Microsoft ends support for Office 2010: what you can do

If you are still using Microsoft Office 2010, you may have noticed that it stopped receiving updates and security patches on October 13, 2020. This means that your Office 2010 applications are no longer supported by Microsoft and may be vulnerable to cyber attacks, compatibility issues, and performance problems.

But don’t worry, you still have options to continue working with your Office files and stay productive. In this blog post, we’ll explain what ending support for Office 2010 means for you and what you can do to upgrade to a newer version of Office or switch to an alternative solution.

What does it mean to end support for Office 2010?

The end of support for Office 2010 means that Microsoft will no longer provide technical support, bug fixes, security updates and feature enhancements for the Office 2010 suite. This applies to all Office 2010 products, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Access, Publisher and SharePoint Workspace.

This does not mean that your Office 2010 applications will stop working completely. You can still use them to create and edit documents, spreadsheets, presentations and other files. However, you may encounter some risks and limitations, such as:

– Increased exposure to malware and hackers. Without security updates, your Office 2010 applications can become targets for malicious attacks that can compromise your data and devices.

– Reduced compatibility and functionality. Without feature updates, your Office 2010 applications may not work well with newer versions of Windows, other Microsoft products, or third-party software and services. You may also miss out on new features and enhancements that can improve your productivity and collaboration.

– Limited support options. Without technical assistance from Microsoft, you may have difficulty finding solutions to any problems that arise with your Office 2010 applications. You may also have less access to online resources and community forums that can help you troubleshoot and learn.

What can you do to upgrade to a newer version of Office or switch to an alternative solution?

If you wish to continue using Microsoft Office products, you have two main options for upgrading from Office 2010:

– Make a one-time purchase of Office 2019. This is the latest standalone version of Office that you can install on a PC or Mac. It includes the latest versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Access and Publisher. However, it does not include any online services or cloud storage that comes with a Microsoft 365 subscription.

– Subscribe to Microsoft 365. This is the best option if you want to get the most out of Office and enjoy the benefits of cloud computing. With a Microsoft 365 subscription, you can install the latest versions of Office applications on multiple devices (PCs, Macs, tablets and phones) and access them online from any browser. You also get 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage per user, online collaboration tools such as Teams and SharePoint, advanced security features such as ransomware protection and recovery, and regular updates and new features.

To compare the features and pricing of Office 2019 and Microsoft 365 plans, visit this page: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/buy/compare-all-microsoft-365-products

If you prefer to switch to a non-Microsoft alternative solution, you have several options to choose from:

– Use a free online office suite such as Google Workspace or Zoho Workplace. These are web-based platforms that allow you to create and edit documents, spreadsheets, presentations and other files using a browser. They also offer collaboration tools and cloud storage that allow you to share and work on files with others in real time. However, they may not have all the features and functionality you are used to in Microsoft Office products.

– Use a free or open source office suite such as LibreOffice or OpenOffice. These are desktop applications that you can download and install on your PC or Mac. They support most Microsoft Office file formats and offer similar features and functionality. However, they may not have the same level of quality and support as Microsoft Office products.

– Use a paid office suite such as Corel WordPerfect Office or SoftMaker Office. These are desktop applications that you can purchase and install on your PC or Mac. They offer more features and functionality than free or open source office suites and support most Microsoft Office file formats. However, they may not have the same level of integration and innovation as Microsoft Office products.

To compare the features and prices of some alternative office suites, visit this page: https://www.techradar.com/best/best-office-suite

Whichever option you choose to upgrade from Office 2010 or switch to an alternative solution, be sure to back up your files before making any changes. You can use an external hard drive or a cloud service such as OneDrive or Dropbox to store your files securely.

If you are still using Office 2010, you need to act fast. Microsoft will stop supporting this version of its popular productivity suite on October 13, which means no more updates, fixes or security patches. This could leave you vulnerable to cyberattacks, compatibility issues and performance problems. But don’t worry: you have some decisions to make before the deadline. We’ll explain them to you in this blog post.

The first thing you should know is that Office 2010 is not the only option out there. There are newer versions of Office that offer more features, better security and cloud integration. The most recent is Office 2019, which is a standalone product that you can buy once and use forever. However, Microsoft has made it clear that this is the last of its kind and that the future of Office is subscription-based. That means you’ll have to pay a monthly or annual fee to access the latest version of Office, which is currently Office 365.