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Microsoft closes Office, will I lose my documents when I switch to Microsoft 365?
The legendary office suite is closing after thirty years with us. Here's how Microsoft 365, the successor to Office, works and what you should know.
First, it was Internet Explorer, replaced by the Edge browser. And now it is time to say 'goodbye' to another mythical piece not only of Microsoft's Windows systems but also of the history of computing. It's time to say goodbye to Microsoft Office, the suite of office applications consisting of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for desktops, laptops, mobiles, servers, and services for Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, iOS, Android, and Linux operating systems.
The 2021 version was already the last one and will be replaced by Microsoft 365.
Goodbye, Office suite
For many, it was our first word processor, the first contact with a digital presentation, or the first time to make spreadsheets. Using Word two decades ago and with the Comic Sans font style not being 'cringe', was the norm. But everything changes and evolves, and we must adapt to this fast and voracious technological reality we live in. Explorer is now Edge. And Office is now 365.
Over the past two years, Microsoft 365 has evolved into Redmond's flagship productivity suite. In the coming months, Office.com, the Office mobile app, and the Office for Windows app will become the Microsoft 365 app, with a new icon, a new look, and more features.
The changes will begin rolling out to Office.com in November 2022. And then the changes will continue for the Office on Windows app and the Office mobile app in January 2023. These changes will apply to everyone who uses the Office app for work, school, or personal use.
What happens to my documents?
Such a conversion process takes changes, so many of you may wonder if Office shutting down means losing all those Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents you have. Microsoft's straightforward answer is no, "There will be no impact on your account, profile, subscription or files. The apps will automatically update with a new icon and name."
And for those who want to continue using Word, "as part of Microsoft 365 you will continue to get access to apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. We will also continue to offer one-time purchases of those apps to consumers and businesses via Office 2021 and Office LTSC plans."
Other type of model
A change that also reflects the current models is that, unlike the Office suite that only required a payment to have a valid license, Microsoft 365 has a monthly subscription model, including applications such as Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive and others. You can start with free web and mobile apps or upgrade to a premium plan to access more apps, storage and features.
What's new in the Microsoft 365 app
New types of content creation and templates
Create is your place to quickly start on projects across several Microsoft 365 apps either from blank templates or try recommended templates for quicker inspiration. The Create module is already available to all users on the web, Windows, and mobile, with more template types arriving for consumers next year.
New Apps module
Discover, launch, and pin the tools you use the most across Microsoft 365. Available next month to all users on the web and Windows, and on mobile in the coming months.
Welcome Badge
Allows you to see your Microsoft 365 subscription status and track storage usage in one easy place. Available next month to consumer users on the web and Windows.
My Content
A popular feature for business customers, now available for personal use, My Content is a central location to view and access all your content – created by you or shared with you – regardless of where it’s stored. Available next month to all users on the web and Windows.
Feed
Relevant content based on who you work with and what you work on is surfaced through an easy-to-digest interface to simplify your workflow. Available today for commercial users on the web, Windows, and mobile.
Tagging
A new way to group and organize your content with custom tags across all types of content. Available today for commercial users on the web and Windows.