Yesterday, Microsoft officially unveiled the final version of Microsoft Office LTSC 2024, encompassing core applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive, OneNote, and Microsoft Access. LTSC, which stands for Long-Term Servicing Channel, is designed as a stable version that will not receive feature updates for an extended period. Microsoft describes it as a “locked-in-time” version that integrates select features introduced since the last LTSC release and promises five years of support from the date of launch.
Office LTSC versions are structured as one-time purchases with no subscription requirements. They can be installed on a single device per license and do not necessitate internet connectivity. However, it is crucial to understand that Microsoft Office LTSC is tailored specifically for businesses rather than individual consumers, with licenses available exclusively through volume licensing agreements.
While Microsoft has received considerable acclaim for its Microsoft 365 suite, the company acknowledges the continued demand for a non-subscription version of Office. As stated by Microsoft, “We know that some customer scenarios require a different approach. Some devices must never be connected to the internet; others need to remain unchanged for years at a time. We remain committed to supporting our customers and these scenarios.” Following a public preview earlier this year, the general availability of Office LTSC 2024 is now confirmed for commercial and government clients.
Supporting Office LTSC 2024 for five years aligns with Microsoft’s Fixed Lifecycle Policy, which stipulates that the version will not receive feature updates—only security updates. New additions to this release include Dynamic Charts and numerous new text and array functions in Excel, enhanced search and meeting creation capabilities in Outlook, and overall improvements in performance, security, and accessibility. A comparison of Microsoft 365 and Office LTSC 2024 is available, highlighting key benefits such as the capacity to install applications on up to five devices, access to web versions, eligibility for the Microsoft 365 Copilot add-on, and 1TB of cloud storage. Notably, Microsoft Office 2024 is currently not available for home users, with corporate customers able to access GVLKs for Office LTSC 2024 through designated channels.
