What's New in Microsoft Office 2021
Microsoft Office 2021 brings significant updates to the classic productivity suite. From powerful new Excel functions to modern visual refreshes and improved collaboration tools, discover everything that's new in this one-time purchase version of Office.
Key Highlights
Performance Boost
Faster startup and improved responsiveness across all apps
Visual Refresh
Modern UI with refreshed icons and cleaner interface
XLOOKUP & More
Powerful new Excel functions for data analysis
Real-time Co-authoring
Collaborate with others simultaneously on documents
New Features in Word 2021
Real-time Co-authoring
Work with multiple people on the same document simultaneously. See where others are editing and their changes appear instantly.
Modern Comments
A refreshed commenting experience with @mentions, better threading, and the ability to assign tasks directly in comments.
Visual Refresh
Updated ribbon, icons, and color palette for a cleaner, more modern look that's easier on the eyes.
Line Focus
Reduce visual distractions by highlighting one, three, or five lines at a time as you read through a document.
Dark Mode Improvements
Enhanced dark mode with better contrast and a true dark canvas option for comfortable nighttime editing.
Ink to Text
Write with a stylus and Word automatically converts your handwriting to typed text with improved accuracy.
New Features in Excel 2021
XLOOKUP Function
The long-awaited replacement for VLOOKUP. More flexible, powerful, and easier to use for finding data in tables.
XMATCH Function
Return the relative position of items in arrays. Pairs perfectly with XLOOKUP for advanced lookups.
Dynamic Arrays
Formulas that spill results into multiple cells automatically. Includes UNIQUE, SORT, FILTER, SEQUENCE, and RANDARRAY.
LET Function
Define variables within formulas to improve performance and make complex calculations more readable.
Sheet View
Create custom views of your worksheets without affecting what others see when collaborating.
Performance Improvements
Faster calculations with large datasets and improved handling of complex workbooks.
New Features in PowerPoint 2021
Record Slide Show
Record narration, ink gestures, and laser pointer movements. Export as video with embedded audio.
Ink Replay
Play back ink strokes in the order they were drawn for engaging step-by-step explanations.
Modern Stock Media
Access thousands of royalty-free stock images, icons, and videos directly within PowerPoint.
Real-time Co-authoring
Collaborate on presentations with team members in real-time with presence indicators.
Morph Transition Enhancements
Create cinematic motion with improved morph transitions for smoother animations.
Rehearse with Coach
Get AI-powered feedback on pacing, filler words, and cultural sensitivity before presenting.
New Features in Outlook 2021
Focused Inbox
AI automatically separates important emails from the rest, helping you focus on what matters.
Instant Search Improvements
Faster, more accurate search with suggestions and filters to find emails quickly.
Translator
Translate emails into different languages with one click directly in the reading pane.
Read Aloud
Have your emails read to you, useful for multitasking or accessibility needs.
Updated Contact Cards
Richer contact cards with org chart integration and recent communication history.
Office 365 Group Support
Better integration with Microsoft 365 Groups for team collaboration.
Accessibility Improvements
Office 2021 includes significant accessibility enhancements:
- Improved screen reader support across all applications
- Better keyboard navigation with focus indicators
- Enhanced high contrast modes
- Read Aloud feature in Word and Outlook
- Line Focus to reduce visual distractions
- Accessibility Checker with more detailed suggestions
- Support for accessible PDFs when exporting
Performance & Security
Under the hood improvements that make a difference:
Faster Startup
Applications launch more quickly with optimized loading processes.
Improved Stability
Fewer crashes and better recovery of unsaved work.
Enhanced Security
Updated security features to protect against modern threats.
Smaller Memory Footprint
More efficient memory usage, especially with large files.
64-bit as Default
Better performance with large datasets and modern hardware.
Office 2021 vs Office 2019
Key differences that make upgrading worthwhile:
| Feature | Office 2021 | Office 2019 |
|---|---|---|
| XLOOKUP & Dynamic Arrays | — | |
| Real-time Co-authoring | — | |
| Modern Visual Refresh | — | |
| Record Slide Show with Video | — | |
| Improved Accessibility Tools | Partial | |
| Extended Support Until 2026 | — | |
| One-time Purchase | ||
| Works Offline |
Pro Tips
Master XLOOKUP Early
This function alone justifies the upgrade. It handles errors gracefully and searches in any direction.
Use Dynamic Arrays
Functions like UNIQUE, SORT, and FILTER can replace complex formulas with single, elegant solutions.
Enable AutoSave
Store documents in OneDrive to automatically save every few seconds and access version history.
Learn the New Comments
Use @mentions in comments to assign tasks and notify specific people.
Ready to Upgrade to Office 2021?
Get a genuine Office 2021 Professional Plus product key with lifetime activation and all premium features.
Buy Office 2021 KeyFrequently Asked Questions
Is Office 2021 a one-time purchase?
Yes, Office 2021 is a perpetual license. You pay once and own it forever with no recurring subscription fees.
What are the system requirements for Office 2021?
Office 2021 requires Windows 10 or Windows 11 (64-bit recommended), 4GB RAM, and 4GB available disk space. For Mac, you need macOS 10.16 (Big Sur) or later.
Can I use Office 2021 offline?
Yes, Office 2021 works fully offline after initial activation. Internet is only needed for activation and optional cloud features.
Does Office 2021 include Teams?
No, Microsoft Teams is not included in the perpetual Office 2021 license. Teams is available separately or included with Microsoft 365.
How long will Office 2021 be supported?
Microsoft provides mainstream support until October 2026 with extended security updates potentially available beyond that date.
What's the difference between Office 2021 and Microsoft 365?
Office 2021 is a one-time purchase with fixed features, while Microsoft 365 is a subscription with continuous updates, cloud storage, and additional services.
Is XLOOKUP available in Office 2021?
Yes, XLOOKUP and all dynamic array functions (UNIQUE, SORT, FILTER, SEQUENCE, RANDARRAY) are included in Office 2021.
Can I install Office 2021 on multiple computers?
A standard Office 2021 license covers one device. For multiple computers, you need additional licenses.
Does Office 2021 work with Apple Silicon Macs?
Yes, Office 2021 runs natively on Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) Macs with full performance optimization.
Can I upgrade from Office 2019 to 2021?
Yes, you can upgrade by purchasing an Office 2021 license. Uninstall Office 2019 first, then install Office 2021 with your new product key.