Office 365 & Microsoft 365: what changed?

Microsoft is changing its Microsoft Office branding significantly. Microsoft Office has been renamed “Microsoft 365” after more than 30 years to symbolize the software giant’s growing portfolio of productivity tools. Excel, Outlook, Word, and PowerPoint are still available, but Microsoft will now commonly refer to them as being a part of Microsoft 365 rather than Microsoft Office.

1. What is changing?
2. What is Microsoft 365?
3. What Office apps do I get with Microsoft 365?
4. What is the difference between Office 365 and Microsoft 365
5. What Microsoft 365 plans are available?
6. What happens to existing Office 365 subscriptions for home and business?
7. What Office 365 plans are still available?
8. What’s the relationship between Microsoft 365 and the Microsoft 365 app?
9. Where do I get the new Microsoft 365 app?
10. What’s new in the Microsoft 365 app?
11. Will the changes impact me? Do I need to do something?
12. Is Office going away entirely?

What is changing?

Over the last couple of years, Microsoft 365 has evolved into the flagship productivity suite, so they are creating an experience to help you get the most out of Microsoft 365. In the coming months, Office.com, the Office mobile app, and the Office app for Windows will become the Microsoft 365 app, with a new icon, a new look, and even more features.

What is Microsoft 365?

Microsoft 365 is a cloud-powered productivity platform that includes apps like Microsoft Teams, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive, and so much more.

You can get started with free web and mobile apps or upgrade to a premium plan for access to more apps, storage, and features.

What Office apps do I get with Microsoft 365?

Get Office apps such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, OneDrive, and more.

Learn more about Microsoft 365 plans:

• For home
• For business
• For enterprise

What is the difference between Office 365 and Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 includes everything you know in Office 365. Microsoft 365 is designed to help people and businesses achieve more with innovative Office apps, intelligent cloud services, and world-class security.

What Microsoft 365 plans are available?

Microsoft 365 for home plans

• Microsoft 365 Family
• Microsoft 365 Personal

Microsoft 365 for business plans

• Microsoft 365 Business Basic
• Microsoft 365 Business Standard
• Microsoft 365 Business Premium
• Microsoft 365 Apps for business

Microsoft 365 for enterprise plans

• Microsoft 365 E3
• Microsoft 365 E5
• Microsoft 365 F1
• Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise

What happens to existing Office 365 subscriptions for home and business?

Some Office 365 subscriptions automatically become Microsoft 365 subscriptions. No action required.

• Office 365 Personal becomes Microsoft 365 Personal.
• Office 365 Home becomes Microsoft 365 Family.
• Office 365 Business Essentials becomes Microsoft 365 Business Basic.
• Office 365 Business Premium becomes Microsoft 365 Business Standard.
• Microsoft 365 Business becomes Microsoft 365 Business Premium.
• Office 365 Business becomes Microsoft 365 Apps for business.
• Office 365 ProPlus becomes Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise.

There are no changes to the following Office 365 for enterprise plans:

• Office 365 E1
• Office 365 E3
• Office 365 E5

What Office 365 plans are still available?

The following Office 365 plans for enterprise are still available:

• Office 365 E1
• Office 365 E3
• Office 365 E5

What’s the relationship between Microsoft 365 and the Microsoft 365 app?

The Microsoft 365 app is the starting point to experience your favorite tools and content in the Microsoft 365 suite of apps.

Where do I get the new Microsoft 365 app?

• Once released, the new Microsoft 365 app will be available on the web at Microsoft365.com, on Windows via the Microsoft Store, and in both Google Play and the Apple App Store.
• For more premium apps and features, you can buy a Microsoft 365 subscription now that’s right for you and it will automatically update with this new look and feel starting in November 2022 on the web.

What’s new in the Microsoft 365 app?

• New types of content creation and templates: Create is a place to quickly start on projects across several Microsoft 365 apps either from blank templates or try recommended templates for quicker inspiration. The Create module is already available to all users on the web, Windows, and mobile, with more template types arriving for consumers next year.
• New Apps module: Discover, launch, and pin the tools you use the most across Microsoft 365. Available next month to all users on the web and Windows, and on mobile in the coming months.
• Welcome Badging: Allows to see your Microsoft 365 subscription status and track storage usage in one easy place. Available next month to consumer users on the web and Windows.
• My Content: A popular feature for business customers, now available for personal use, My Content is a central location to view and access all your content – created by you or shared with you – regardless of where it’s stored. Available next month to all users on the web and Windows.
• Feed: Relevant content based on who you work with and what you work on is surfaced through an easy-to-digest interface to simplify your workflow. Available today for commercial users on the web, Windows, and mobile.
• Tagging: A new way to group and organize your content with custom tags across all types of content. Available today for commercial users on the web and Windows.
• Stay on top of the latest Microsoft 365 features rolling out by following the “What’s new in Microsoft 365” blog here.

Will the changes impact me? Do I need to do something?

There will be no impact to your existing account, profile, subscription, or files. The app will update automatically with a new icon and name, so keep an eye out for those changes in November and beyond.

Changes will apply to:

These changes will apply to everyone who uses the Office app for work, school, or personal use.

Is Office going away entirely?

No, as part of Microsoft 365 you will continue to get access to apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. We will also continue to offer one-time purchases of those apps to consumers and businesses via Office 2021 and Office LTSC plans.

Additionally, there are no changes to Office 365 subscription plans.