Upgrade Office 2010: A Guide

If you're looking to upgrade from Office Home and Student 2010, you'll need to purchase the latest version of Microsoft 365 or Office 2021. This is because support for Office 2010 ended on October 13, 2020, and there will be no extension or extended security updates. Upgrading to the latest version of Microsoft 365 or Office will ensure you have access to all the latest features, patches, and security updates.

You can purchase a Microsoft 365 subscription like Microsoft 365 Personal or Microsoft 365 Family, or buy a one-time purchase version of Office 2021, such as Office Home & Student 2021 or Office Home & Business 2021.

Install Microsoft 365 or Office 2021

To install Microsoft 365, you must first purchase a subscription. You can do this by going to Office.com, logging in to your account, and buying a subscription. You can choose to pay an annual subscription fee or a monthly one. You can also try Microsoft 365 for free with a 30-day trial. Once you have purchased a subscription, go to the Microsoft 365 portal page and sign in to your Microsoft account. Select "Install Office", then select "Install" on the Microsoft 365 Home web page. Depending on your web browser, a prompt to run or save the downloaded file may appear. Select "Run". When the installation is finished, Microsoft may prompt you to enter an email or phone number to receive a download link for the mobile apps.

To activate your subscription, open one of the Office apps, such as Word, and enter your Microsoft email address and password. Select "Accept" on the license agreement screen.

Microsoft 365 can be installed on up to 5 PCs or Macs, 5 tablets, and 5 smartphones. You can also install it on other devices, such as mobile phones and tablets, by going to Google Play, the Apple Store, or the Windows Store and downloading the apps.

If you are a faculty or staff member at the University at Buffalo, your IT staff may install apps on your UB-owned machine for you.

To install Office 2021, first ensure your PC or Mac meets the necessary system requirements. The most important of these are:

• 6 GHz dual-core processor
• Windows 11 or Windows 10 operating system
• Memory 4 GB (64-bit version), 2 GB (32-bit version) RAM
• Hard drive space – 4 GB of free hard drive space
• Display – 1024 x 768 resolution
• Graphics Card – The hardware-accelerated graphics feature requires a DirectX 10 compliant graphics card
• Microsoft account

Download the virtual DVD of Microsoft Office 2021 Professional Plus directly from Microsoft. In your download folder, double-click the downloaded file and the setup will start automatically. If this does not work, right-click the file, select "Mount", and a new drive will appear under "This PC" in Windows Explorer. Access this drive to begin installation. This process is known as image mounting, similar to inserting a DVD. When the installation is complete, close the window and open one of the Office programs to apply the product key.

If your PC came with a preinstalled version of Microsoft 365, you must uninstall it to use Microsoft Office 2021 Professional Plus.

Redeem a product key

If you have purchased a new and unused product key, you will be prompted to use your Microsoft account to get started. You can then type in your product key in the space provided and gain access to your Microsoft Office.

If you purchased Microsoft Office through the Microsoft Store, you can enter your product key by following these steps:

• Type www.microsoftstore.com into the search bar.
• Navigate to the upper right corner of the screen and select 'Sign In'.
• Type in your user ID and password that you used to purchase Office.
• After signing in, your name should appear in the upper right corner. Select your name, then choose 'Order History'.
• Locate the Office one-time purchase or the individual Office application. Then choose the 'Install Office' option to view your product key.
• In the window where the product key appears, select 'Install Office'.
• Follow the prompts to associate your product key with your Microsoft Account and begin the installation process.

If you purchased Microsoft Office through Microsoft HUP, you will enter your product key after the installation has been completed. Here are the steps:

• Open any Microsoft Office application, for example, Word, Project, or Visio. This will depend completely on the type of purchase you made.
• On the 'Sign up to Set up Office' screen, select the option, 'I do not want to sign in or create an account' (this will be a small link at the bottom of your screen).
• Type in your Microsoft HUP product key to activate Microsoft Office.

If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you won't need to activate Office—just sign in with the Microsoft account you used to subscribe. If you bought a retail version of Microsoft Office, you'll need to link the 25-digit product key included on the receipt or product card to your Microsoft account first.

To redeem a new purchase:

• Go to www.office.com/setup or Microsoft365.com/setup.
• Sign in with your Microsoft account, or create one if you don't have one. Be sure to remember this account so that you can install or reinstall Office later, without a product key.
• Enter your product key, without hyphens, if prompted. If you don't see the option to enter your product key, it was entered for you automatically.
• Follow the prompts to finish the redemption process.

Set up mobile devices

To set up mobile devices for Office 365, you can set up email, calendars, and contacts on your phone with the Outlook mobile app. Here's how to set it up on an iPhone, Android phone, or Windows phone:

IPhone:

• Go to the App Store and search for "Outlook."
• Install the Outlook app.
• Sign in with your Apple ID, if prompted.
• Open the app and tap "Get Started."
• Choose to allow notifications.
• On the "Add Account" page, enter your Microsoft 365 email address and tap "Add Account."
• Enter your password and tap "Sign In."
• Optionally, you can add more accounts or tap "Maybe Later."
• Swipe through the guided tour, and you will see your email, calendar, and contacts in the Outlook mobile app.

Android Phone:

• Go to the Play Store and search for "Outlook."
• Install the Outlook app.
• Open the app and tap "Get Started."
• Enter your Microsoft 365 email address and password, then tap "Sign In."
• Optionally, you can add more accounts or tap "Skip."
• Swipe through the guided tour, and you will see your email, calendar, and contacts in the Outlook mobile app.

Windows Phone:

• In the app list, go to "Settings" and then tap "Email + Accounts."
• On the "Add an Account" page, tap "Exchange" (or "Outlook" if you're using Windows Phone 7 or 7.5).
• Enter your Microsoft 365 email address and password, then tap "Sign In."
• The Windows Phone will automatically locate your account settings and sync your email, calendar, and contacts.

You can also add more Office apps, like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, to your phone, so you can work on documents and emails on the go.

Upgrade to the latest version

If you are using Office 2010 at home, you can continue to use it, but it is recommended that you upgrade to a newer version of Office to stay up to date with the latest features, patches, and security updates. Support for Office 2010 ended on October 13, 2020, and there will be no extension or extended security updates. This means that Microsoft will no longer provide technical support, bug fixes, or security fixes for Office 2010 vulnerabilities.

To upgrade, you can purchase a Microsoft 365 subscription like Microsoft 365 Personal or Microsoft 365 Family, or the newest one-time purchase version. A Microsoft 365 subscription is the best option as you will always have the latest features, security updates, and other improvements. You will also get cloud-connected features such as 1TB of OneDrive storage, extra features with Office mobile apps, Skype minutes, and the option to install Office across multiple devices.

Before installing the latest version of Office, it is recommended that you make sure your computer meets the system requirements for the new version. In most cases, when you run the Microsoft Office Setup program on a computer with an earlier version of Office installed, the earlier version is removed. However, there may be instances when an uninstall is necessary, such as if you encounter errors or problems during installation.

If your version of Office 2010 is managed by your work or school, contact your IT Help Desk about how to upgrade. Your IT department will likely have their own upgrade plan.

End of support for Office 2010

On October 13, 2020, Microsoft ended support for Office 2010, meaning it will no longer provide technical support, bug fixes, or security updates for the software. While Office 2010 applications will continue to work, it's recommended that users upgrade as soon as possible to avoid security risks and to receive the latest features and support.

The end of support for Office 2010 means that Microsoft will no longer be providing technical support for any issues that arise with the software. This includes bug fixes for any newly discovered issues, as well as security fixes for any vulnerabilities that may be found. As a result, users may be exposed to security risks if they continue to use Office 2010.

Upgrading to a supported version of Office, such as Microsoft 365, is strongly recommended. Microsoft 365 is a subscription-based service that includes premium versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, as well as other services such as online storage with OneDrive and added security features. It also offers coauthoring capabilities, allowing users to easily collaborate and share documents with others in real time. Microsoft 365 is always up to date with the latest features and is available as a monthly or annual subscription.

Alternatively, users can also purchase a one-time purchase version of Office, such as Office 2021, which will include security updates and fixes during the supported period but will not receive new features or other Microsoft 365 benefits.

It's important to note that Microsoft ended support for Office 2010 to encourage users to upgrade to the latest version of Office and ensure they have the best experience with the most secure and up-to-date software.

Frequently asked questions