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Microsoft 365 Apps support is determined by the update channel and version—not by one universal Office 365 end-of-support date. To assess a device, record its full build, identify its channel, and compare that combination with Microsoft’s continuously updated Microsoft 365 Apps update history.
The older name “Office 365 Apps” is still common, but Microsoft generally calls the subscription desktop applications Microsoft 365 Apps. Historical support tables, including the table in the original HTMD Blog article, should not be treated as current baselines.
The current Microsoft 365 Apps support picture
Microsoft 365 Apps follows Microsoft’s Modern Lifecycle Policy. That does not mean every installed version is supported indefinitely: individual versions have channel-specific end-of-service dates, and the supported configuration also depends on factors such as the underlying Windows configuration.
The table below is a point-in-time snapshot of Microsoft data through July 14, 2026, included for orientation. Check Microsoft’s live update-history page before using any value for compliance or deployment decisions.
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| Channel | Version | Build | Release date | End of service shown by Microsoft |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Current Channel | 2606 | 20131.20154 | July 14, 2026 | When Version 2607 is released |
| Monthly Enterprise Channel | 2606 | 20131.20152 | July 14, 2026 | October 13, 2026 |
| Monthly Enterprise Channel | 2605 | 20026.20236 | July 14, 2026 | September 8, 2026 |
| Monthly Enterprise Channel | 2604 | 19929.20264 | July 14, 2026 | August 11, 2026 |
| Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel receiving Monthly Enterprise builds | 2606 | 20131.20150 | July 14, 2026 | October 13, 2026 |
| Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel | 2508 | 19127.20730 | July 14, 2026 | September 8, 2026 |
These dates are not a permanent reference table. Microsoft changes the release history as new builds are published, and Current Channel versions are supported until the next version is released.
Microsoft 365 Apps is not the same as Office LTSC or Office 2024
Do not apply Microsoft 365 Apps version dates to perpetual Office products. They use different licensing, servicing, and lifecycle models.
| Product family | Servicing model | How support is evaluated |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 Apps | Subscription with ongoing updates | Channel, version, build, supported configuration, and update posture |
| Office LTSC 2024 | Fixed-feature, volume-licensed release | Its separate Microsoft lifecycle |
| Office LTSC 2021 | Fixed-feature, volume-licensed release | Its separate Microsoft lifecycle |
| Office 2019, Office 2021, or Office 2024 perpetual editions | Fixed product release | The applicable Microsoft lifecycle page |
Microsoft’s Office and Windows configuration support matrix lists Office LTSC 2024 through October 2029, Office LTSC 2021 through October 2026, and Office 2019 and Office 2016 through October 2025. Those dates are not Microsoft 365 Apps end-of-service dates.
Version, build, and revision explained
A Microsoft 365 Apps version identifies the feature-release version associated with a channel. For example, Version 2606 corresponds to the June 2026 feature version, while Version 2508 corresponds to the August 2025 feature version.
A build is more precise. An Office installation may display a value such as:
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- [Ideal for One Person] — With a one-time purchase of Microsoft Office Home & Business 2024, you can create, organize, and get things done.
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16.0.20131.20154- 16.0 is the major Office application platform lineage.
- 20131 is the principal build associated with the feature release.
- 20154 is the specific revision or update component.
Microsoft’s release history commonly presents the shortened build as 20131.20154 alongside the version and channel.
The same feature version can have different builds in different channels:
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Current Channel: 2606 (20131.20154)
Monthly Enterprise Channel: 2606 (20131.20152)
Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel: 2606 (20131.20150)Is a higher build number always newer?
No. A build must be interpreted with its product family, platform, architecture, channel, version, and release date. Comparing only the final numeric component across channels can produce a false result because the channels have different release cadences and build sequences.
Use this process instead:
- Identify the installed update channel.
- Record the full Office build.
- Identify the Microsoft 365 Apps version.
- Find the matching channel-and-version entry in Microsoft’s official update history.
- Compare the device with the applicable release and end-of-service information.
Microsoft 365 Apps update channels
Current Channel
Current Channel receives features as soon as Microsoft considers them ready. It does not follow the same fixed monthly version-support pattern as Monthly Enterprise Channel. A version remains current until Microsoft releases the next version.
Monthly Enterprise Channel
Monthly Enterprise Channel provides predictable monthly feature and security updates, generally released on the second Tuesday of the month. Each listed version has an end-of-service date in Microsoft’s release table.
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Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel
Historically, Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel was intended for organizations that needed extensive compatibility testing and slower feature change, with feature updates delivered approximately every six months.
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Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel (Preview)
Because the enterprise channel model is changing, do not reuse an old support-duration table for Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel Preview without checking Microsoft’s current documentation.
How Microsoft determines end of service
There is no single “Office 365 end-of-support date.” Microsoft evaluates the applicable channel and version combination. The release history supplies the current version, build, release date, and end-of-service information.
End of service does not necessarily mean the applications stop launching at midnight on that date. It means the installation is no longer within Microsoft’s supported servicing position and may fail organizational security, patch, or compliance requirements.
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Support can also depend on the Windows configuration. A current Office build installed on an unsupported Windows configuration may not constitute a fully supported Microsoft configuration.
How to check the installed Office version and build
For a user-facing check:
- Open Word, Excel, Outlook, or another Office application.
- Select File.
- Select Account.
- Under Product Information, open or locate About.
- Record the complete version and build, not just the first four digits.
Microsoft documents this path in its Microsoft 365 Apps update-process overview.
For enterprise reporting, also collect the update channel. Depending on the management system, relevant data may come from:
- Configuration Manager hardware inventory, including
VersionToReport0. - Click-to-Run configuration data.
- Registry or WMI inventory.
- Microsoft 365 Apps admin-center reporting.
A value such as 16.0.20131.20154 should not be evaluated without its channel. Inventory normalization is important because management systems may report the full build while Microsoft’s table identifies the corresponding feature version and channel separately.
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A reliable compliance rule needs at least these fields:
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- Product family.
- Update channel or CDN identifier.
- Full reported Office build.
- Microsoft 365 Apps version.
- Operating-system support status.
- Last successful update or inventory time.
Use Microsoft’s current channel-specific release table to generate the baseline. Do not copy an old numeric threshold from a historical blog post or compare all channels against one global build value.
A safe reporting pattern is:
WHERE Product = 'Microsoft 365 Apps'
AND UpdateChannel = '<organization-approved channel>'
AND FullBuild < '<current channel-specific baseline>'The identifiers and comparison method must be validated against your organization’s inventory schema. Office builds should be parsed into numeric components rather than compared as unnormalized text, and the baseline must be refreshed when Microsoft publishes a new release.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to remediate an unsupported installation
- Inventory the device. Record the product, channel, version, full build, architecture, and Windows configuration.
- Check Microsoft’s release history. Match the device to the correct channel and version.
- Inspect update controls. Check Group Policy, Office update policies, Configuration Manager servicing settings, pinned target versions, and disabled updates.
- Verify the update source. Confirm access to the Microsoft 365 Apps CDN, an on-premises source, or the organization’s configured distribution point. Proxy and firewall restrictions can prevent servicing.
- Trigger or allow the update. Use the organization’s approved method: automatic internet updates, Configuration Manager, Office Deployment Tool, Group Policy, or Microsoft 365 admin-center controls.
- Restart Office applications. A pending update may not complete while Office applications remain open.
- Verify the result. Recheck the full build and channel after deployment.
- Document exceptions. Record devices that cannot update immediately, the risk accepted, and the remediation deadline.
When an administrator changes the selected feature-update channel through Microsoft 365 admin-center controls, Microsoft says the change applies to new and existing installations. Existing devices may receive the change within approximately 12 hours and then obtain the latest build from the selected channel when they check for updates. See Microsoft’s installation-options guidance.
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Switching channels or moving from a substantially older release may require a full download of approximately 1 GB or more. Microsoft’s published download-size figures are approximate and specifically describe en-us x64 installations. Plan bandwidth and distribution-point capacity accordingly; do not assume every channel change is the size of a normal monthly delta update.
See Microsoft’s Microsoft 365 Apps download-size information.
Choosing an update channel
| Requirement | Potential fit |
|---|---|
| Receive new features quickly | Current Channel |
| Predictable monthly servicing | Monthly Enterprise Channel |
| Highly controlled deployment | Configuration Manager, Office Deployment Tool, Group Policy, or controlled cloud update management |
| Slow feature change for extensively tested devices | Validate the current enterprise-channel model after the July 2026 changes |
Microsoft’s deployment guidance generally positions Current Channel for users who need the newest features, Monthly Enterprise Channel for predictability, and a slower enterprise approach for devices requiring extensive testing. Because of the 2026 unification, confirm that the chosen channel still provides the operational behavior your organization expects.
Quick Recap
Common mistakes
- Using a stale support table: release history changes continuously.
- Comparing only the last revision number: build numbers are channel-dependent.
- Treating version and build as synonyms: the version identifies the feature release; the build identifies the precise release.
- Mixing perpetual Office dates with Microsoft 365 Apps: LTSC and retail Office require separate lifecycle checks.
- Assuming end of service means immediate failure: the primary consequence is loss of supported status, not necessarily instant launch failure.
- Ignoring Windows support: Office support is part of the broader supported configuration.
- Forgetting Project and Visio: subscription desktop versions are within the relevant Microsoft 365 Apps scope, while perpetual or volume-licensed versions must be evaluated separately.
- Leaving updates disabled: Group Policy, pinned versions, failed Click-to-Run updates, network restrictions, or an inaccessible source can all leave a device on an old build.
Official references
- Microsoft 365 Apps update history
- Microsoft 365 Apps update process
- Choose how to manage Microsoft 365 Apps updates
- Microsoft 365 Apps deployment planning
- Office and Windows configuration support matrix
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