why was I here looking at support pages? I was checking out a troubleshooting article titled "Excel incorrectly assumes that the year 1900 is a leap year" after reading about it on PC Gamer. How does an issue like this get a complete support page instead of a fix?

As explained in the accompanying article, Excel would almost surely break down to a point that you'd not want to use if it were ever forced to correctly consider 1900 a non-leap year.

Excel's leap year problem has ties to Lotus 1-2-3's launch in 1983

Lotus 1-2-3 launched in 1983 for IBM PCs running MS-DOS, and it quickly became a huge hit with professionals. As you might have guessed, it considered 1900 a leap year, which "caused no harm to almost all date calculations."

When Microsoft launched Excel a couple of years later as competition for Lotus 1-2-3, it, too, came with the 1900 leap year flaw. It was a matter of compatibility between the two programs, as Microsoft wanted to ensure that users could move Lotus 1-2-3 worksheets into Excel without issue.

This issue has persisted and can still be found in the most recent version of Excel for Microsoft 365.

As Microsoft explains, "it is technically possible to correct this behavior so that current versions of Microsoft Excel do not assume that 1900 is a leap year." However, it does not deem the advantages to outweigh the disadvantages.

Correcting the leap year error would cause dates to decrease by one day across "almost all dates" in worksheets and other documents. The WEEKDAY function would stop working properly. And serial date compatibility with Excel and other similar programs would also fail.

Leaving it uncorrected? Well, only the WEEKDAY function will return incorrect dates if you're working with values from before March 1, 1900.

Dealing with the Excel leap year issue in 1992

As mentioned in a Joel Spolsky post from 2006, he approached Microsoft visionary Ed Fries back in 1992 after discovering the issue right before presenting his work to Bill Gates for review.

Fries noted that this bug in Lotus was "probably an intentional one" since it had to fit in 640K of memory. As Fries explained all those years ago:

"If you ignore 1900, you can figure out if a given year is a leap year just by looking to see if the rightmost two bits are zero. That's really fast and easy. The Lotus guys probably figured it didn't matter to be wrong for those two months way in the past."

So, there you have it. The next time I think one small shortcut won't make much of a difference, I'll definitely have this story in mind.

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Microsoft Outlook is a miserable piece of software on Earth, but also in space, too.

This week, NASA's Artemis II mission kicked off, which will take a U.S. manned space craft around the lunar body for the first time in fifty years. The mission is designed to test new technology and prep for future missions to actually land on the Moon itself, but one piece of earthly tech got an unexpected test along the way too.

Microsoft has been under fire for its software quality over the past few years. Everything from Office apps, the Xbox PC app, to Windows 11 itself, Microsoft has pledged a return to quality control in its PC suite. Things have gotten so bad, Microsoft is also building a "dream team" of developers to build native Windows apps, ditching web-based options. The fixes couldn't come soon enough for the Artemis II mission though, sadly.

In a clip going viral on X, an astronaut from the Artemis II live feed can be heard saying, "I see that I have two Microsoft Outlooks, and neither one is working," before asking ground control to "remote in" and fix them.

Indeed, Microsoft split the Outlook client on Windows into several different versions, frustratingly, named Outlook, Outlook (PWA) and Outlook (Classic) on my PC. The classic version is the native OG app with POP3 and IMAP features you might remember from the 90s. The more recent versions are progressive web apps, and are notoriously poor.

My colleague Zac Bowden recently posted the below video showing just how long it takes for Microsoft Outlook to open an email from a notification. I frankly had no idea you could even open an email from a notification, my assumption was that it simply didn't work — I never even bothered to wait for it to time out.

Microsoft Outlook is a huge staple of Microsoft's productivity suite, and has been there for many decades in various forms and permutations. The latest iteration stripped away much of the functionality and speed of its UWP native predecessor, opting instead for a sluggish web-based version that rarely functions as advertised. The mobile versions are crammed with useless AI features on the consumer side too, as part of Microsoft's broader haphazard push to find ways to make AI worth using.

There are tons of reasons why Outlook might've failed in space, it might not necessarily have been Outlook's fault, but it is a comical glimpse into the wider reputation Microsoft's software suite has earned for itself: Outlook should be waaaaaaaaaay better than it is.

With Microsoft's focus now returning to quality on Windows 11, will Outlook and other notoriously poor Windows built-in apps get a space-worthy glow up? Only time will tell. Until then, perhaps NASA will end up swapping to Gmail instead.

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Microsoft isn't just scaling back Copilot in Windows 11, it's also reducing access to Copilot Chat for certain Microsoft 365 commercial customers. Starting April 15, 2026, Copilot Chat users without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license will not be able to access Copilot in Office apps, at least directly.

At the moment and until the change takes effect next month, those with a work or school account and a qualifying Microsoft 365 business subscription can use Copilot Chat in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote without an additional license.

After the cutoff in April, that functionality will be limited to the Microsoft 365 Copilot app for those without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license. Notably, Copilot in Outlook will sill work with inbox and calendar grounding for Copilot Chat users after April 15.

The change is explained in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center (MC1253858) and was first highlighted in a Discord channel.

"Starting April 15, 2026, Copilot will no longer be available in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote for Copilot Chat users. To ensure a high-quality experience, we are reserving the full Copilot experience in these apps—with advanced reasoning and model choice—for users with a paid Microsoft 365 Copilot license. If you would like users to access these experiences, you can provide a Microsoft 365 Copilot license."

Copilot Chat forms a unified chat experience across Microsoft 365 apps, Microsoft Edge, and the Microsoft 365 Copilot app. The tool can be used to analyze data, create content, and help you interact with supported apps.

Microsoft will have to update its support page and record a new video. At the moment, the Copilot Chat in Microsoft 365 support page specifically states that you can access Copilot Chat in Microsoft apps "all at no extra cost, and you don't need a Copilot add-on license."

The company lists everything you can do with Copilot Chat even if you don't have a Microsoft 365 Copilot add-on. Admittedly, those options are limited compared to those paying a premium, but they are more than nothing (at least for now).

If you have a Microsoft 365 Copilot license, you won't see any changes. Those with a license will still be able to interact with Copilot Chat in apps such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote.

To reduce confusion, Microsoft will add in-product labels for users and admins. Those without a Microsoft 365 Copilot license will see "Copilot Chat (Basic)." Users with a Microsoft 365 Copilot license will see "M365 Copilot (Premium).

💬 Are there too many Copilots?

Microsoft seems to have a different version of Copilot for each of its apps. Even within specific apps, there are often multiple different versions of Copilots.

Even reading Microsoft's message about the upcoming change to Copilot Chat requires thorough reading to make sure that don't mix up Copilot Chat, Copilot Chat (Basic), and M365 Copilot (Premium).

I believe that for years, Microsoft has tossed the term "Copilot" at the wall to see what sticks. Recent changes made by the tech giant suggest the term carries little weight.

Does the term "Copilot" mean anything to you? Do you use any Copilot tools? Let us know in the comments.

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The second Tuesday of each month is known as Patch Tuesday. Windows 11's Patch Tuesday update included a bunch of good upgrades — a welcome change from the issues that plagued the OS recently. But another flagship Microsoft product, Office, had a pair of vulnerabilities flagged.

Codenamed CVE-2026-26110 and CVE-2026-26113, the vulnerabilities could be used to execute code locally. Both vulnerabilties require local access, making them harder to exploit.

If an attacker gain local access to your PC, they have a better chance of being able to do damage or steal data. While Microsoft notes that "local access" makes them harder to exploit than a typical web-based attack, there is a major catch for the average user.

When 'Local' isn't really local

Microsoft titling these as "Remote Code Execution" while requiring "Local Access" seems like a contradiction. Microsoft explains the distinction this way:

"The word Remote in the title refers to the location of the attacker... The attack itself is carried out locally. This means an attacker or victim needs to execute code from the local machine to exploit the vulnerability."

In other words, an attacker could send you a file remotely but the file would need to be processed locally.

The catch is that since the Office Preview Pane is a valid attack vector for these vulnerabilities, a local user does not need to double-click a file or "Enable Macros" to be at risk. Simply clicking an email to see its preview in Outlook is enough to "locally process" the file and let the attacker in.

How to stay safe

Microsoft has already released patches for all supported versions of Office. If you’re still running Office 2013 (which is now past its end-of-support date), you won't be receiving this fix.

To secure your system:

• Open Windows Update and check for the latest updates.
• Ensure the latest Microsoft 365 or Office 2016/2019/2021 updates are installed.
• If you can't patch immediately, consider disabling the Preview Pane in Outlook and File Explorer (this can be done through the View menu).

If you head over to the Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC), you'll see hundreds of security advisories that were published on March 10, many of which are marked as "Important."

The Office vulnerabilities highlighted here are among a much smaller set that are marked as "Critical."

It's worth updating to address all the vulnerabilities, of course. To make sure your PC is secure, ensure that Windows and Office have been updated to their most recent versions.

🗨️ How do you handle security updates?

Microsoft’s automatic update system is the unsung hero of Windows security, handling thousands of fixes like this every year behind the scenes. Do you trust the "set it and forget it" approach, or do you still prefer to manually check your update history just to be sure everything landed correctly? Let us know in the comments!

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Despite Microsoft’s meteoric rise, and one that made Bill Gates a billionaire, the same co-founder admitted he didn’t truly see the company as a success until the late 1990s, and often felt just one mistake away from death.

Microsoft isn’t called the software giant for nothing. Long before the razzle-dazzle of AI and Copilot, its bread and butter were Office and Windows, and they still are — driving broad adoption worldwide. That dominance helped transform Microsoft into a Fortune 500 powerhouse, with a market capitalization of $3.05 trillion at the time of writing.

Recently, CEO Satya Nadella seemingly expressed his gratitude to Intel and Apple for helping contribute to Windows and Microsoft Office's success in an interview with Morgan Stanley, though, as pointed out by our friends at PC Gamer, Nadella was specifically talking about the early days.

Back then, “Wintel” was a common term because MS-DOS was built for IBM PCs running Intel chips. For years afterward, Microsoft’s operating system became the default for home computing on Intel PCs.

They explain how Excel was first released on Mac, and the first GUI version of Word also debuted there before Windows. That likely happened because Apple’s original graphical OS, System 1, was more user-friendly (and popular) than Microsoft’s post-DOS Windows 1.0.

That said, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella indicated that the company was moving away from Bill Gates' software factory vision. "That idea has guided us for decades," Nadella admitted. "But today, it's no longer enough."

The company is now doubling down on its efforts across security, quality, and AI transformation as its core business priorities.

💬 Does Microsoft still hold the fort in productivity?

Nadella’s views almost echo Apple's recent unveiling of its $599 MacBook Neo. In a promotional demo, Apple highlighted Word, PowerPoint, and Excel as the most-used apps, underscoring the software’s enduring dominance in productivity.

Even I juggle between Windows and macOS as my daily drivers, though lately I’ve admittedly been leaning toward the latter — maybe it’s the hype around the new MacBook Pro with its M5 Pro chip?

Still, when it comes to productivity, I rely more on Microsoft Office. Years of using Windows have made me appreciate its simplicity and the seamless integration across apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. That said, investors have begun voicing concerns over Microsoft’s heavy spending on AI with little return so far, especially after growth in Azure and Microsoft 365 apps fell well below expectations last quarter.

Microsoft recently highlighted its commitment to make Windows 11 better in 2026 based on user feedback and even reevaluating its AI strategy, which may include streamlining its user experience across its ecosystem and even removing Copilot in apps like Notepad and Paint.

What do you think about Microsoft's current strategy with Windows and Microsoft Office? Share your thoughts with me in the comments.

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At this point, it's hard to have missed Apple’s reveal of the $599 MacBook Neo, which definitely targets laptop buyers on a budget.

With a price tag like that, it should be an appealing package to macOS users (and those who never tried it). That, and it might put real pressure on the Windows laptop market, lighting "monstrous fire" for competition, as our Senior Editor Zac Bowden predicts.

Then again, maybe Microsoft needn't worry too much, because even Apple couldn't resist a shout-out for iconic Office apps in Microsoft 365 during a video demo of the MacBook Neo.

In a brief look at the laptop's recently used apps in macOS, Microsoft Word appears before being on the Start menu equivalent's dock, where it stays. Apple’s own equivalent, Pages, is notably absent. Score.

Did Apple say the quiet part out loud?

Now I have to make a small, possibly terrifying self-admission. I generally prefer Apple's hardware, especially compared to many Windows laptops. However, for software, I still use Windows 11 as my main operating system. Yes, I understand the hypocrisy, considering I'm part of Windows Central — I get it.

That being said, seeing Microsoft’s apps in the spotlight during Apple’s MacBook Neo demo was certainly something to behold, and it isn't the first time Apple has highlighted Office either. If you didn't know, Apple has its own "iWork" suite, which includes Pages (like Word), Keynote (PowerPoint), and Numbers (Excel).

Adding a fun touch of irony to the situation, three of the most-used apps shown on the MacBook Neo were Microsoft's, including the very same trio of Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Can it be implied that Apple acknowledges how more people use Microsoft Office's suite of apps over their own iWork? Maybe.

I mean, Apple even shows Microsoft Word being dragged onto the dock, where it will presumably live permanently, quietly taunting Pages over what will likely never be.

So, despite Apple offering direct competitors, many still rely on Microsoft’s long-established Office apps. Universities and broader education also play a role here, as many provide students with free access to Office, which is the exact audience Apple is targeting with the MacBook Neo.

In the interest of fairness, Apple shifts things slightly in its shorter 35-second TV spot. In that version, the MacBook’s dock shows Apple’s full iWork suite instead, with no Office apps in sight. Microsoft gets the feature-length slot.

🗨️ A quiet admission or just standard marketing?

Did Apple really show how dominant Microsoft Office apps are, or was the MacBook Neo simply showing that it can run the apps students are familiar with? Does it put the Windows laptop market in any danger for the same reason?

Let me know in the comments!

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Heidi Richards, 52 (or Heidi Shaffer, Heidi Hastings, or Heidi Williams, depending on who you ask), has been sentenced to 22 months in prison for trafficking thousands of stolen Microsoft Certificate of Authenticity (COA) labels through her Florida-based e-commerce brand, "Trinity Software Distribution", alongside a $50,000 fine for that company.

Basically, those COA labels are small stickers issued by Microsoft to OEMs verifying that a copy of its software is genuine. They feature a unique product key code used to activate the software or the entire operating system.

The labels themselves have no intrinsic value, but they aren't intended for sale separately from the software or OEM hardware they were supposed to accompany. Prosecutors noted that the codes on these labels can still be used to activate Microsoft software without a legitimate license, fueling an illicit market for standalone COA labels (via BleepingComputer).

Interestingly, Richards instructed her employees to manually extract the product key codes and enter them into Excel spreadsheets, which feels like a particularly ironic slip-up in the scheme.

Between July 2018 and January 2023, Heidi and her accomplices purchased tens of thousands of these genuine Windows 10 and Microsoft Office COA labels from a Texas company, spending millions of dollars while remaining far below the implied retail profits. The extracted keys were then sold to customers worldwide, amassing $5,148,181.50 between 2018 and 2023.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

An ongoing rivalry between Microsoft Office and the open-source alternative LibreOffice remains heated, with arguably no clear winner. Many lean toward Office, even if only in part, for its ribbon UI, first introduced in 2007 and significantly overhauled in 2021.

LibreOffice doesn’t share the same view. The open-source alternative to Microsoft Office recently emphasized its advantages, arguing that users who prefer Office’s ribbon UI are “demonstrating incompetence regarding formats on one hand, and subservience to proprietary marketing on the other.”

It further argues that Microsoft Office’s ribbon UI should not be considered “a standard nor a good example of ergonomics.” Unsurprisingly, the open-source suite seized the chance to promote its own design, describing its interface as “more thoughtful,” with greater flexibility and customization compared to Office’s one-size-fits-all ribbon approach (via Neowin).

LibreOffice argues that the characterization of the ribbon UI as modern or standard by users isn't based on an objective usability parameter or design principle.

Instead, it pointed its finger at "Microsoft's dominance in the market and the huge investments made when the ribbon was introduced in Office 2007 as a new paradigm for productivity software."

According to LibreOffice:

"The idea that "modern" equals "similar to a ribbon" is a normalisation effect: the Microsoft interface has become a benchmark because of its ubiquity, not because of its proven advantages in terms of usability. Added to this is the fact that many users evaluate office software through the lens of familiarity with Microsoft Office and consider deviation from it as a problem rather than a design choice."

🗨️ Does LibreOffice have a point?

This isn't the first time LibreOffice has been throwing punches at Microsoft. Last year, LibreOffice accused Microsoft of deliberately making its Office XML file format “artificially complex” as a way to lock users into Microsoft Office and discourage adoption of open-source alternatives (via XDA).

It further argued that the complexity is by design, and is leveraged by Microsoft as a lock-in strategy, ensuring documents created in Microsoft Office don't work seamlessly anywhere else outside Microsoft's ecosystem.

What matters most to you in an office suite’s interface? Let me know in the comments.

Join us on Reddit at r/WindowsCentral to share your insights and discuss our latest news, reviews, and more.

Microsoft Excel has a new AI tool for productivity. Agent Mode in Excel, which is part of Microsoft 365 Copilot, is now generally available on Windows and macOS. It was already available for the web and will roll out soon to macOS as well.

Agent Mode in Excel is an AI tool designed to be your partner. It supports multi-step workflows, and you can chat with it using natural language. The tool applies changes to your workbook directly, so you don't need to copy and paste suggestions.

Microsoft outlined several scenarios for Agent Mode in Excel when announcing the web version of the tool:

• Create workbooks: Generate new content directly in Excel, grounded in both existing workbook data and web search results to bring in relevant context.
• Scenario modeling: Run what-if analyses for revenue, budgets, or forecasts and model advanced scenarios with adjustable assumptions.
• Data analysis: Generate analyses of large datasets, highlight anomalies, and surface trends with formula-driven analysis.
• Formula generation: Fix broken formulas or and generate dynamic formulas that connect across your workbook data, including explanations for complex calculations.
• Data visualization: Create pivot tables, charts, and dashboards—all through natural conversation. Generate native Excel artifacts that recalculate and update based on changes to the underlying data.

Agent Mode in Excel entered public preview in September. Following feedback from those who participated in the preview and those who have used the web version, Microsoft has made several improvements to Agent Mode in Excel.

Most notably, Agent Mode is now supported in Excel for Windows and macOS. The feature is integrated into Copilot in Excel, so it should be easy to locate without much of a learning curve.

Microsoft also integrated web search into Agent Mode in Excel, which allows the tool to bring in up-to-date information from the web.

Users also have the choice to use models from OpenAI (GPT-5.2) or Anthropic (Claude Opus 4.5).

The default for Agent Mode in Excel is to have Copilot choose the best model for you, but you can also select to use a specific model for any prompt.

To use Agent Mode in Excel, you need to have one of the following: Microsoft 365 Personal, Microsoft 365 Family, Microsoft 365 Premium, or a commercial Microsoft 365 Copilot license.

Agent Mode is not available in the EU or UK at this time.

Do you use Copilot professionally? How does it change your workflow? Let us know in the comments!

I track Microsoft 365 prices to ensure you never pay more than you have to for Office, OneDrive, and the rest of the suite. The deals haven't been great lately, but a peculiar bundle gets you a year of Microsoft 365 Family for its old price.

Even if you have no interest in using the H&R Block tax software, this is a good deal. At $99.99, 12 months of Microsoft 365 Family in this bundle is more affordable than Microsoft 365 Family on its own.

Is now a good time to subscribe to Microsoft 365?

Microsoft 365 deals are getting progressively harder to come by. Microsoft increased the price of Microsoft 365 last year. It's taken some time, but that price hike has now made its way to third-party retailers, even during sales.

Even StackSocial is sold out of 12-month plans for Microsoft 365 Family (they still have stock of Microsoft 365 Personal). That retailer has held a spot on my best Microsoft 365 deals piece for ages, making the lack of stock noteworthy. It appears that discounts on Microsoft 365 will become rarer over time.

I suspect that even if we see discounts, they will be based on the new Microsoft 365 price. The Microsoft 365 Family bundle with H&R Block Tax Software Deluxe costs $99.99 for a year, which aligns with the old price of Microsoft 365.

That makes it a good time to buy a 12-month subscription to Microsoft 365 Family.

Microsoft 365 includes access to the Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint), and several other services. Outlook, OneNote, and Microsoft Defender all come with Microsoft 365 Family as well. Subscribers get 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage per user plus some perks in Clipchamp and Microsoft Designer.

I'll be honest, I have never used H&R Block's software. H&R Block Tax Software Deluxe + State 2025 receives positive reviews on several retailer websites, including Best Buy and Newegg.

The tax software also has several guarantees by H&R Block, including that you'll get a maximum refund, be happy with the software, and that the results of the software will be accurate. H&R Block states that it will reimburse you for any resulting penalties and interest up to $10,000.

Those all seem like positives, but I am not a tax expert. I am an expert on Microsoft 365 deals. If you want the best price on Microsoft 365 Family, grab the current bundle from Newegg, even if you have no plans to use H&R Block's tax software.

FAQ

Windows 11's latest Patch Tuesday update caused two serious issues that went unspotted during Microsoft's testing. The problems were so bad that Microsoft issued emergency out of band updates for Windows 11.

One issue prevented some users from fully shutting down their PCs or signing in to a device when using Remote Desktop. Unfortunately, they are not the only issues caused by the update.

Many users of Outlook Classic are unable to open the app or use it properly when opened. One user, Chris Seagrave, posted on a Microsoft page detailing the issue:

"The first is that when I first start my laptop Outlook Classic opens, but when I close it down I am now [unable] to open it again as Office tells me it is still open. I can go into Task Manager and close the Background Process relating to Outlook Classic which allows me to open Outlook Classic again, but this is not ideal as I would rather not do this. Alternatively I can restart my laptop and Outlook Classic will open, but if I close it down it won't re-open unless I either close the Outlook Background Process in Task Manager or restart the laptop."

Outlook Classic also fails to show sent emails within the "Sent Items" folder.

User John W shared that, "Outlook classic is completely unusable since this forced windows update. Random hangs, not saving emails, etc."

The solution appears to be to uninstall the KB5074109 update. Several people saw success after reverting to a previous version of Windows 11.

Microsoft kicked off 2026 with the KB5074109, which was the first Windows 11 update of the year. That update included several fixes, including one that addressed an issue that could cause NPUs to remain powered on when the system is idle.

But with the fixes came a new set of problems. This is part of a worrying trend that got worse in 2025 and appears set to continue this year unless Microsoft makes changes to its update process.

Last year, Windows 11 users ran into bugs that caused Task Manager to fail to close and File Explorer to show a white screen when opening dark mode. A separate update broke the Windows Recovery environment.

It's normal to see headlines and social media posts about Windows 11 bugs after each Patch Tuesday update. The problems ultimately come down to a lack of robust quality control, though the specifics are more complicated.

Our Senior Editor Zac Bowden explained why frustrating bugs creep into Windows 11 at an alarming rate.

This is not the first time Outlook Classic has run into issues. Last October a bug prevented the app from opening. A separate issue causes CPU usage to spike to 50%.

The latest Outlook bug is not as serious as a problem preventing people from shutting down their PCs, but it could still break someone's workflow. Many rely on Outlook Classic for work.

Have you run into any bugs since updating Windows 11 this month? Let us know in the comments!

Clippy, Microsoft’s infamous paperclip assistant, just resurfaced in the most unexpected way: a hidden Office 97 Easter egg that went unnoticed for decades. The discovery proves that even back in the ’90s, Microsoft’s devs were sneaking jokes into their software — and Clippy was already trolling users long before memes made him a legend.

It's not every day that I get to write about Office 97, but when an Easter egg is found in an ancient piece of software, I get the privilege. Recently, X user "Albacore" (@thebookisclosed) revealed an Easter egg that has gone unnoticed for decades.

If you perform a specific sequence of tasks within Office 97, you'll see a special treat. Specifically, a series of movements and key presses while using Microsoft Word will show a whole set of development credits.

To get the Easter egg to appear, you need to set your system date to 1997 or later. Then, you need to hold Control and grab the standard toolbar.

You then need to move the toolbar to the left, down, right, and up — each time with a release and hold of the Control key between each direction.

After doing all that, you need to search "This is not a contest" inside Clippy. The period has to be included with the search text.

Albacore demonstrated how to get the Easter egg to appear and shared some other details on X.

"With such a convoluted activation sequence, I'm not surprised that there are no obvious traces of the Easter egg even now, 29 years later. The comments Clippit provides are a cherry on top," said the tech sleuth.

You can also make more animations appear by holding Shift while you press Search.

The Easter egg is so difficult to find that I have to wonder if it was ever intended to be found. The tasks, including a unique order of dragging a toolbar and then posing a specific search query to Clippy, are so specific that it seems unlikely someone would find them by exploring Office 97.

Instead, it appears to be a playful way for the developers to know about a secret set of credits for themselves.

Then again, other Easter eggs have similarly complex requirements, such as the Word 97 Pinball Easter egg and the Excel 97 Flight Simulator Easter egg.

For fans, it’s a nostalgic reminder that Clippy was more than just an annoying helper — he was part of tech culture’s earliest inside jokes. For skeptics, it’s proof that Microsoft’s quirks go way back. Either way, the rediscovery of Clippy’s hidden cameo shows that even decades later, the paperclip still finds a way to pop up when you least expect it

How hidden is too hidden when it comes to Easter eggs? Let us know in the comments!

The internet can be a tricky place sometimes. This week, you've likely seen stories or Reddit posts about Microsoft Office being rebranded to Microsoft 365 Copilot. While a rebrand did happen, it was an app that was rebranded and that change occurred a year ago. So, what gives?

First, a quick refresher. In January 2025, Microsoft made the decision to rename its Microsoft 365 app as "Microsoft 365 Copilot." That was the second major rebrand for the app. It was known as "Microsoft Office" for years before it shifted to the Microsoft 365 moniker.

The new name is awkward and doesn't reflect the main reason people use Microsoft. While a Microsoft 365 subscription now includes Copilot and a bunch of other services, many still associate the service primarily with the Office apps.

The change was made more awkward when it became clear the Microsoft 365 Copilot app icon was difficult to distinguish from other Microsoft apps.

Our Executive Editor Jez Corden commented on the change at the time and his comments hold true today:

"The rebrand of Microsoft Office was dumb to start with, trampling on a legacy spanning decades. The second rebrand attaching Copilot is even more dumb, and follows the Copilot+ PC thought process of firmly putting the cart several miles before the horse. Copilot hasn't earned the right to be showcased alongside a technological cultural milestones like Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Word."

Corden's comments are warranted. Microsoft's obsession with AI is hurting the experience of general consumers. "Microslop" is trending on social media following a blog post from Satya Nadella that asked people to stop calling AI "slop."

Microsoft's leaders were snubbed by TIME, suggesting people do not view the tech giant as an innovator in AI. The company is also getting outpaced by Google and other competitors.

But there's one major difference between Corden's comments and the comments shared on social media over the last few days — Corden said what he said when the news was... new.

While I can't claim the following is the original source of the trending topic this week, it appears to be one of the first mentions of the Microsoft 365 Copilot rebrand this week to gain traction (pardon the language):

That information is true, but it lacks the context that the change happened a year ago and that the rebrand was of an app. Microsoft Office is still a term used by the tech giant. Once people caught onto that fact, a surge of corrections occurred, such as the Reddit post on the topic being removed.

I'm not defending Microsoft. I think the rebrand exemplifies the company's obsession with AI. I also agree with Steven Sinofsky — yes, that Steven Sinofsky — that Microsoft made the change to increase Copilot usage metrics.

I just think people should know the change is almost 12 months old at this point.

Should Microsoft promote Google products in ads? Do you think Chrome's inclusion was a mistake? Let us know in the comments.

Microsoft 365 is about to go up in price, and users in the UK are getting a friendly reminder of that fact. Earlier this week, Microsoft sent an email to some subscribers about the price hike.

This increase has been known for quite some time. I first got an email about it in July (my subscription renewed in August). But it seems Microsoft wants to make sure people know about the change, so it is sending out a reminder.

I believe this email may be sent out to those who are about to have their plan renewed, since the text refers to the price increase on February 14, 2025.

The new price has been live for new subscribers for months on Microsoft's website.

Here's what the email says:

"Thank you for being a valued Microsoft 365 subscriber. To reflect the value we’ve added over the past decade, address rising costs and enable us to continue delivering new innovations, we’re increasing the price of your subscription.

Effective 14 February 2025, the price for Microsoft 365 Family subscriptions will increase from GBP 79.99* per year to GBP 104.99* per year. To continue with the new price, no action is needed—your payment method on file will be automatically charged. To make changes to your subscription plan or turn off recurring billing, visit your Microsoft account at least two days before your next billing date.

By maintaining your subscription, you’ll enjoy secure cloud storage, advanced security for your data and devices and cutting-edge AI-powered features, along with all your other subscription benefits. Experience a whole new life for your favourite apps with Microsoft Copilot in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook, plus create stunning designs and edit photos in a flash with Designer. Thank you for choosing Microsoft."

The company also shared links on how to cancel Microsoft 365 and how to switch your Microsoft 365 subscription.

Discounts on Microsoft 365 in the UK are not as good as deals in the US. I have found some small discounts that can help you save a few quid.

You can stack Microsoft 365 for up to five years, meaning you can extend your subscription by purchasing codes at a discount. If you know you need Microsoft for a long time, it's worth stacking.

If you're in the US and received a similar warning, you can check out my roundup of the best Microsoft 365 deals.

Canceling Microsoft 365

I've subscribed to Microsoft 365 since before that was even the name of the subscription. I've had some form of Microsoft 365/Office 365 since Microsoft shifted to a subscription-based model. The upcoming price increase is enough for me to genuinely consider other options.

I use Microsoft 365 daily. I rely on Word, Excel, and OneDrive in both my professional and personal lives. But subscription fatigue is real and the cost of living keeps going up.

When Microsoft's latest reminder about the price increase hit my news desk, I spoke with my wife about how much she uses Microsoft 365. I use it the most out of anyone in our family, but I wanted to double-check I wouldn't hurt anyone else's workflow by canceling or changing our plan.

I have some time to decide since the new price increase won't go into effect until February 14, 2026 (Happy Valentine's Day from Microsoft). Between now and then, I'll look into iCloud storage plans, using the web version of Office exclusively, and turning a computer into a NAS.

Microsoft 365 has quietly become one of the best Cyber Monday deals this year, and it just dropped to the lowest price I've seen in months. Newegg is offering 12 months of Microsoft 365 Personal for $45.99, or 12 months of Microsoft 365 Family for $89.99, and both bundles include a free year of NordVPN Basic.

Both bundles beat the normal price of Microsoft 365, and that’s before you factor in NordVPN, which is a solid subscription on its own.

Is now the best time to subscribe to Microsoft 365?

Yes. Microsoft’s recent price increases make these Cyber Monday drops stand out even more.

Both the Personal and Family plans are at their lowest rates of the year, making this the perfect time to lock in savings before subscription costs inevitably rise again.

Microsoft 365 has evolved far beyond the classic Office apps. Sure, Word, Excel, and OneDrive remain daily essentials, but the subscription now bundles in extras like Microsoft Defender for security, Microsoft Editor for smarter writing, and premium tools in Clipchamp for video editing. It’s become a full productivity suite that touches nearly every part of my workflow.

With inflation and subscription fatigue hitting hard, I’ve cut back on plenty of monthly services. But Microsoft 365 is non‑negotiable — I use it every single day. The good news is you don’t have to pay full price if you plan ahead. You can stack subscriptions for up to five years, meaning grabbing deals like this locks in long‑term savings.

Right now, 12 months of Microsoft 365 Personal is just $45.99, and Family is $89.99. For a service that underpins everything from writing to cloud storage to security, it’s one of the smartest buys you can make this holiday season.

If the Newegg bundle sells out or you only want Microsoft 365 and not the VPN, the next best deal is still outstanding and available at StackSocial.

FAQ

More Cyber Monday 2025 - quick links

• All our TOP recommended Cyber Monday deals: Just the best
• Mini PC deals: up to 47% off tiny PCs
• GPU deals: early price drops on NVIDIA RTX before they go up
• Microsoft Surface deals: save up to $500 on premium PCs
• Xbox accessories: best deals on gadgets for your Xbox Series X|S and PC
• Gaming laptop deals: the best laptops for the best price
• Xbox controllers: our top picks for best controller deals
• ANC headphones: great Black Friday deals on the best ANC headphones
  
  Even more Cyber Monday deals:
• Dell deals: 13 deals from Dell.com that you shouldn't miss
• Best Buy: 34 hottest discounts on laptops, monitors, gaming, and more
• Walmart: 7 top laptop deals you shouldn't miss
• Samsung monitors: the best Samsung display deals we've found
• Retro gaming: handhelds, arcade machines, old school consoles, and more
• Steam Deck: Essential accessory deals
• Gamer merch: Blizzard’s Warcraft, Overwatch, and Diablo IV collectibles
• Game keys: 10 PC game codes are even cheaper at Loaded (formerly CDKeys)
• Accessories: Even more PC accessories starting at $17
• SSDs: The best Samsung SSDs on sale

For those unaware, Microsoft Office Online Server was a self-hosted version of Microsoft’s web-based Office apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. It was designed for companies that didn’t want to rely on Microsoft’s cloud offerings and allowed organizations to host these tools in their own data centres (on-premises) while still providing users with a browser-based experience.

It was mainly used by large organizations such as government agencies and regulated industries where cloud or external data hosting wasn’t available or allowed.

Microsoft describes this change as an effort to modernize its productivity tools and focus on cloud-first offerings. In reality, it likely comes down to fewer companies using the software and Microsoft continuing to steer customers toward its cloud ecosystem.

End of support: When it’s happening and what Microsoft says

As reported on by Neowin, Support for Office Online Server ends on December 31, 2026. After that, it won’t receive any more updates, security patches, or technical support.

Without security fixes, businesses that continue using it will be at risk of data breaches or other vulnerabilities. In short, most organizations will have no choice but to move to Microsoft 365 instead.

If I put my speculation hat on for a moment, another reason behind this shift is probably AI — though that’s just an educated guess. Microsoft says the move will give users better tools, automatic updates, and access to features like Microsoft 365 Copilot.

However, some products remain unaffected for now. SharePoint Server Subscription Edition and Exchange Server will continue to receive updates — at least until Microsoft finds a way to weave AI into those as well. I kid, or at least I hope so.

In a quote from Microsoft’s blog, they say:

For organizations using SharePoint Server Subscription Edition or Exchange Server Subscription Edition, Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise and Office LTSC 2024 remain supported desktop clients for viewing and editing documents hosted on those servers.

If your organization uses Office Online Server to host Excel workbooks in Power BI Report Server, that functionality will no longer be supported. Alternatives include viewing workbooks in the Excel desktop application or migrating to the Power BI service

What this means for on-prem customers and IT departments

Companies using Microsoft’s Office Online Server will have little choice but to move to Microsoft 365. For some, that transition could take months, especially in industries where security and data control are top priorities.

Many organizations that relied on Office Online Server did so precisely because it kept everything in-house. Moving to the cloud could mean reworking internal systems, which doesn’t happen overnight.

Microsoft suggests alternatives like Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise or Office LTSC 2024 for those who still need local editing options, but the reality is clear: the company’s long-term focus is entirely cloud driven.

For now, enterprises are being urged to start planning migrations early, because once support ends, running Office Online Server will only get riskier by the day.

Another step in Microsoft’s all-in cloud strategy

Microsoft has made it clear that the future of Office and collaboration lies firmly within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. With that shift comes a growing focus on AI-powered tools designed to boost productivity and make teamwork smoother across devices and platforms.

This move benefits Microsoft in several ways. Revenue from Microsoft 365 subscriptions is far more consistent and profitable than selling one-off licenses, and it keeps customers locked into the company’s wider ecosystem. That tighter integration across Office, Teams, and other Microsoft services strengthens the value of staying within 365 long term.

For any organization still running Office Online Server, it’s worth starting migration plans sooner rather than later. The switch won’t happen overnight, especially for businesses with complex setups or strict compliance rules.

As for pricing, Microsoft 365 currently starts at $6.00 per user per month for the Business Basic plan, which includes web and mobile versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, along with business email and 1 TB of cloud storage per user.

The Business Standard plan, priced at $12.50 per user per month, adds the full desktop versions of Office apps for PC and Mac, plus advanced collaboration tools like Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive integration.

Finally, the Business Premium plan costs $22.00 per user per month and includes everything from the Standard tier, along with enhanced security, device management features, and advanced data protection controls — making it the most comprehensive option for larger or security-conscious organizations, but at a much steeper price.

FAQ

Microsoft held a special OneDrive and Copilot event today where it announced a number of new features for the cloud-storage service. Buried in the announcements is one change that Microsoft is soon making to Word that might ruffle some feathers among those who are still pushing back against OneDrive and the cloud.

"Starting today, new documents in Word desktop on Windows (Insiders) now save directly to OneDrive, with autosave enabled," says Microsoft. This means that creating new documents in Word in the future will automatically save said documents to your OneDrive storage, with autosave enabled from the get-go.

The change is designed to make it easier for users to back up and access their documents across devices, but some might find Word attempting to automatically upload documents to the cloud by default to be a privacy concern. Many will likely not even notice that Word's behavior has changed, as the entire saving and backup process is automatic.

Of course, users will be able to turn off this behavior if they prefer saving files manually or locally, but going forward, Word will default to automatically saving all new documents to the cloud. Until now, Word's default behavior has been to create a new document that is in an unsaved state locally and prompt you to save the document to OneDrive to enable auto-save.

In addition to the automatic file saving to OneDrive in Word, Microsoft announced lots of other improvements that are coming to OneDrive, including new Copilot integration features that make accessing Copilot and learning about, managing, or editing files and photos easy and quick using AI.

The company also confirmed that it's working on a dedicated OneDrive app for Windows 11, which will make viewing and editing photos easier and quicker. Let us know in the comments what your thoughts are on these improvements and changes being made to OneDrive.

Microsoft 365 remains one of the best subscriptions available in terms of value. It jumped up in price recently, but it goes on sale if you know where to look. Right now, you can get one year of Microsoft 365 Family for $99.99.

I've lived in the UK for over a decade and love being on this side of the pond. I do occasionally get homesick, especially in autumn (or "fall" as they say back home). It could be because my birthday is in October and I have fond memories of crackling leaves, birthday parties, and football. But the biggest reason I get homesick is that I can't take advantage of Microsoft 365 Family going on sale this time each year.

Okay, not really. But it is a good deal and you should take advantage of it.

What comes with Microsoft 365 Family?

Microsoft 365 Family provides access to several apps and services, including the Office suite and OneDrive. The family plan is for up to six people, making it a bargain compared to Microsoft 365 Personal if you have more than two people on the plan.

With a Microsoft 365 Family subscription, all users on the plan can use Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Designer. Each user also gets 1TB of OneDrive storage.

Other benefits include full access to Clipchamp, the PC Manager app, and the Microsoft Defender monitor app.

Microsoft 365 Family requires a subscription, so you'll have to pay a bit each year or each month. Microsoft allows people to purchase Office 2024, but you only get access to the apps once and have to pay for upgrades.

If you want to keep your Microsoft apps up to date and get the best experience, Microsoft 365 is the best option.

You can "stack" Microsoft 365 subscriptions for up to five years. Stacking refers to adding time to your current subscription. It allows you to grab Microsoft 365 at a better price and extend your membership rather than hoping Microsoft 365 goes on sale right as your subscription expires.

Microsoft 365 is my longest-standing subscription. I've literally had a subscription since day one. Microsoft rebranded Office 365 to Microsoft 365 and active subscriptions transitioned over.

That name shift was met poorly by some, but it made more sense than "Microsoft 365 Copilot," which is the current name of the mobile app.

While the Office apps are likely the most recognizable apps that come with Microsoft 365, the subscription includes an ever-growing catalog of apps and services.

If you're firmly in the Microsoft ecosystem, subscribing to Microsoft 365 is a no-brainer. With it, you can sync your files across all your devices, edit documents just about anywhere, and keep content backed up to the cloud.

But that doesn't mean you should pay full price for Microsoft 365. The subscription goes on sale regularly and you can stack your subscription, so you should take advantage of the current deal that drops Microsoft 365 Family to $99.99 per year.

It's just a shame that the deal is only available in the United States or I'd grab it myself.

The words I write for this website are virtually all written inside a terminal window, including everything on this page right here. I've been doing it for years, and my colleagues have always thought I'm some form of raving lunatic.

I love it, though, and I don't think I could ever change. I look at something like Microsoft Word or Google's equivalent in Docs, and I shake my head so hard it almost detaches from my shoulders.

Why do I do this? It's the perfect distraction-free environment to actually get stuff done. It's just me and my words until I need to build them into a post. In all the years I've been writing for a living, I've never found anything that suits me quite as well.

A two-pronged if imperfect setup

My current preferred setup is two-pronged, and I'll explain why. I mostly use Neovim, out of habit more than anything. During the lockdown of 2020, I started exploring Linux and ultimately started using Neovim. This then progressed to using Neovim inside WSL, and then, when I finally realized it had a proper Windows version, onto that.

I have my custom configuration, which is nothing fancy, but makes it look how I want it to look and adds all-important auto-save. Out of the box, Neovim is pretty bare-bones, but usable. The fun comes from poking around in the documentation and other folks' config files on GitHub to build your own custom text editor. Neovim also supports Markdown, which is a format I am unreasonably attached to using.

Adding plugins such as a file manager — which didn't really work out well in my workflow — it's perfectly possible to just live inside Neovim and work away.

Neovim isn't perfect, though. There's a definite learning curve for the keyboard shortcuts, and (correct me in the comments if I'm ill-informed) it's not connected to the Windows 11 clipboard. There could be a way I simply haven't found, but that's where I'm at with it.

Which is where the second app comes in, a more recent addition to my writing arsenal and, if it ever added support for Markdown syntax, would probably become my go-to: Microsoft Edit.

Brought back to life recently, Edit is another terminal-based text editor, this time from the people who brought you Windows 11. It's not as extensible as Neovim, but it's connected to the Windows clipboard. So I can actually get the text out of it easily and onto the website.

Eventually, I'll likely convince myself to just suck it up, let go of the syntax highlighting, and go all-in on Microsoft Edit. I really like everything else about it. It's basic, distraction-free, and it has a built-in word wrap feature.

That's why I like both so much. I can close the browser, I can close any other forms of distraction, and just focus on putting words down. I am never more productive than when it's just me and a text editor.

Isn't it harder to open files, though?

This is a question I've had. It might be better for actually writing, but isn't it a pain to actually open the files? No, not really.

Windows Terminal loads up whenever I boot my PC, and I'm always in and out of there throughout the day. Be it tinkering with Ollama or WSL, or trying (and I mean trying) to teach myself about PowerShell, Windows Terminal is the app I use the most. Especially if you add in the time I'm in there writing.

All of my writing work goes in the same location, and getting there takes seconds with a cd command into the directory. With PSReadLine history set up on my PowerShell profile, all files I've been recently working on will appear as soon as I start typing to launch the text editor to choose from. Making a new file is as simple as using the ni alias and giving it a filename.

I love keyboard shortcuts. If I have to use the mouse, I'm less productive. It's the primary reason I use PowerToys Command Palette (and PowerToys Run before that). I can get more done if I just keep my hands on the keyboard instead of having to engage one hand on the mouse. Backing out of either text editor into PowerShell is also done with keyboard shortcuts.

The added bonus is that I have a module on my prompt of choice — the excellent Starship — which tells me how long a process took (shown in the image above). In this case, the process is the time I spent inside the text editor writing. It doesn't change anything, but I like to know how long I've spent working on a piece during any given session.

Try it, you might like it

I'm not suggesting that this is a suitable solution for everyone. Writing a novel, for example, might not be best suited, but I bet you could do it if you put your mind to it.

But I've been writing in plain text since I started doing this for a living 12 years ago. I tried so many different apps in that time, and in the end, a text editor inside a terminal turned out to be the best one.

No matter how many 'distraction-free' writing apps I tried, I was never happy, and I ended up spending too much time hunting for the perfect one when all I really needed was something bare-bones.

You might like it as much as I do, too. If you want to try either Microsoft Edit or Neovim, both can be installed via the Windows Package Manager. If you try Neovim, though, definitely stop by the documentation if you're a newcomer.

winget install neovim.neovim winget install microsoft.edit

If you're already a terminal text junkie, or you decide to give it a look yourself, share your experience with me in the comments below!

Microsoft Word now saves files to the cloud automatically. AutoSave has been around for a while, but until recently it was an opt-in feature. Now, anything you create in Word will be saved to the cloud by default.

The change rolls out with Word Version 2509 (Build 19221.20000) or later.

When AutoSave is enabled, Word will save a document to the cloud right away. The name of that document will be based on the date. You can then change that file name or the location where the file is saved through "Save" within Word (also accessible through Ctrl + S shortcut).

That setup could result in several files with similar names if you are not careful, but it also prevents files from getting lost if you forget to save or your PC crashes.

Microsoft lists the following advantages to saving items to the cloud in a Tech Community post:

• Increased security and compliance: Files saved in the cloud are automatically protected by your company’s security rules and labeling, so you don’t have to take extra steps to keep them safe and compliant.
• Never lose your progress: You don’t have to worry about losing your work – creation in the cloud means your document is automatically saved for you as you go.
• Flexible file control and storage: You’re in charge of your files – you can choose what they’re named, decide where they’re saved, and organize them your way. Store them in OneDrive, SharePoint, or other locations to keep everything just where you want it.
• Access from anywhere: Files you create in Word for Windows are instantly available on your Android or iOS device, or in a web browser. When you make changes on one device, they sync everywhere.
• Easy collaboration: It’s easy to work with others – just share your cloud file to start collaborating right away, add comments, and make changes together. AutoSave keeps your work updated in real time.
• Copilot and Agent support: From the moment you create a file, you can use Copilot and Agent features right away. This lets you get AI-powered help whenever you need it as you create or update your documents (NOTE: A Copilot Chat or Microsoft 365 Copilot license is required).

All of my Word documents are saved to the cloud. I've used AutoSave for years, and it has always served me well.

I jump between several devices, including two different PCs, a tablet, and my smartphone. I also frequently share files to collaborate.

I don't think any of Microsoft's arguments for using the cloud will surprise anyone. But one specific sentence stuck out. When discussing the flexibility of cloud storage, Microsoft said:

"You’re in charge of your files – you can choose what they’re named, decide where they’re saved, and organize them your way. Store them in OneDrive, SharePoint, or other locations to keep everything just where you want it" (emphasis added).

Microsoft did not specify where else you could save your files by default, but it seems likely you could use cloud storage services made by companies other than Microsoft.

Word allows you to change the default location of where files are automatically saved. I haven't been able to test the feature yet, but it seems likely that you could set Google Drive or Dropbox as the default location in Word.

While I personally use OneDrive as my primary cloud storage solution, it's always nice to have other options. A workplace or organization may use Google Drive or Dropbox primarily, making flexibility important.

User backlash

The change to AutoSave was only announced this week, so there's limited feedback at this point. I have seen some complaints, however.

User ViliusS shared the following comment in response to Microsoft's Tech Community post:

"You are completely out of touch on how your customers are using Word. Ever saw a desktop of simple user with tens of zero byte documents named "New Word Document1.docx", "New Word Document2", etc.? What we will get with this "feature" is 100s of empty documents in our OneDrives which are never deleted.

This feature is such a poor design from user perspective that I can think of another ten ways how it breaks and produces unforeseen consequences. Not to mention legal and compliance implications."

Another comment simply states, "NO!" in capital letters.

Where do you fall on the change? Let us know in the comments below.

A protest on Microsoft's campus in Redmond, Washington, resulted in at least 18 people being arrested on Wednesday, August 21, 2025. Police responded to a large gathering of protesters, according to KOMO News.

Protests began on Tuesday when a group that included current and former Microsoft employees converted part of Microsoft's headquarters into a "Liberated Zone." The protest, like several others held against Microsoft this year, focused on the tech giant providing services to the Israeli government and military.

Based on statements by Microsoft, the protesters left peacefully on Tuesday and then returned on Wednesday.

According to a statement by the police, the protesters "became aggressive."

Protesters had allegedly poured red paint over a Microsoft sign, blocked a pedestrian bridge, and formed a barrier out of tables and chairs.

Microsoft shared a statement on the protests, which spanned multiple days:

"Yesterday, approximately 35 protesters gathered and protested on the Microsoft campus. When local police officers informed them that this was not permitted on private property, they left. Today, the group returned and engaged in vandalism and property damage. They also disrupted, harassed, and took tables and tents from local small businesses at a lunchtime farmer’s market for employees."

The Verge confirmed that among those arrested was Microsoft software engineer Anna Hattle. Former Microsoft employees Hossam Nasr and Vaniya Agrawal were also arrested on Wednesday.

Why are people protesting Microsoft?

Protests against Microsoft center around the tech giant's connection to the Israeli government and military. Microsoft provides several services to the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD), including Azure cloud services, Azure AI services, and language translation.

Microsoft has specified that its relationship with IMOD is "structured as a standard commercial relationship." The company conducted an internal assessment and had an external review, both of which found that IMOD had not broken Microsoft's terms of service.

Many of the protests are connected to No Azure for Apartheid, a group that consists of both current and former Microsoft employees.

Protests against Microsoft have increased in frequency and scale over recent months. In April, protesters interrupted Microsoft's 50th Anniversary Event and said, "all of Microsoft has blood on its hands."

Soon after that incident, it was determined the protesters were Microsoft employees. They were later fired due to "acts of misconduct."

In May, Microsoft blocked employees from sending emails that mention Palestine or Gaza.

A group of over 60 Microsoft shareholders filed a proposal to have Microsoft publish a report on the company's "human rights due diligence processes" relating to the use of Microsoft cloud products and services.

No Azure for Apartheid has a petition signed by over 1,500 Microsoft employees.

Brian Eno, the creator of the Windows 95 startup sound, also spoke out against Microsoft. Eno also shared that the money originally received for creating the startup sound would be used to help victims in Gaza.

Report by The Guardian prompts further review

On August 6, The Guardian, in partnership with +972 Magazine and Local Call, shared the results of an investigation that revealed the Israeli military relied on Microsoft cloud service to store information. "A million calls an hour" were reportedly recorded and stored in Azure.

That report claims that Azure "facilitated the preparation of deadly airstrikes and has shaped military operations in Gaza and the West Bank."

Microsoft technology was not supposed to be used to identify targets for lethal strikes, according to a Microsoft source that spoke with The Guardian. But other sources of the outlet claim phone calls stored in Azure were used to "research and identify bombing targets in Gaza."

Microsoft updated its blog post regarding the use of its technology services in Israel and Gaza on August 15:

"Microsoft Corporation announced today that it is undertaking a formal review of allegations reported by The Guardian on August 6, 2025, relating to usage of Microsoft Azure by a unit of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF). The Guardian, on that date, reported that multiple individuals have asserted that the IDF is using Azure for the storage of data files of phone calls obtained through broad or mass surveillance of civilians in Gaza and the West Bank. Microsoft’s standard terms of service prohibit this type of usage."

The previous review did not find any violations of Microsoft's terms by the Israeli Defense Force (IDF). But Microsoft has since expanded its review in response to the report by The Guardian.

An unnamed Microsoft spokesperson shared the following statement with KOMO News:

“The company announced last week that it is pursuing a thorough and independent review of new allegations first reported earlier this month about the purported use of its Azure platform in Israel. Microsoft will continue to do the hard work needed to uphold its human rights standards in the Middle East, while supporting and taking clear steps to address unlawful actions that damage property, disrupt business or that threaten and harm others.”

Microsoft says it will share its findings once the review is complete.

Copilot is on the way to Microsoft Excel. Or rather, more Copilot is being packed into the popular spreadsheet program. A new COPILOT function is rolling out now to users in the Beta Channel and should make its way to more users soon.

The COPILOT function allows you to use natural language prompts within a spreadsheet. For example, you can use the function to reference cell values and categorize data. Because it is a function, COPILOT can be used alongside other functions.

"It can be painful and time-consuming to wrangle data, summarize feedback, categorize information, and brainstorm ideas," explains Microsoft in a blog post.

"The new COPILOT function in Excel for Windows and Excel for Mac is here to save time and supercharge your workflows! Just enter a natural language prompt in your spreadsheet, reference cell values as needed, and watch Copilot instantly generate AI-powered results."

Another benefit of COPILOT being a function is that results and calculated values update automatically when information is changed. That's standard for functions within Excel and is much more flexible than if you used Copilot or another AI tool outside of the app and then imported the results.

To use the COPILOT function, you can go into any cell and press the equals sign and type Copilot. You'll then be presented with the following:

=COPILOT(prompt_part1, [context1], [prompt_part2], [context2], ...)

The prompt part of that text is used to direct Copilot. The context part can be used to reference information from your spreadsheet, such as a cell or a range of cells.

Using AI as an asssitant

AI receives a lot of criticism, often justifiably so. There are many companies that appear to cram AI into apps in ways that are not needed. Microsoft was accused of this when it added Copilot to Notepad.

The new COPILOT function falls into a different category. By making it a function rather than just a tie-in to a web app or web version of an AI tool, the results created with the COPILOT function are useful. It feels like an extension of Excel that allows you to use natural language to perform tasks that would normally require expert knowledge of Excel.

The ability to classify data stands out to me. I often use Excel to receive feedback. The team I manage is small enough that I can go through feedback individually, but I could easily see the classification feature coming in handy.

In the example video shared by Microsoft, the presenter shows the COPILOT function being used to categorize feedback about a coffee machine, adding a visual indication of the overall thoughts of each piece of feedback, and summarizing the feedback into a sentence or paragraph.

Microsoft's blog post highlights that the same functionality can be used for support tickets and tagging information.

I'm far from a competitor in the Excel World Championships — yes, that's a thing — but I can see how COPILOT could streamline a workflow and add value to a spreadsheet.

Microsoft shares some tips and tricks for using the COPILOT function in its blog post. The tech giant also notes some important limits of the feature. The COPILOT function uses data from Copilot, so it cannot grab live web data or retrieve information from an internal business document.

You can import documents into Excel to provide access to that information to COPILOT.

At the moment, the COPILOT function supports 100 calls every 10 minutes and up to 300 calls per hour. Microsoft plans to raise those limits in the future.

To use the COPILOT function, you need to be a Beta Channel user and have a Microsoft 365 Copilot License.

Microsoft 365 is bringing one of the best recent additions to OneNote over to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Those apps now include a fountain pen and a brush pen, giving you more options for taking notes.

Both pens rolled out to OneNote last year and can now be added to the Draw tab in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. They became popular for adding artistic flourishes to notes and annotations.

Unlike standard digital pens, the fountain pen and brush pen produce strokes with natural variation, mimicking the feel of writing on paper and avoiding the “too perfect” look of many digital tools.

"We know that many of you loved the Fountain pen and Brush pen introduced in OneNote on Windows a year ago, and we’re excited to bring them to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint," said Microsoft in a Tech Community post.

"Now, you can unleash your expressiveness and creativity with the Brush pen when adding ink and annotations in PowerPoint or Excel, or write your notes in Word with a bit more flourish using the Fountain pen."

The fountain pen replicates its real-world equivalent by allowing you to draw thin lines for detailed lettering. You can control how thick a line is with speed or pressure.

The brush pen is directional, meaning the thickness of your pen strokes depends on the angle of your stylus.

Mike Tholfsen, who is a product manager on the Microsoft Education team demonstrated the fountain pen in OneNote last year. That same pen is now available in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

To use the new pens in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, you need to be running Version 2508 (Build 19127.20000) or later of those apps. At least for now, the functionality is limited to Windows.

Considering macOS lacks pen support, the feature may not ever ship to that platform. But we could see the tools added to the Microsoft 365 apps on iPadOS or Android.

How to add pens to the Draw tab

Even if you don't use the fountain pen or brush pen, you may appreciate the additions. The new tools can make the drawing section of apps feel crowded, so Microsoft added the ability to add or remove different input methods.

You can also drag drawing tools around within that section to reorder them.

Here's how you can add the new pens to the Draw tab in supported Microsoft 365 apps:

• Open the Draw tab in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
• Select "Add" to add the fountain pen or brush pen.
• Click or press and hold any drawing tool and then drag it left or right to reorder your tools.
• To delete any drawing tool, press and hold or right-click, then select "Delete."
  • Alternatively, you can expand the options for a specific tool and select "Delete Tool."

While you're in that section, you can add multiple copies of specific tools. For example, you could add two highlighters set to different colors.

It hasn't been too long since a OneDrive user was locked out of "30 years worth of photos and work" for seemingly no reason, paired with an apparent lack of support from Microsoft, as they called the company a "Kafkaesque black hole". It highlighted the dangers of relying solely on one cloud-based system, particularly for backups, and stood as a disappointing example of how interpreted violations of any terms of use agreement can lead to entire accounts being lost.

Recently, Russian developer Mike Kaganski, part of the LibreOffice development team working on the open-source and free alternative to Microsoft Office, was similarly struck with a baffling and unexpected ban, locking them out of their Microsoft account after sending a harmless email containing little more than notes on code bugs and potential fixes (via Neowin).

After reading the details shared in Mike Kaganski's blog, it certainly seemed like an overreaction on Microsoft's part, if the account lock was indeed a reaction to his involvement in LibreOffice's development. The problem is, Mike's attempts to discuss any potential unlocks with Microsoft support had been no more effective than if he were talking to a brick wall.

Even after he was able to file a proper ticket, it simply repeated Microsoft's ineffective suggestions to provide a phone number as a verification method—something it already claimed "isn't working right now" and left him with no other options. In fact, Mike had to use his wife's Microsoft account to contact its support team because, of course, it's a mandatory requirement. Not so intuitive.

Thankfully, Mike has since regained access to his Microsoft credentials, but it's certainly soured his impression of the company. I'm not too surprised, considering it took an entire week to recover. It's far too long to go without access to the all-inclusive account that Microsoft so often promotes for Windows 11. "I won’t use some of their services anymore; and I definitely won’t claim their technical expertise as a matter of fact", he shares in the social replies to his original blog post.

So, what is the average Windows user supposed to do to avoid such issues happening to them? It's all about backups, backups, and more backups. Physical backups first, and cloud backups second. Don't get me wrong, I use Microsoft OneDrive, Google Drive, and a wealth of other cloud services for various reasons, but it's all secondary to the collection of digital backups I have stored on external hard drives and USB flash drives.

Of course, backing up your Windows 11 PC and its files only gets you so far, and it won't help you log in to Microsoft's various services if the company blocks the account that they all need in the first place. For that, you'll want to make sure that the password to your Microsoft account is the most secure password you'll ever use.

If a bad actor (hacker) gets access to your Outlook emails and all of your other passwords can be reset from there, then it's essentially game over. Before that, consider more diverse methods for 2FA (two-factor authentication) than emails solely directed to your Outlook account.

Use secure password managers alongside backup email accounts from different providers, and avoid relying on a single cloud service, whether that's a Microsoft account or any other. Naturally, you shouldn't have to worry about any of this if you never violate the Microsoft Services Agreement—but seemingly, neither did Mike Kaganski, so protect your digital identity however you can.

For a company that primarily specializes (in addition to cloud computing solutions) in software, Microsoft is remarkably terrible at committing to its software.

Since I fell in love with technology, I’ve stubbornly convinced myself that I love Microsoft’s software products, but years of disappointments and the arrival of a new smartphone (the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 we reviewed) have broken the spell — I’m tired of fighting Microsoft to use its products.

I’m taking this opportunity to partially divorce myself from my Microsoft dependency, because I genuinely can’t trust this company to actually care about anything that doesn’t translate to short-term profit. All that matters to the current Microsoft is its bottom line, and that apparently isn’t Windows, Office, Xbox, or any of the other products I’ve relied on for so long.

My love/hate relationship with Microsoft

I was always a nerd, but my journey as a tech nerd began somewhere around 2013-2024. I no longer consider myself a “baby” in the industry, but I still started a lot later than many of my coworkers and editors.

Back then, I was mostly falling in love with the ambitious rise of the flexible and unapologetically chaotic Android on mobile devices, the stable and admittedly boring domination of Windows on laptops and desktops, and the intricacies of high-end audio equipment (at the time far out of reach for my teenage budget).

When I knew I’d be getting my very first smartphone, my wishlist included devices like the Motorola Moto X and Nokia Lumia 1520. What I got? The entry-level Nokia Lumia 520 — and I adored that tiny phone and its square tiles.

My family had an original Xbox growing up, and my grandparents impulsively bought my siblings and I an Xbox 360 S. The combination of these factors converted me into a hardcore Microsoft fan, and the more I dived into the company’s consumer offerings, the deeper I fell.

I changed my angsty Gmail for Outlook, paid for a Microsoft 365 subscription, and wholeheartedly committed to Windows, including buying the Microsoft Lumia 950 XL, a Surface Pro 4, and an Xbox One S across the span of a few years. It’s cliché to say, but I feel it in my heart — those were the golden days for me.

I eventually had to give up my beloved Windows phone for Android (we all know why), my job drew me away from Surface to companies like Lenovo and HP, and I became disillusioned with many of Microsoft’s other products… even the steadfast Xbox brand that held a tight grip on my heart has shaken my faith. So what happened?

Like people avoiding therapy, Microsoft hates commitment

Microsoft is so massive, it regularly deals with numbers too vast for any human to properly visualize. Microsoft is on track to become worth $4 trillion, highlighting the immense success the company continues to see with Azure and the cloud.

Because of the sheer size of this corporate entity, Microsoft has put a lot of eggs into a lot of baskets. There aren't many areas in technology Microsoft hasn't dabbled in, but there are just as many abandoned experiments, dying projects, and forgotten initiatives.

Microsoft has the resources and expertise to pursue the latest trend or attempt to create new ones, but it's also famously terrible at actually following through on anything that isn't an immediate success.

There are literally multiple websites dedicated to tracking the Microsoft Graveyard, with everything that Microsoft has killed (and it's not even fully up to date). Windows phones, Windows Mixed Reality, Skype, Surface Duo, Cortana, Kinect, Zune — I could go on forever, and I've not even mentioned all the canceled video games and shuttered studios.

Despite being one of the largest and most successful companies, Microsoft is seemingly incapable of creating lasting consumer-facing products.

Half-baked first attempts, obvious lack of continued investment, constant backtracking and overhauling, unnecessary cannibalization from overlapping Microsoft projects, inconsistent and unreliable communication, shameless trend-chasing — Microsoft suffers from it all and never learns from its mistakes, leading to a lot of shattered potential (and a whole lot of lost jobs).

Microsoft is allergic to commitment, unless you're an enterprise, the cloud, or artificial intelligence. Yes, we can't forget Microsoft's messy charge into AI — much of which no one even asked for, but that hasn't stopped Microsoft from pushing its employees to rely on its AI tools.

We recently put together a list of 5 good products that it feels like Microsoft has forgotten about, and not even 24 hours later, it was announced that Microsoft shut down its Movies & TV service completely. You can't make this stuff up.

Like my colleague Jez Corden said, Microsoft has made it impossible to be a fan of Surface, Xbox, and Windows itself.

It's time to make some space — hello, new phone!

Don't get me wrong, I understand that failures, shutdowns, and pivots are inevitable in the tech industry, and companies have to make difficult decisions to survive. Google has its own graveyard that's just as depressingly impressive as Microsoft's.

The difference is that Google's ecosystem feels stable for consumers, while Microsoft has drifted from disappointment to disappointment, oftentimes forgetting to even tell us that it abandoned yet another product.

Microsoft is still going to play a massive role in my life, but I'm honestly tired of fighting this company to be a fan. It feels like Microsoft doesn't actually want to be a consumer-facing business, and it certainly hasn't earned an iota of trust from consumers in recent memory.

This company feels fickle and directionless, driven only by the greed of its higher-ups and shareholders. When Microsoft fails, though, it's the consumers and regular employees who suffer, because the executive paychecks certainly don't.

So, now that I'm getting a shiny Samsung Galaxy Z Fold7 to replace my trusty Fold5, I'm going to cut a bit of Microsoft out. I'll still use Xbox, Microsoft Edge, Outlook, OneDrive, Phone Link, and Microsoft Authenticator, but everything else is out.

No more fighting with Microsoft Launcher not working properly or playing nice with foldables. No more waiting for the SwiftKey keyboard to get a meaningful update that isn't some random AI injection. No more wading through the bloated OneNote app that doesn't even have my Sticky Notes.

I'm dropping To Do, I'm certainly never using Microsoft Teams (it's just bad), and Microsoft has done nothing to actually convince me to care about Copilot or any of its other AI things. There are lots of other random Microsoft experiments that I'm no longer paying attention to, as well.

I'll be relying more on Samsung, Google, and other third-party solutions for my software needs moving forward, and I don't have much faith in Microsoft to regain my trust in the future.

Microsoft has confirmed that it will stop releasing new features in Office for users still running Windows 10 starting next year (via The Verge.) While Office will remain supported with security updates until 2028, new features will stop being delivered to Windows 10 customers starting in August 2026.

That means there's just over a year of new feature updates in Office left for Windows 10 users. If you want to continue receiving new features in Office beyond October 2026, you will have to upgrade to Windows 11. Microsoft says that although new features will stop being delivered, the apps themselves will continue to work as normal.

Customers who subscribe to Microsoft 365 Personal or Family will stop getting new features with the version 2608 release in August 2026. The monthly enterprise channel will stop getting new features in October 2026, and the semi-annual enterprise channel will stop getting them in January 2027.

All three release channels, regardless of if you're on a consumer or business subscription, will have their feature set frozen on version 2608. Microsoft has also detailed how support for Microsoft Office on Windows 10 will go beyond October 2025:

1. If the issue occurs only with Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 10, with or without Windows 10 Extended Security Updates, and doesn't occur on Windows 11, support will ask the customer to move to Windows 11.
2. If the customer is unable to move to Windows 11, support will provide troubleshooting assistance only; technical workarounds might be limited or unavailable.
3. Support incidents for Microsoft 365 Apps running on Windows 10, with or without Extended Security Updates, do not include the option to log a bug or request other product updates.

Ultimately, it seems Microsoft is eager to begin winding down support for Windows 10 as soon as it can, at least for individuals and consumers. The company really wants everyone to move to Windows 11, whether that be via an in-place upgrade on your existing Windows 10 PC or buying a brand-new Windows 11 PC if your current PC doesn't support it.

In recent weeks, Microsoft confirmed that it would allow Windows 10 users an additional year of free security updates, so long as you backup your PC settings to the cloud via a Microsoft Account. Alternatively, you can pay either 1000 Microsoft Reward points, or $30 per device.

The extended security update window will only last until October 2026 for individuals and consumers, from which point people will be stranded with no up to date security patches. Enterprises will be able to continue to pay Microsoft money to remain on Windows 10 until October 2028.

Extended security updates only cover security patches, and not bug fixes or new features. It also doesn't cover support, whether that be technical support or support from app developers and driver makers. Over time, Windows 10 will slowly fall out of compatibility with apps and drivers, though this won't happen right away.

Windows 11 just recently took over as the most used version of Windows, finally surpassing Windows 10 after four years on the market. Windows 11 currently has 52%, whereas Windows 10 is now on 44%, that number will only continue to decrease as time moves forward and people switch to Windows 11.

For Microsoft Office users, if you want to keep getting Office feature updates and make the most of your subscription beyond August 2026, you'll need to upgrade to Windows 11. Otherwise, you'll be paying a monthly fee for an app that's essentially in maintenance mode beyond that point.

Microsoft 365 is down to its lowest price in months. You can now get one year of Microsoft 365 Personal for $64.99 or one year of Microsoft 365 Family for $99.99.

Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are the best-known apps that come with Microsoft 365. But subscribers also gain access to Microsoft Defender, Microsoft Editor, select features in Microsoft Teams and Clipchamp, plus 1TB of OneDrive storage per user.

I keep track of the best Microsoft 365 deals all year. Getting one year of Microsoft 365 Personal for $64.99 is an excellent deal. Not only is it more affordable than the retail price of the subscription, it is less than the cost of Microsoft 365 before the price hike.

Microsoft raised the price of Microsoft 365 earlier this year. Personal plans jumped from $69.99 to $99.99 annually, and Family plans went from $99.99 to $129.99.

While Microsoft did not blame the price increase on AI features or Copilot integration, it's difficult to not make that connection. Microsoft 365 now includes some AI credits and gets you access to Copilot within Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote.

Stacking Microsoft 365 subscriptions

If you already have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you can still take advantage of the current deals. Microsoft allows you to stack Microsoft 365 subscriptions for up to five years.

Stacking refers to adding additional time to a subscription. Many Xbox gamers are familiar with the practice since it is also possible to stack Xbox Game Pass Core.

Stacking lets you grab a subscription at a discount even if you're already a subscriber. It's a great way to save money and I wish more services supported it.

How to redeem Microsoft 365

When you purchase Microsoft 365 through StackSocial (or other sites), you'll receive a code. Here's how to redeem that code:

1. Go to https://account.microsoft.com/services
2. Sign in with the Microsoft account tied to your subscription
3. Select "Redeem a code or prepaid card"
4. Enter the code from StackSocial

As a reminder, you can stack up to five years of Microsoft 365.

LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky will now also oversee Microsoft Office and Microsoft 365 Copilot. Roslansky will continue as CEO of LinkedIn, which runs mostly autonomously from Microsoft, but he will also be responsible for Microsoft's most famous applications.

Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and the new Microsoft 365 Copilot will all fall under Roslansky's leadership.

CNBC reported the news. Microsoft sent an internal email about Roslansky's new role. The CEO has since discussed his additional role on LinkedIn:

"Office is one of the most iconic product suites in history. It has shaped how the world works, literally. The reach and impact of Office are unmatched. I’m coming into this role in a new, exciting era. Productivity, connection, and AI are converging at scale. Both Office and LinkedIn are used daily by professionals globally and I’m looking forward to redefining ourselves in this new world."

Roslansky has been at LinkedIn for sixteen years, the last five of which have been as CEO. He joked that he "hadn’t even added an ‘Open to Work’ badge" on his profile when sharing the news on LinkedIn.

Roslansky will continue to report to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella regarding LinkedIn. He will report to Microsoft Executive Vice President for Experiences and Devices Rajesh Jha in relation to the new role over Office.

Microsoft acquired LinkedIn in 2016 for $26.2 billion. LinkedIn runs largely independently from Microsoft.

"A big part of this deal is accelerating LinkedIn’s growth. To that end, LinkedIn will retain its distinct brand and independence, as well as their culture which is very much aligned with ours," said Nadella shortly after Microsoft acquired LinkedIn.

That independence was emphasized by Roslansky (emphasis added):

"While I continue to be the CEO of LinkedIn, an independent subsidiary of Microsoft, I’ll also be stepping into a broader role, leading Microsoft Office and M365 Copilot."

Roslansky also shared his excitement to "lead two of the most impactful professional products in history."

Microsoft is working on new icons for several of its applications. Earlier this year, the tech giant sent a survey to select users asking for feedback on new icon designs.

"At Microsoft, we're always striving to improve our products and create a user experience that truly resonates with you," read the email sent in April. "Today, we're excited to invite you to participate in a brief 15-minute survey that will help us better understand your preferences and opinions about our exploration of different iconography designs for Microsoft 365."

That survey included potential new icons for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive, SharePoint, Teams, OneNote, and Defender. Now, those who enjoy the new icons can download and use them, albeit unofficially.

Reddit user Thunder_Ruler0 cleaned up the leaked icons and created high-resolution versions of each of them. The resulting icons look clean, especially considering they're based on fuzzy source material and the artist created the upscaled versions in a couple of hours.

Thunder_Ruler0 shared a Google Drive folder with the icons in their Reddit post.

I like the look of all the new icons, but the Outlook icon may gain the most attention. In addition to having a modern design, the Outlook icon is yellow. That would be a return to form since the Outlook icon was changed from yellow to blue over a decade ago.

As far as I can tell, the new yellow Outlook icon is only a fan creation by Thunder_Ruler0. The survey sent out by Microsoft last month only showed a blue Outlook logo.

Outlook 2013 introduced a blue logo for the app, marking a major shift from preceding versions of Outlook. Until that point, Outlook had a yellow logo that clearly differentiated it from other Microsoft services.

Word, OneDrive, Yammer, Defender, and Outlook all have blue logos in 2025. Microsoft's icons differ in shape, but I would love to see more color variation across the Microsoft software suite.

If you prefer the refreshed Outlook icon in blue, it is also available in Thunder_Ruler0's Google Drive folder.

As for actually using the yellow Outlook icon, you may have more luck switching to it for Outlook (classic). The new Outlook is a store app, so customizing its icon is tricky. You can create a desktop shortcut for the app and change its icon through Properties, though I haven't had any luck getting the custom icon to appear in the Start menu.

Which Outlook icon is your favorite? Let us know in the comments!

Microsoft's Office apps have been the industry standard for decades. Many businesses and organizations rely on Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Office apps.

But now, Microsoft is recommending businesses shift away from Office, or at least Office perpetual licenses.

"You may have started noticing limitations," said Microsoft recently in a post about upgrading from Office. "Your apps are stuck on your desktop, limiting productivity anytime you're away from your office. You can't easily access your files or collaborate when working remotely or traveling, creating unnecessary friction for your team. Perhaps you’ve seen your company’s IT expenses creep upwards as you’ve added separate solutions for email, file storage, and virtual meetings."

Microsoft's proposed solution to these challenges is to upgrade to Microsoft 365.

The Office apps are included with Microsoft 365, but that subscription also grants access to security features, AI tools, and cloud storage. The tech giant shared a video breaking down the benefits of Microsoft 365 when compared to perpetual licenses of the Office apps.

The counterargument would be that perpetual licenses of the Office apps only require a single payment and do not require a paid subscription. Microsoft argues that despite the rolling cost of Microsoft 365, the subscription saves money in the long run.

The tech giant points to a study conducted by Forrester Consulting (and commissioned by Microsoft) that measures the economic impact of Microsoft 365 for business:

"The study highlights a substantial 223% ROI over three years, with a payback period of less than six months, proving that the initial investment is quickly recovered. Even more compelling, the study quantified over $500,000 in benefits over three years."

Microsoft 365 is a useful productivity suite, and I believe many organizations see that value. But business leaders still have to weigh operational costs of upgrading to Microsoft 365.

Migrating to Microsoft 365 is not just about collaboration or streamlining workflows. Support for Office 2016 and Office 2019 ends on October 14, 2025.

That gives businesses and organizations roughly six months to consider alternatives to relying on versions of Office that will no longer receive security updates or technical support.

If you need Microsoft 365 for yourself, I've highlighted the best deal below. If you run a business or organization and need to upgrade to Microsoft 365, make sure to check out our collection of the best Microsoft 365 deals.

The Microsoft Office apps on your PC are about to get a performance boost. A new feature, which will start rolling out in May, introduces a Startup Boost task to optimize the Office applications.

The new Startup Boost task will roll out for Microsoft Word at first and make its way to other Office applications in the future. The task is optional and is limited to systems that meet certain specs, so it shouldn't bog down your PC.

Microsoft shared the following, which can also be found on the Microsoft 365 Message Center Archive:

"Microsoft is introducing a new Startup Boost task to optimize Office applications' performance and load-time. It will roll out in May 2025, initially for Microsoft Word. The task is optional, visible in Windows Task Scheduler, and can be disabled via in-app settings. No admin action is required for the rollout."

Only PCs with at least 8GB of RAM and 5GB of available disk space will see Startup Boost. The feature will be disabled if Energy Saver is on.

Startup Boost should improve the load-time experience for the Office applications, meaning you can get to work quicker. Like many other startup tasks, the feature will run when you boot up a computer and then remain paused until it is needed.

The rollout of Startup Boost will begin gradually in mid-May. Microsoft expects to complete the feature's rollout by the end of next month.

Microsoft 365 price increase

Microsoft announced a price increase for Microsoft 365 recently. That increase was the first in 12 years, but it still came as a disappointment to many.

Microsoft 365 Personal and Home subscriptions are now $3 more per month than before. There are classic plans for Microsoft 365 at a lower price, but those will only be available for a limited time.

I keep track of the best Microsoft 365 deals, and I'm sorry to report that the price increase has started to make its way to resellers and online retailers.

It is possible to stack a Microsoft 365 subscription, meaning you can extend your current plan. That means even if you have an active Microsoft 365 subscription, it's worth taking advantage of a good discount.

Microsoft has expanded the number of devices that can view a shared Office file without a Microsoft account. A recent update makes it possible to view shared files on an iPhone or iPad even if you are not signed in.

It was already possible to open shared files from Word, Excel, and PowerPoint without a Microsoft account if you viewed those files on the web. Now, that same option is available on an iPad or iPhone.

With this change, recipients of shared files can now open and view documents in Word, PowerPoint, or Excel more easily. Editing shared documents or leaving comments still requires a Microsoft account.

Since Word, PowerPoint, and Excel are the standard for many organizations and users, receiving a shared Office document is common. The recent change to the Office apps on iOS and iPadOS increases the accessibility of those types of files.

Microsoft shares the steps to share documents in a Tech Community post:

• Open a Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file that you want to share.
• Select Share > Link settings (the gear icon in the top-right corner), ensure that either the Anyone with the link can edit or Anyone with the link can view option is selected, and then select the Apply button. 
• To share the link with others, type their email address in the Share dialog box, and then click the Send button, or click the Copy link button and paste it in a message created using an app such as Microsoft Outlook or Microsoft Teams.

Anyone who uses that link on a supported device will be able to open and view the file.

The new behavior rolls out with Version 2.94 (Build 25020422) of the Office apps on iOS and iPadOS.

Microsoft has quietly launched a new version of Microsoft Office for Windows that can be used to edit documents for free, no Microsoft 365 subscription or Office license key required. This free version of Office is based on the full desktop apps, but has most features locked behind the Microsoft 365 subscription.

First spotted by Beebom, the free version of Office for Windows includes ads that are permanently on screen when within a document in Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Additionally, this new free version of Office also only allows you to save files to OneDrive, meaning no support for editing local files.

To access the free version of Office, just skip the prompt to sign-in when you first run an Office app. From there, you will be given the choice to continue to use Office for free in exchange for ads and limited features. In this mode, you can open, view, and even edit documents, just like you can with the web version of Office.

Limited features include no access to add-ins, dictation, advanced formatting, designer, smartart, and more. The free versions of these apps are literally just designed for basic writing and editing of Office documents. If you want to take advantage of more advanced features in Office, you’ll still need to subscribe.

Unfortunately, it looks like this free version of Office is in limited testing, as we were unable to skip the sign-in prompt when running Office on our test machines. It’s possible that Microsoft is currently only testing this version of Office in specific regions, or is A/B testing it with a small group of people first.

The company hasn’t officially announced this version of Office yet, nor does it acknowledge its existence in support documents. Perhaps we’ll hear more about this new free version of Office from Microsoft in the coming days or weeks.

Update: In a statement to PC World, Microsoft has confirmed that this free version of Office is just a test "Microsoft has been conducting some limited testing ... Currently, there are no plans to launch a free, ad-supported version of Microsoft Office desktop apps."

Microsoft 365’s new name and logo are terrible, and it seems many agree. After squandering decades of recognizable brand recognition when the company originally rebranded Microsoft Office to Microsoft 365, it’s now further muddying the waters by rebranding Microsoft 365 again to include the word “Copilot.”

Along with this latest rebrand, Microsoft has introduced a new logo to accompany the shiny new “Microsoft 365 Copilot” branding. So, what has Microsoft cooked up in their design labs? Let me introduce you to this masterpiece:

I promise, this is not a joke.

That’s genuinely the new Microsoft 365 Copilot logo… it’s the normal Copilot logo, with a box of text that says “M365” plastered over the top of it. Not only does it confuse things between Microsoft 365 as a suite of Office applications and the real Copilot chat service, but you probably had a hard time making out the "M365" text in that image as well.

People online have noted that on PCs with a low pixel density display, the text in the Microsoft 365 Copilot icon is barely even readable when pinned to the Taskbar. The lower your pixel density, the more impossible it is to read what the text in the icon actually says. It often looks like M366, M355, MJEG, or any combination in between.

Is it a huge deal? Not really. But it does shine an unflattering light on Microsoft's terrible touch when it comes to design. It's clear the company hasn't given this icon more than a few seconds of thought, resulting in something that is poorly designed from an accessibility and legibility perspective.

On a Surface Laptop Go, which is a Microsoft-made laptop, the text in the icon is really hard to decipher. If you didn’t know it said “M365”, you’d seriously struggle with figuring out what it says. And that’s a problem when the majority of the logo is identical to an entirely different service.

Copilot and Microsoft 365 Copilot are not the same thing. Microsoft 365 Copilot is Office, which consists of Word, PowerPoint, Excel, OneNote, Outlook, and many others. Copilot is a generative chat service. Yeah... I can't figure out the logic behind this rebrand either. At the very least it should have its own distinct icon that doesn't rely on text to identify that it's different.

Microsoft seems to have gone a little bit Copilot mad in the last year, and that’s a shame. Copilot is fine, but I can't see it ever having mass appeal. The company is betting on a horse that’s already competing in a crowded market, and with no Windows mobile or wearable platform, it’s a battle that it’s never going to win. Shoehorning it into the Microsoft 365 brand isn't going to change that.

It may be controversial to say, but I don’t think people care all that much about Copilot. It’s handy every now and then, but it’s not strong enough of a tool to bet the entire Microsoft Office suite on.

Microsoft isn't exactly known for "good" branding, at least generally.

Indeed, "hit and miss" is how I'd ultimately describe Microsoft's ability to actually name things. Xbox is cool, but Xbox One, Series X|S, Xbox 360? It all began to get a bit confusing. "Surface" is cool too, but somewhere along the way, Microsoft stopped giving them numbers, so now we have the Surface Pro "11th Edition" instead of simply the Surface Pro 11 (which is what most people search for anyway). I quite like the Microsoft Edge branding too. Then there's Windows itself, which is perhaps among the most recognizable brands and products in history.

Synonymous with Windows, for the past several decades, is its suite of productivity tools known to the vast majority of the globe as "Microsoft Office." At least, it used to be. A couple of years ago, Microsoft inexplicably rebranded it to "Microsoft 365," throwing away decades of brand recognition and removing the actual function of the product from its name. It's so dumb that Microsoft itself acknowledges the dumbness, having to list Microsoft 365 as "Microsoft 365 (Office)" on various app stores, because they know how much confusion they've created with their misguided name change.

But wait, it gets worse. Say hi to "Microsoft 365 Copilot." Yep.

If you thought the first Office rebrand was dumb, Microsoft has decided to take it to the next level with Microsoft 365 Copilot

Sigh. Where to start with this one.

Microsoft is so desperate to push its ChatGPT container "Microsoft Copilot" that it has attached it to one of its only popular consumer products like some kind of vestigial limb. With this update, apps like Word, Excel, and more gain Copilot "integration," although so far, the results aren't exactly great. The ability for Copilot to actually interact with your documents in Excel is quite limited. I asked it to remove mentions of a date range I mistakenly copy and pasted in one of my spreadsheets, and it basically returned with a guide on how to press delete to remove data from cells. Word is a similar story. You can highlight text and click a button to get Copilot to re-write things for you ... but I'm not sure exactly when this would be useful.

Copilot has its uses for sure, just as ChatGPT does. I think Microsoft's current implementations of Copilot are underwhelming, but we're not here to review Copilot right now. What we are debating is the virtue of attaching the branding of a platform that consumers have, thus far, shown very little interest in, onto a product that is designed for very specific tasks. It would be like naming Office "Microsoft Office Clippy" back when that feature was invented and implemented.

Microsoft 365 itself was an absurdist idea, throwing away decades of cultural muscle memory for what feels like an ideological effort rather than one based on good sense. Calling it Microsoft 365 Copilot, before Copilot is even really a thing, again strikes me as completely odd. It comes from the same corporate overthinking as the "Copilot+ PC" branding, which so far, consumers have wholesale rejected. It comes from the same pointless exercise as rebranding globally-recognized news aggregate "MSN" over to "Microsoft Start," only to revert back after a few months.

Who, or what is driving these crazy branding choices?

I'm not sure who makes these decisions at Microsoft, but they are all crazy

Copilot isn't ready for the prime time in my view, operating as a basic web wrapper for ChatGPT with painfully limited system-level integration, features, and capabilities. By rushing ahead and putting a spotlight on Copilot today, Microsoft risks "Copilot" becoming synonymous with uselessness much like Bing itself, while spreading the pain onto products and services that are otherwise actually good.

I'm sure that some day Microsoft Copilot might actually be a thing people actively care about, but it hardly offers any differentiation from ChatGPT today, owing to a lack of innovation from Microsoft itself. There's no real reason to use Microsoft Copilot over ChatGPT today, and Microsoft has so far struggled to address that. Copilot's integration into Word and Excel are underwhelming, and Copilot+ PC features like Windows Recall had to be recalled, as Microsoft trips over itself trying to keep pace with competitor platforms.

RELATED: Why Microsoft won't be the company that mainstreams consumer AI

The rebrand of Microsoft Office was dumb to start with, trampling on a legacy spanning decades. The second rebrand attaching Copilot is even more dumb, and follows the Copilot+ PC thought process of firmly putting the cart several miles before the horse. Copilot hasn't earned the right to be showcased alongside a technological cultural milestones like Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Word. At least today, it doesn't do anything that ChatGPT doesn't do, save for having slightly more censorship.

The only rebrand to Copilot that might make sense is dropping it onto Bing. Bing is synonymous with low quality now (fairly or not), rebranding the search engine to "Copilot.com" would align more with what Microsoft is doing with search anyway potentially. "Ask Copilot" has a better ring to it than "Bing it." Bing has nothing to lose in terms of consumer trust, but attaching Copilot to existing globally recognized and globally loved existing brands just feels like a fool's errand.

Microsoft's penchant for rushing ahead with frequent and thoughtless branding exercises risks creating negative connotations while painting itself as a company that has no clue what it's actually doing. As of writing, "Office 365" still has double the amount of search traffic as "Microsoft 365." Microsoft 365 Copilot has virtually none.

Tired of subscription overload? This Cyber Monday, you can ditch another recurring payment. Office 2024 is now under $100 — down from $149.99 — giving you lifetime access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. That's one less subscription you need to worry about if you use the core Office apps. Right now, you can get Office 2024 for $99.99 ($50 off).

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Office 2024 vs. Microsoft 365

Microsoft provides several ways to access its Office apps and services. It can get a bit confusing since Microsoft 365 used to be called Office 365 and both Microsoft 365 and Office 2024 come with several of the same apps.

To break things down, Microsoft 365 comes with more apps, gets regular updates, extends across devices, and gets you benefits such as OneDrive cloud storage. It requires a subscription, but the entry cost is relatively low since Microsoft knows you'll keep paying for the service each month (or pay annually). Office 2024 comes with just the core Office apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. Those apps are locked-in-time, meaning you won't get new versions of them when app updates come out. The main benefit is that Office 2024 only requires a one-time payment.

The best experience, at least if you listen to Microsoft, comes when you subscribe to Microsoft 365. Doing so will get you the latest versions of all Microsoft 365 apps and services. You'll also have access to a larger library of apps, get cloud storage through OneDrive, and be able to use Microsoft Editor and Microsoft Defender. The downside is that Microsoft 365 requires a subscription. The normal price of a Microsoft 365 Personal subscription is $69.99 per year, though the best Microsoft 365 deal gets you 15 months of the subscription for the same price.

I agree with Microsoft's claim that the best experience comes with Microsoft 365, but that doesn't mean it's the best choice for everyone. If you only need the core Office apps, it doesn't make sense to pay for an ongoing subscription that includes apps and services you never use. Office 2024 is a solid choice for people who only need to use Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or OneNote and who do not need the added apps and features that would come with a Microsoft 365 subscription.

At $50 off, Office 2024 is an excellent bargain for those who use Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or OneNote but don't need the other apps and benefits of Microsoft 365.

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What you need to know

• Microsoft 365 Personal and Family plans will soon be more expensive in several regions.
• The price increase is due to the addition of Copilot into various Microsoft 365 apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote.
• The addition of Microsoft Designer to Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions is also a factor in the price increase.

Copilot is on the way to Microsoft 365, and so is Microsoft Designer. Those additions will bring new features to Microsoft's productivity suite, but they will also drive up the cost of the now-ubiquitous Microsoft 365. Those with Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscriptions who are in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, or Thailand will soon receive new AI capabilities in Microsoft 365 apps and have to pay more for the privilege. It's not confirmed that these changes will take place in other countries.

Microsoft's Copilots were already available in several Office apps, but they were limited to Copilot Pro subscribers. Microsoft improved those Copilots over the last nine months, and it is now ready to ship them to more consumers. Here's what the tech giant listed as on the way to Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscribers:

• Copilot in Word transforms your writing and reading experience by generating outlines or full drafts, suggesting rewrites to better capture your ideas, summarizing long texts into digestible pieces, and even creating unique images to complement your documents. 
• Copilot in Excel helps you analyze your data to provide actionable insights and graphs, and generates formulas based on your requirements. 
• Copilot in PowerPoint enhances your storytelling by generating full outlines with visuals, text, and speaker notes, and allows you to create custom images to make your presentations more engaging. 
• Copilot in Outlook makes managing emails a breeze by drafting emails based on your intent, providing tips to improve tone and clarity, and summarizing email threads to help you catch up quickly. 
• Copilot in OneNote takes your notetaking to the next level by helping you organize information, create lists, draft plans, generate ideas, and offers insights into past notes. 

Microsoft Designer is now part of Microsoft 365 Personal and Family as well, and it works within apps such as Word and PowerPoint. Those who have a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription will receive credits each month that can be used across various Copilots.

While these features will be useful for some people, I suspect quite a few folks will focus more on the price increase to Microsoft 365. The change will likely worry many, as it shows that everyday users will end up paying for Microsoft's quest to dominate the AI space. This isn't paying more for Copilot Pro, which will remain available for those who need unlimited AI usage, this is Microsoft 365 Personal and Microsoft 365 Family seeing a price increase because of AI.

Is the price of Microsoft 365 going up?

Yes. Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions will soon cost more. At minimum, that's the case in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore, Taiwan, and Thailand, but it appears possible the increase will appear across the board as Copilot (and Designer) are integrated with Microsoft 365. Microsoft noted some pricing details in its news post:

"To reflect the value we’ve added over the past decade and enable us to deliver new innovations for years to come, we’re increasing the prices of Microsoft 365 Personal and Family. The price increase will apply to existing subscribers upon their next renewal. The price increases vary in each market—visit our website for exact local pricing. For Microsoft 365 Family subscribers, Copilot will be available to the subscription owner and cannot be shared with others."

When will the price of Microsoft 365 go up?

Even if you're a market seeing a price increase, you have a bit of time before the change will affect you. Current subscribers will remain at their current rate until their next renewal. At that time, the price will jump up to whatever the new cost is the respective region.

"I hate AI. Can't I just use Microsoft 365 without AI and pay less?"

Somewhat surprisingly, the answer to this question appears to be yes. I'm sure Microsoft would be quick to tell you that the best Microsoft 365 experience for users would be one featuring AI, but that will not be the only option. A Microsoft 365 Classic option will be available, according to ZDNet, and it will cost a similar price to what you pay right now for Microsoft 365.

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What you need to know

• Microsoft Office 2024 is now available for consumers and small businesses.
• Office 2024 gets you access to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook on Mac and PC.
• You can purchase Office 2024 for a one-time payment of $149.99 or $249.99, depending on which apps you'd like to use.

Microsoft Office 2024 is now available for consumers and small businesses. The suite provides access to the core Office apps without requiring a subscription. There are two editions of Office 2024. For $149.99, you can purchase Office Home 2024, which comes with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote for one PC or Mac. Office Home & Business $249.99 comes with the same apps as the Home edition but also includes Outlook and the rights to use apps for commercial purposes. You can purchase either edition of Office 2024 through Microsoft's website.

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What's new in Office 2024?

Office 2024 has a new look that uses Fluent Design principles. That means the Office apps look more at home on Windows 11. It also includes several features that improve accessibility across the Office apps.

Transferring photos from a phone to a computer is now easier with Office 2024, since you can now use your Android device to insert pictures into Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.

Word, Excel, and PowerPoint now support OpenDocument Format 1.4 in Office 2024. Word and PowerPoint also gained the ability to like comments.

Dynamic charts with dynamic arrays and text and array functions within Excel expand the capabilities of the app. Excel also gained a new IMAGE function that lets you add pictures to a workbook by pulling images from the web. When navigating a workbook, you should see better performance since both speed and stability are better in Excel 2024 than the previous version of Excel.

Cameo support arrives in PowerPoint with Office 2024, allowing you to insert a live camera feed into a PowerPoint slide. PowerPoint also gained support for embedding Microsoft Stream videos and creating a video in Recording Studio.

Starting with Office 2024, Word will open all the documents you had open if the app closes unexpectedly, saving you from losing work.

Microsoft outlines all the changes in Office 2024 in a support document, including everything new in Outlook and Access.

Microsoft Office vs. Microsoft 365

Microsoft Office 2024 and Microsoft 365 have some overlap regarding which services and apps they provide access to, but they're fundamentally different. Microsoft Office 2024 and earlier versions of Office get you locked-in-time versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook. You pay a flat fee and then have access to those apps going forward. In contrast, Microsoft 365 requires a subscription but gets you regular app updates, so you're always on the latest versions of your apps.

Microsoft 365 also lets you use more Microsoft apps and services, such as OneDrive, Microsoft Defender, and Microsoft Editor.

The long-in-short is that Microsoft 365 gets you more apps, services, and updates, but it requires a subscription. If you only need the core Office apps and don't want to pay monthly or annually, Microsoft Office 2024 may be a better option.

If you are looking into Microsoft 365, make sure to check out our guide on the best Microsoft 365 deals, which can save you quite a bit of money on Microsoft's productivity suite.

Two of my biggest passions are technology and American football. When I get the chance, I do everything in my power to connect those threads. Over the years, I've used a variety of technologies to bolster my American football team, Nottingham Caesars U19. 

I've stood in the rain on the sideline with an Acer Enduro rugged tablet. I use pole-mounted cameras controlled from a remote office to film practices (here's me filming the Great Britain Men's team I am also on the staff of). I even used ChatGPT to create a gym plan that's helped shape team fitness plans. But throughout the years, one of my most consistent technological partners has been Microsoft 365.

Nottingham Caesars U19

This piece is about how I use Microsoft apps and services to help my team, so I'll spend the majority of the piece focusing on the tech. But it's probably worth some context on who the Nottingham Caesars are, especially given the fact that many are surprised that American football is played locally in the UK.

Nottingham Caesars U19 is an American football team based in Nottingham, England. We play in a league for players ages 16 to 19 (top end of the age cutoff depends on birthday). Specifically, we play in Division 1, which is the highest division of play in our age group.

I became head coach of Nottingham Caesars U19 six years ago, though we've only had five seasons since then because of the global pandemic. After a couple of years of rebuilding, the team hit its stride. We were #5 in the UK in 2022. In 2023 and 2024 we were back-to-back northern champions and appeared in two national finals, meaning we have been the #2 team two years in a row.

To be entirely honest, I view the development of players and coaches as people as more important than wins and losses, but those are more personal stories and are hard to quantify. With that in mind, here are some tangible things the team has accomplished:

• 2024 Northern champion
• 2024 National finalist
• 2024 Youth Coach of the Year (I technically won this award, but I view it as a team accomplishment)
• 2023 Northern champion 
• 2023 National finalist
• 2023 U19 Club of the Year 
• 10 Great Britain U19 Players
• 1 Great Britain Men's Player
• 1 NFL Academy player
• 3 British university scholars
• 17-4-1 record over 3 years
• 60+ university players since 2018

Our season wrapped up yesterday, giving me a great chance to look back on the year, previous seasons, and prepare to make some highlight reels. 

Microsoft Excel

Excel is probably the Microsoft app I use the most when it comes to my American football team. I use it for some standard stuff, such as keeping track of my budget. I imagine the idea of using Excel for finance spreadsheets is well-known at this point, so I'll run through some other ways I use Excel in greater detail.

My team has had over 50 players this season and over 10 people help in coaching or support roles. Unlike many teams in the United States, we are not attached to a school or larger organization (apart from our adult team). As a result, our catchment area is rather large. Our season also runs through several exam periods, such as GCSEs, A-Levels, and university exams. Without going through a complete breakdown of the UK's education system, those are all major tests that affect where a person can attend school, what they can study, and which career they can go into.

Caesars U19 and other American football teams in the UK face the challenge of juggling a lot of conflicting schedules. That's true to an extent for any youth team, but we don't get some of the benefits of a setup attached to a single school, such as coordinating practices and academic events to ease the burden on students. For example, at my university, there were certain parts of the week that never had lectures or seminars to ensure student athletes could play games without hurting their academics.

To stay on top of things, I have an attendance tracker for the team. I use this to see who has been at sessions leading up to a game. Our lineups are then shaped by this data. In many cases, it's not about punishing players who missed practice, since a career-shifting exam is obviously important. Instead, it's to know who has been around to learn new plays, practice certain skills, and who has been available to prepare for a certain team.

I shared how I track attendance with Excel earlier this year. That spreadsheet relies on a feature that's still in testing, but it's been a lifesaver for the team. 

Microsoft Forms

With dozens of players on the team, there's a lot to manage. I need to have photo release forms filled out by parents or guardians and often need feedback from a large group of people. Microsoft Forms is one of the tools I use to keep track of important data and forms. The ability to use a wide range of media types in polls and quizzes is very useful. As part of our upcoming off season program, we have several playbook quizzes ready to roll out that were made with Microsoft Forms.

I also use Forms to get votes for our annual awards, which is quite the undertaking. With over 50 players on the team, a division title, a playoff win, and a trip to the national final, there are a lot of big plays and award-worthy moments to sort out. Forms simplifies the process of nominations and voting.

OneDrive

I back up all the team photos and game film on OneDrive. We do our team film study on a specialized piece of software called Qwikcut, but I back up footage on OneDrive, allowing me to save it in full resolution and have another copy on the cloud. I also back up archived footage on a hard drive.

One of the biggest advantages of OneDrive is I can create folders for simple sharing. Parents, players, coaches, and friends of the team can drop images into folders after games, which is especially useful given we're an amateur team and players all want a million photos to post on Instagram. Obviously, there are several cloud storage solutions with the same functionality, but I happen to use OneDrive, and it's been rock solid for years. Also, since I keep our piece on the best Microsoft 365 prices up-to-date, I can stack up on a subscription at a good rate.

OneDrive also serves as the back end for many of the other Microsoft services I use. Excel syncs across OneDrive, which lets me edit wrist coaches and spreadsheets on all my devices. Clipchamp also plays nicely with OneDrive content, making video editing easier.

Clipchamp

Clipchamp is a video editor that's preinstalled on hundreds of millions of PCs. It's not as powerful as Adobe Premiere Pro or Da Vinci Resolve, but it is easier to use in many ways. Clipchamp features a simple interface and has quite a few features that lower the learning curve of creation.

I use Clipchamp to make the majority of the Caesars U19 highlight videos. I occasionally have to hop into a more powerful app to do certain tasks, such as tracking players with Da Vinci Resolve. But Clipchamp has been a great tool for the team and takes some work off my plate. Its templates and interface are straightforward and easy to tweak. I also give credit to the Clipchamp team for listening to feedback. The app has gotten better over the years in several key areas, though it still lacks an Android app (hint, hint Microsoft).

No Microsoft Teams

With so much of my workflow relying on Microsoft services, you may assume that I use Microsoft Teams for Caesars U19 communication. I used to, but that changed a few years ago when Microsoft changed the free tier of Teams. We've since migrated to WhatsApp communities. I admit that Teams is a more robust solution, but we're an amateur team that needs to use funds for equipment, field bookings, and club transportation. It's not feasible to upgrade to a paid version of Teams, and I didn't find the current free version of Teams a fit for us.

Merging the virtual and the physical

Several moments I've shared with Caesars U19 have felt surreal. As you may expect, having a team win two northern championships brings waves of emotions. To be honest, at times it almost feels like a dream. Players and graduates sharing stories about how being part of the team helped prepare them for university, work, and parenthood also tug on the heart strings.

There are other strange realizations that hit me, such as thinking about the fact that I was the one in charge of a 14-hour round trip to Scotland that involved ensuring over 40 people got there and back safely and on time. But one reoccurring theme has popped into my head over the years; the merging of the physical and the digital.

Each night before a game, I make a wrist coach file in Excel. Those plays were picked by my offensive coordinator, coaches, and players based on film we watched online. I then print out the wrist coaches, laminate them, and cut them to size. Those physical objects are essential for on-field performance for the offense. That offense then makes plays using those tools and creates highlights that we then upload to the cloud, starting the cycle again (the defense and special teams unit also makes highlights, of course, they just happen to use different tools).

It's all a bit wild to me. These spreadsheets synced through the cloud and other digital files translate into real-world experiences shared by players, coaches, family, and friends.

What you need to know

• Microsoft has changed where it will post information about the Microsoft 365 Insider program.
• Rather than appear on a dedicated blog, Microsoft 365 Insider posts will appear with in the Microsoft Tech Community.
• The move should increase engagement and help Microsoft 365 Insiders connect to more people.

Microsoft shared the final post on its Microsoft 365 Insider blog this week. But the blog is not going away. Instead, it just has a new home. Going forward, Microsoft will share all of its content related to the Microsoft 365 Insider program and Microsoft 365 Insiders through the Tech Community website.

Those who follow Microsoft news closely are likely familiar with the Tech Community site. Posts about several Microsoft apps and services already live on there. The shift away from the dedicated Microsoft 365 Insider blog should prove useful in a few key areas, including community engagement.

Microsoft shared the key reasons for the move in its final Microsoft 365 Insider blog post on the old website:

• Enhanced Engagement: The Tech Community is designed for sharing timely information and driving community engagement.
• Community Interaction: The Tech Community facilitates engagement with a larger community of Microsoft 365 users, MVPs, and Community Ambassadors, and enables you to share your thoughts, ask questions, and participate in discussions.
• Access to Resources: The Tech Community provides a wealth of resources, including blog posts, event promotions, and more, all in one place.
• Improved Collaboration: The Tech Community supports better collaboration and interaction, making it easier for you to connect with experts and peers.
• Event Promotion: The Tech Community provides a platform to share blog posts, resources, and promote events like AMAs (Ask Me Anything) sessions,

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Migrating news and discussions about Microsoft 365 to the Tech Community site should increase engagement. Tech community is built for interaction, and it's common to see experts and everyday users chat in threads there. Microsoft 365 Insiders are now connected to a broader network that includes MVPs, community ambassadors, and other users.

I find the Tech Community site easier to navigate as well. The layout shows a large number of posts at once without feeling crowded or making it difficult to find specific content.

The move took place on August 26, 2024. The new Microsoft 365 Insider Blog section of the Tech Community site already has a large library of content. Microsoft migrated things over, allowing you to search for posts using filters or other means. You can also follow that page or subscribe to an RSS feed for it.

Microsoft changing where it posts news about the Microsoft 365 Insider program has no effect on people enrolled in the program. It just shifts where you need to look to see the latest news.

Microsoft's suite of Office tools — available as a one-time purchase through Office 2021 or as a subscription service through Microsoft 365 — contains some of the most powerful productivity software around, and it's a go-to collection for countless Windows users (myself included) and beyond.

Whether you buy Office 2021 once or subscribe to Microsoft 365 on a monthly/yearly basis, you're paying for a full set of apps, including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. But what if you don't need anything beyond Word?

The good news is that you can buy standalone Office apps like Word instead of investing in the entire suite. There are some arguments for and against this approach, which is what I'm delving into here to help you make the right decision.

Can I buy Microsoft Word as a standalone app?

Microsoft is quick to advertise its 365 subscription service, but paying every month or year doesn't work for everyone. While it might be cheaper initially to enter a subscription agreement, the cost over time can add up.

Those looking to buy only a specific Office app, like Word, aren't out of luck. Microsoft sells its Word, Excel, and PowerPoint apps as standalone pieces. You might think that this can help students headed back to school save some money, but it's not always the case; each app sells for about $160. The app is yours to keep forever, but it only works on one PC (or Mac) and doesn't come with the same feature updates as the apps contained within the Microsoft 365 bubble. I reached out to a Microsoft support rep to confirm, as the product page is unclear.

There are some clear downsides to buying Microsoft Word as a standalone app. Security updates and bug fixes are guaranteed, but major feature updates are a no-go. There's also the matter of cost, where Word on its own costs more than the entire Office 2021 suite. You can usually find Office 2021 Home & Student, with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, for about $150. That's $10 cheaper than one app. 

Office 2021 doesn't receive the same feature updates as 365 versions either, but at least you have Excel and PowerPoint standing by should you ever need them. Word is the Office app I use the most, but that doesn't mean I haven't found the unexpected occasion to use Excel and PowerPoint.

Bottom line? Even if you only need Word, it's cheaper to buy Office 2021 with Excel and PowerPoint also included.

What's the difference between Office 2021 and Microsoft 365?

Our Windows expert, Mauro Huculak, wrote a great article comparing Office 2021 and Microsoft 365, and I urge you to check it out for a detailed breakdown between products.

To summarize, Microsoft 365 is a better option for those who regularly use all Office apps across multiple devices. Microsoft 365 grants access to 1TB of OneDrive storage, it now comes with a built-in VPN, Copilot can help with various tasks, and it receives free feature upgrades as they're released. It costs as little as $70 per year (or $7 monthly) for a Personal account, and up to $100 per year (or $10 monthly) for a Family account. 

The difference between Personal and Family is how many users are included. Family allows for up to six accounts (each with 1TB of OneDrive storage) while Personal is for one user.

Office 2021 includes the core Office apps only, and it comes with a single license to be used on one PC. It receives security and bug updates, but it doesn't receive feature updates. Keep in mind that Office 2024 is expected to launch at some point this year. Office 2021 will continue to work fine, but the next release will have updated core Office apps.

Before you buy an Office subscription, be sure to check out our up-to-date list of the best prices for Microsoft 365. It's a great way to find the best deals without scouring the internet.

What about Word for the web?

Microsoft offers its core Office apps for free online. Word for the Web, as it's called, might be enough for those who are strictly looking for a basic word processor. As long as you're signed in with a Microsoft account, it's a straightforward process to get going.

The downsides? You always need to be connected to the internet to use it, and it lacks some of the same functionality as its paywalled siblings. Depending on how large your document gets, it can also affect performance. It's running in a browser, after all, which is usually already a system hog.

Free alternatives to Word

Microsoft Word might be the app that most Windows users think of when they need to write, but it's certainly not the only software out there. In fact, there are a bunch of free word processors available that can do just about everything that Word can do.

The main offering that I've had much success with in the past is Apache OpenOffice, but LibreOffice Writer seems to have taken over as the best by online consensus. It has more features and a more modern UI, and it covers everything that the average user needs to create written projects.

WPS Office is another outstanding free choice, especially if you're already familiar with the look and layout of Word. You get 1GB of free cloud storage to store your documents, it has a ton of modern formatting features, and you can unlock AI help.

In 2024, it's normal to need to subscribe to a software suite to access popular apps and services. While many subscriptions provide good value, having one means you have to pay each month to use your needed programs or enjoy content. If you want to use Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint but don't want to pay for a subscription, you can pay for Office Home & Student 2021. Normally, the flat fee is $149.99, but right now you can grab it for $79.99.

✅Perfect for: Those who need access to Word, Excel, or PowerPoint but no other Microsoft apps or services.

❌Avoid if: You need to use other Microsoft apps and services.

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Each month it feels like I have another subscription to something. Streaming TV shows and movies requires a monthly payment these days. Monthly plans pile up in terms of management and cost. You can rotate your subscriptions to keep costs down, but that means you have to juggle things each month. An easier way to save time and money is to reduce how many subscriptions you have. If you need to use Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint but don't need other Microsoft apps and services, Microsoft Office Home & Student is easy to recommend.

Office Home & Student 2021 gets you access to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint on a single device. You can install those programs on Windows 11, Windows 10, or macOS, but you can only use the apps on a single system.

You can also use Office Home & Student 2021 for non-commercial use of Microsoft Teams, which is a handy addition as that communication platform becomes more common.

If you need more Microsoft apps and services, such as OneDrive storage, Microsoft Editor, or Microsoft Defender, there's always Microsoft 365. I have a piece listing all the best prices on Microsoft 365 that also breaks down the differences between Microsoft's various subscriptions and purchase options.

What you need to know

• Microsoft is adding a new way to interact with recently used Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents on iOS.
• You can access recently used files directly from the home screen through the new Recent Files widgets for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for iOS.
• The feature is rolling out to Microsoft Insiders but is expected to ship to broad availability soon.

Microsoft has announced a new and easier way to interact with recently used Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents on iOS. You access recently used files directly from the home screen via the Recent Files widgets for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for iOS.

Users can either view or open recently accessed files by adding the Recent Files widgets for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to the home screen on their iPhone or iPad.  It's worth noting the Recent Files widget is available in different sizes (small, medium, and large) to accommodate your needs based on the device you're using. 

What's more, you can use the widget to launch the app's home page by tapping anywhere on the widget outside the file cards. It's worth noting that the feature is rolling out to Microsoft 365 Insiders running iOS Version 2.85 (Build 24042818) or later.

It's possible that you might not be able to access the new feature immediately, as it's rolling out in waves. Microsoft uses this precautionary measure to ensure everything runs smoothly before shipping a feature to broad availability. 

What you need to know

• Losing unsaved files in Microsoft Word can be a pain, especially if you hadn't enabled the autosave option or synced Office 365 to the cloud as backup.
• There's a cool trick that can help you retrieve lost and unsaved Word documents by searching for .asd in the File Explorer under My/This PC.
• It's a great alternative if you fail to retrieve the unsaved Word file via Word's in-built the Document Recovery or Recover Unsaved Documents methods.

Throughout my school-going years, losing assignments was one of my biggest phobias. I know I'm not the only one who's lost important and time-sensitive work while using Microsoft Word. 

There are several ways that you can use to retrieve unsaved Word documents, including Word's Document Recovery feature or its Recover Unsaved Documents option. 9 out of 10 times, both of these methods usually work (even if you lose a bit of progress at times). But sometimes, these efforts might be rendered futile. It's especially worse if you've not enabled the autosave feature.

Interestingly, while scrolling through X(formerly Twitter) I stumbled on a cool tip from the @cooltechtipz page to help out with this specific issue:

"If you accidentally close a Word file without saving, no autosave either. Just search .asd into the File Explorer under My/This PC. The document will be there, Windows has your back!"

While this trick isn't new, it seems to have caught many users (including me) by surprise going by the reactions on the post. To retrieve unsaved Word documents, click on the Start icon on your Windows 11 taskbar and enter .asd in the search bar. Voila! You'll now have access to the lost and unsaved Word document, saving you time and resources that would've been spent doing the project all over again.

Once you find any Word file with the .asd extension, head back to Microsoft Word and click on the File option at the top and select the Open and Browse tabs. Next, select the All files option in the drop-down menu to find the unsaved .asd file.

What you need to know

• Microsoft has changed the default paste option in Word for Windows.
• The default paste option was previously set to Keep Source Formatting but has been changed to Merge Formatting.
• Microsoft says user feedback prompted this change, but users can navigate to the settings to restore the previous setup if they prefer it.
• The new default paste option change isn't available for web and Mac users.

If you've been a longtime Word user, you must be familiar with its annoying default paste option, which retains the source formatting. It not only consumes a lot of time but also interrupts the flow of your work. Copying and pasting is one of Word's top user actions.

However, a new Word update has finally fixed this annoying issue. According to Microsoft:

"We’ve heard from many of you that the current Keep Source Formatting default setting is not meeting your needs, and you would prefer for the default option to be Merge Formatting when pasting from other programs."

This much-needed change is available for Word for Windows users running Version 2405 (Build 17624.20000) or later. Additionally, this neat change is shipping exclusively to Windows users. It's not available for web and Mac users.

It's worth noting that Merge Formatting is now set as the default paste option on Word, though you can change it back by navigating File > Options > Advanced > Cut, copy, and paste in the settings and selecting the Pasting from other program option on the drop-down menu. Finally, select the Keep Source Formatting option. 

In case you missed it, the Merge Formatting option has been available in Word via the pasting menu. This was also complemented by the Ctrl + Shift + V keyboard shortcut that lets users paste content on Word without formatting.

This news comes months after Microsoft finally decided to change the default font for its Office apps from Calibri to Aptos. The change was received with mixed feelings, but luckily, users can revert to Calibri. It's worth noting that Microsoft has renamed the old Office theme Office Theme 2013 – 2022.