Windows 8.1 end of support and Microsoft 365 Apps

Microsoft 365 follows the Modern Lifecycle Policy. This policy requires customers to stay current with the servicing and system requirements for the product or service. This includes using Microsoft 365 Apps on a supported Windows operating system.

Using Microsoft 365 Apps on older and unsupported operating systems causes performance and reliability issues over time. If your organization uses Microsoft 365 Apps on devices running Windows 8.1, move those devices to a supported operating system, such as Windows 11 or Windows 10.

What happens to Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 8.1 after January 10, 2023

Support for Windows 8.1 ended on January 10, 2023. As of that date, Microsoft 365 Apps is no longer supported on devices running Windows 8.1. However, your apps, such as Word, still work.

In addition to not being supported, the following restrictions apply to Microsoft 365 Apps on devices running Windows 8.1:

• You won't receive new feature, security, or quality updates for an existing installation of Microsoft 365 Apps.
• You can't install a new version of Microsoft 365 Apps.

These restrictions apply to all update channels, including Current Channel and Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel.

For more information, see the next section about the last versions of Microsoft 365 Apps available on Windows 8.1.

Last versions of Microsoft 365 Apps available on Windows 8.1

The last version of Microsoft 365 Apps available on Windows 8.1 depends on whether you get updates directly from the Office Content Delivery Network (CDN).

If you get updates directly from the Office CDN

If Microsoft 365 Apps gets updates directly from the Office Content Delivery Network (CDN) on the internet, you no longer receive feature, security, or quality updates beyond the versions and builds listed in the following table.

(These versions and builds were released on February 14, 2023.)

For example, when security updates are released on March 14, 2023, your installation of Microsoft 365 Apps on Windows 8.1 won't get those updates. Similarly, when a version newer than Version 2301 is released in Current Channel, your installation of Microsoft 365 Apps won't update to that version.

If you get updates from a location other than the Office CDN

If you control updates and use a location other than the Office CDN (for example, Microsoft Configuration Manager or an internal network share), you can't update beyond Version 2302. This restriction applies to all update channels, including Current Channel and Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel.

Move from Windows 8.1 to a supported operating system

To continue receiving security updates for Windows and updates to Microsoft 365 Apps, move to a supported operating system, such as Windows 11 or Windows 10.

For more information about Windows 11, see the following articles:

• Windows 11 overview
• Plan for Windows 11
• Prepare for Windows 11

Microsoft provides resources to help you transition to using Microsoft 365 Apps on devices running Windows 11, including Microsoft FastTrack and App Assure.

More information

• The information in this article also applies to subscription versions of the Project and Visio desktop apps. For example, if you have Planner and Project Plan 5 or Visio Plan 2.
• For end-of-support dates for different versions of Office on various versions of Windows, see the Windows and Office configuration support matrix (PDF).
• To check the end-of-support date for a Microsoft product, go to Search Product and Services Lifecycle Information.
• To discuss or learn more about end of support for Office versions, visit Microsoft Office End of Support on the Microsoft Tech Community.