Older Office 365 app versions will lose three features soon. Update now!

Microsoft has announced that certain features in older versions of Office 365 apps will no longer be available starting January 2026. The affected features include Transcription, Dictation, and Read Aloud, which are available in Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and OneNote. To continue using these features, users will need to update their Office 365 to at least version 16.0.18827.20202 by the end of January 2026. Microsoft advises administrators to check their organization's Office version and update well ahead of time to avoid disruption. This change is due to a backend service update that impacts these features, and it is part of Microsoft's efforts to free up resources for current services by dropping support for older ones. Users with outdated installations risk not only missing features but also security vulnerabilities. Switching to Microsoft 365 or alternative Office solutions may be an option for those affected.