# Microsoft Office 2021

Microsoft Office 2021 (third release codenamed Office 16) is a version of the Microsoft Office suite of applications for the Microsoft Windows and macOS operating systems. It was released on October 5, 2021. Its successor, Microsoft Office 2024 was released on October 1, 2024.
Office 2021 retains the same major version number of 16 that previous versions of Office had. It introduces new dynamic arrays, XLOOKUP features for Excel, full dark-mode support in Windows and performance improvements. Support for retail versions of Office 2021 will end on October 13, 2026; unlike older versions of Office, there is no extended support period.

## Development

The office suite updates include better support for the OASIS OpenDocument file format. The version update adds features to the LET function, has better search for XMATCH function, dynamic arrays, XLOOKUP. It enhances Ink for Translate in Microsoft Outlook and PowerPoint.

## Editions
### Office 2021

* Home & Student: Home & Student includes the core applications: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. This edition can be installed either on PC or on Mac.
* Home & Business: Home & Business includes the core applications and Outlook. This edition can be installed either on PC or on Mac.
* Professional: Professional includes the core applications, as well as Outlook, Publisher, and Access. This edition is exclusive for PC only.
* Professional Plus: Professional Plus includes the core applications, as well as Outlook, Publisher, Access, and Teams (replacement of previous Skype for Business). This edition is exclusive for PC only.
| Application(s) | Home & Student | Home & Business | Professional | Professional Plus |
| Core applications | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Outlook | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Publisher | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Access | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Teams | No | No | No | Yes |
Office 2021 supports installation by using a product key to associate with a Microsoft Account (MSA), then by activation.

### Office LTSC 2021

Volume licensing perpetual branch of Microsoft Office, 3 editions were released:
* Standard for Mac: Standard for Mac includes the core applications as well as Outlook. It is only available for Apple Macintosh computers.
* Standard: Standard includes the core applications, as well as Outlook and Publisher. It is only available for Microsoft Windows PCs.
* Professional Plus: Professional Plus includes the core applications, as well as Outlook, Publisher, Access, and Teams. It is only available for Microsoft Windows PCs.
| Application(s) | Standard for Mac | Standard | Professional Plus |
| Core applications | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Outlook | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Publisher | No | Yes | Yes |
| Access | No | Yes | Yes |
| Teams | No | No | Yes |

## Default font change

Midway through the life cycle of Office 2021, after two years of evaluating five newly commissioned fonts in July – the default font across all Office applications was changed to Aptos. This marked the first time since 16 years that Microsoft had changed the default fonts.

## User interface

The default interface, when the Office theme set to Use system setting, dark gray, black, or white, shows a Mica background (whence the name) across the top of each screen; the application icon is in the top left corner. When Colorful is selected (must be done manually), a band in the application color shows across the top of each screen; this is called the Metro background.

## Version history (Windows)
### Retail

| Release date | Version number |
| October 5, 2021 | 2108 (Build 16.0.14326.20454) |
| October 6, 2021 | 2109 (Build 14430.20270) |
| October 12, 2021 | 2109 (Build 14430.20298) |
| October 14, 2021 | 2109 (Build 14430.20306) |
| October 25, 2021 | 2110 (Build 14527.20226) |
| October 28, 2021 | 2110 (Build 14527.20234) |
| November 9, 2021 | 2110 (Build 14527.20276) |
| November 30, 2021 | 2110 (Build 14527.20312) |
| December 3, 2021 | 2111 (Build 14701.20226) |
| December 14, 2021 | 2111 (Build 14701.20248) |
| December 16, 2021 | 2111 (Build 14701.20262) |
| January 4, 2022 | 2112 (Build 14729.20194) |
| January 11, 2022 | 2112 (Build 14729.20248) |
| January 12, 2022 | 2112 (Build 14729.20260) |
| January 26, 2022 | 2201 (Build 14827.20158) |
| February 8, 2022 | 2201 (Build 14827.20192) |
| February 16, 2022 | 2201 (Build 14827.20198) |
| February 28, 2022 | 2202 (Build 14931.20120) |
| March 8, 2022 | 2202 (Build 14931.20132) |
| March 30, 2022 | 2203 (Build 15028.20160) |
| April 12, 2022 | 2203 (Build 15028.20204) |
| April 20, 2022 | 2203 (Build 15028.20228) |
| April 26, 2022 | 2204 (Build 15128.20178) |
| May 10, 2022 | 2204 (Build 15128.20224) |
| May 17, 2022 | 2204 (Build 15128.20248) |
| May 24, 2022 | 2205 (Build 15225.20204) |
| June 14, 2022 | 2205 (Build 15225.20288) |
| June 29, 2022 | 2206 (Build 15330.20196) |
| July 6, 2022 | 2206 (Build 15330.20230) |
| July 12, 2022 | 2206 (Build 15330.20246) |
| July 18, 2022 | 2206 (Build 15330.20264) |
| August 3, 2022 | 2207 (Build 15427.20194) |
| August 9, 2022 | 2207 (Build 15427.20210) |
| August 31, 2022 | 2208 (Build 15601.20088) |
| September 13, 2022 | 2208 (Build 15601.20148) |
| September 26, 2022 | 2209 (Build 15629.20156) |
| October 11, 2022 | 2209 (Build 15629.20208) |
| October 27, 2022 | 2210 (Build 15726.20174) |
| November 8, 2022 | 2210 (Build 15726.20202) |
| December 6, 2022 | 2211 (Build 15831.20190) |
| December 13, 2022 | 2211 (Build 15831.20208) |
| January 10, 2023 | 2212 (Build 15928.20216) |
| January 26, 2023 | 2301 (Build 16026.20146) |
| February 28, 2023 | 2302 (Build 16130.20218) |
| March 14, 2023 | 2302 (Build 16130.20306) |
| March 20, 2023 | 2302 (Build 16130.20332) |
| March 28, 2023 | 2303 (Build 16227.20212) |
| April 4, 2023 | 2303 (Build 16227.20258) |
| April 11, 2023 | 2303 (Build 16227.20280) |
| April 25, 2023 | 2304 (Build 16327.20214) |
| May 9, 2023 | 2304 (Build 16327.20248) |
| June 1, 2023 | 2305 (Build 16501.20196) |
| June 13, 2023 | 2305 (Build 16501.20210) |
| June 26, 2023 | 2306 (Build 16529.20154) |
| July 11, 2023 | 2306 (Build 16529.20182) |
| July 26, 2023 | 2307 (Build 16626.20132) |
| July 27, 2023 | 2307 (Build 16626.20134) |
| August 8, 2023 | 2303 (Build 16227.20280) |
| August 28, 2023 | 2308 (Build 16731.20170) |
| September 12, 2023 | 2308 (Build 16731.20234) |
| September 28, 2023 | 2309 (Build 16827.20130) |
| October 10, 2023 | 2309 (Build 16827.20166) |
| October 25, 2023 | 2310 (Build 16924.20106) |
| October 31, 2023 | 2310 (Build 16924.20124) |
| November 14, 2023 | 2310 (Build 16924.20150) |
| November 29, 2023 | 2311 (Build 17029.20068) |
| December 12, 2023 | 2311 (Build 17029.20108) |
| January 4, 2024 | 2312 (Build 17126.20126) |
| January 9, 2024 | 2312 (Build 17126.20132) |
| January 30, 2024 | 2401 (Build 17231.20182) |
| February 1, 2024 | 2401 (Build 17231.20194) |
| February 13, 2024 | 2401 (Build 17231.20236) |
| February 28, 2024 | 2402 (Build 17328.20142) |
| March 4, 2024 | 2402 (Build 17328.20162) |
| March 12, 2024 | 2402 (Build 17328.20184) |
| March 27, 2024 | 2403 (Build 17425.20138) |
| March 29, 2024 | 2403 (Build 17425.20146) |
| April 9, 2024 | 2403 (Build 17425.20176) |
| April 29, 2024 | 2404 (Build 17531.20120) |
| May 1, 2024 | 2404 (Build 17531.20128) |
| May 7, 2024 | 2404 (Build 17531.20140) |
| May 14, 2024 | 2404 (Build 17531.20152) |
| May 30, 2024 | 2405 (Build 17628.20110) |
| June 11, 2024 | 2405 (Build 17628.20144) |
| June 19, 2024 | 2405 (Build 17628.20164) |
| June 26, 2024 | 2406 (Build 17726.20126) |
| July 9, 2024 | 2406 (Build 17726.20160) |
| August 1, 2024 | 2407 (Build 17830.20138) |
| August 13, 2024 | 2407 (Build 17830.20166) |
| August 26, 2024 | 2408 (Build 17928.20114) |
| September 10, 2024 | 2408 (Build 17928.20156) |
| September 23, 2024 | 2409 (Build 18025.20096) |
| September 25, 2024 | 2409 (Build 18025.20104) |
| October 8, 2024 | 2409 (Build 18025.20140) |
| October 15, 2024 | 2409 (Build 18025.20160) |
| October 28, 2024 | 2410 (Build 18129.20116) |
| November 12, 2024 | 2410 (Build 18129.20158) |
| December 5, 2024 | 2411 (Build 18227.20152) |
| December 10, 2024 | 2411 (Build 18227.20162) |
| January 7, 2025 | 2412 (Build 18324.20168) |
| January 14, 2025 | 2412 (Build 18324.20190) |
| January 16, 2025 | 2412 (Build 18324.20194) |
| January 30, 2025 | 2501 (Build 18429.20132) |
| February 11, 2025 | 2501 (Build 18429.20158) |

### Volume licensed

| Release date | Version number |
| October 12, 2021 | 2108 (Build 14332.20145) |
| November 9, 2021 | 2108 (Build 14332.20176) |
| December 14, 2021 | 2108 (Build 14332.20204) |
| January 11, 2022 | 2108 (Build 14332.20216) |
| February 8, 2022 | 2108 (Build 14332.20238) |
| March 8, 2022 | 2108 (Build 14332.20255) |
| April 12, 2022 | 2108 (Build 14332.20281) |
| May 10, 2022 | 2108 (Build 14332.20303) |
| June 14, 2022 | 2108 (Build 14332.20324) |
| July 12, 2022 | 2108 (Build 14332.20345) |
| August 9, 2022 | 2108 (Build 14332.20358) |
| September 13, 2022 | 2108 (Build 14332.20375) |
| October 11, 2022 | 2108 (Build 14332.20400) |
| November 8, 2022 | 2108 (Build 14332.20416) |
| December 13, 2022 | 2108 (Build 14332.20435) |
| January 10, 2023 | 2108 (Build 14332.20447) |
| February 14, 2023 | 2108 (Build 14332.20461) |
| March 14, 2023 | 2108 (Build 14332.20481) |
| April 11, 2023 | 2108 (Build 14332.20493) |
| May 9, 2023 | 2108 (Build 14332.20503) |
| June 13, 2023 | 2108 (Build 14332.20517) |
| July 11, 2023 | 2108 (Build 14332.20529) |
| July 27, 2023 | 2108 (Build 14332.20542) |
| August 8, 2023 | 2108 (Build 14332.20546) |
| September 12, 2023 | 2108 (Build 14332.20565) |
| October 10, 2023 | 2108 (Build 14332.20582) |
| November 14, 2023 | 2108 (Build 14332.20604) |
| December 12, 2023 | 2108 (Build 14332.20615) |
| January 9, 2024 | 2108 (Build 14332.20624) |
| February 13, 2024 | 2108 (Build 14332.20637) |
| March 12, 2024 | 2108 (Build 14332.20651) |
| April 9, 2024 | 2108 (Build 14332.20685) |
| May 14, 2024 | 2108 (Build 14332.20706) |
| June 11, 2024 | 2108 (Build 14332.20721) |
| July 9, 2024 | 2108 (Build 14332.20736) |
| August 13, 2024 | 2108 (Build 14332.20763) |
| September 10, 2024 | 2108 (Build 14332.20771) |
| October 8, 2024 | 2108 (Build 14332.20791) |
| November 12, 2024 | 2108 (Build 14332.20812) |
| December 10, 2024 | 2108 (Build 14332.20828) |
| January 14, 2025 | 2108 (Build 14332.20839) |
| February 11, 2025 | 2108 (Build 14332.20857) |