Office 2021 wants to update. Huh?

Buddy · Jun 27, 2023

To be clear, I don't have Office 365. This January, I bought Office 2021 Home and Student. At the time I bought it, my understanding was that there was a brief support period, but no further updates without buying another license. That was fine with me, then and now, for a number of reasons.

This week, both Excel and Word have started posting a banner advising that an update is available. Is this going to just be an update or is it trying to drag me into Office 365 or buying a new version?

glasskuter · Jun 27, 2023

If your office 2021 is registered with a product key, any update will not change the version of office your have registered to your MS account. It's just a regular update to the program you have,.

Buddy · Jun 27, 2023

glasskuter said:
If your office 2021 is registered with a product key, any update will not change the version of office your have registered to your MS account. It's just a regular update to the program you have,.

It's legit. I bought it from MS.

It's just that everything seemed to point to "when you buy this, you're stuck with what you've got from now on". Which was fine with me. Now, I've got to wonder what the upgrade is and whether it will mess up any of the considerable customization I've done.

glasskuter · Jun 27, 2023

Buddy said:
upgrade

An upgrade and an update are 2 different things. Upgrade= another version Update=security fixes or fixes for something that is broken. I have 2021. It is still getting updates every once in a while.

Buddy · Jun 27, 2023

Thanks, @glasskuter. I don't clearly remember whether it said update or upgrade, and I've cleared the message. I expect you're right and it's "update". Glad to hear that you have 2021 and not 365, so you're speaking from actual experience. I take it you never see any obvious change in function after an update, right?

glasskuter · Jun 27, 2023

Nah, I'm not enough of an advanced user to even notice a change unless it slaps me in the face. I can say most of the updates address security issues. Just as Windows updates change the build number, so does Office. I have Office Professional Plus 2021. Right now I'm at version 2305 build 16501.20228.
I also let mine automatically update so most times I'm not even aware when it does.

TraderGary · Jun 27, 2023

glasskuter said:
Nah, I'm not enough of an advanced user to even notice a change unless it slaps me in the face. I can say most of the updates address security issues. Just as Windows updates change the build number, so does Office. I have Office Professional Plus 2021. Right now I'm at version 2305 build 16501.20228.
I also let mine automatically update so most times I'm not even aware when it does.

That's rather interesting.
I'm a Microsoft 365 subscriber.
My current version is 2305 build 16501.20228.
Exactly the same as yours!

pparks1 · Jun 27, 2023

Vendors don't use make software perfect on the first attempt with no security updates and bug fixes.

You bought a particular version of office. And you will get the security patches and feature updates for that product as long as Microsoft supports it.

What you won't get is office 2024, or office 2027, or office 2030 without paying for another license.

glasskuter · Jun 28, 2023

TraderGary said:
Exactly the same as yours!

Dunno why it's the same, Gary. I just know it uses 3 gb of my disk space. A bunch of smoke and mirrors if you ask me.

Try3 · Jun 28, 2023

TraderGary said:
I'm a Microsoft 365 subscriber.
My current version is 2305 build 16501.20228.
Exactly the same as yours!

That's quite normal.
MSOffice 2016 users reported that they received exactly the same updates as MSOffice365 users until MSOffice2019 was released.
MSOffice2021 users seem likely to get the same updates as MSOffice365 users until MSOffice2023/4/5/6/7/8/9 is released.

Denis

Emer · Jun 29, 2023

I have 5 laptops with office 2016 retail (1), office 2019 VL (3), and office 2021 subscriber (1), and all have updated to version 2305 build 16501.20228 (from version 2305 build 16501.20210).

When I checked to Release notes for Current Channel -> Release notes for Current Channel releases - Office release notes it should be version 2306 build 16529.20154

So, is this fine or there's something to repair to get the right version? Thank you.

Try3 · Jun 29, 2023

Emer said:
I have 5 laptops with office 2016 retail (1), office 2019 VL (3), and office 2021 subscriber (1), and all have updated to version 2305 build 16501.20228 (from version 2305 build 16501.20210).

When I checked to Release notes for Current Channel -> Release notes for Current Channel releases - Office release notes it should be version 2306 build 16529.20154

So, is this fine or there's something to repair to get the right version? Thank you.

Emer,

I've just this minute updated my MSOffice Pro Plus 2021 & it has reached 2306.

MS often phase in updates. Perhaps this one has not reached you yet.

Office 2021 not updating to latest Current Channel release- ElevenForum

By the way, I do not know what you mean by "office 2021 subscriber". MSOffice365, perhaps?

All the best,
Denis

Office 2021 wants to update. Huh?

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