After more than 30 years, Microsoft has decided to rebrand Microsoft Office, its popular productivity suite, to Microsoft 365. The change will begin rolling out for Office.com next month, according to a FAQ published on the official Microsoft 365 site, with the rebrand coming to the Office app on Windows and the Office mobile app in January 2023. Microsoft Office’s new branding will apply to all users.
From the official Microsoft 365 FAQ:
- What is changing?
- Over the last couple years, Microsoft 365 has evolved into our flagship productivity suite, so we 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.
- When will these changes happen?
- Changes will begin rolling out for Office.com in November 2022. And then changes will begin rolling out for the Office app on Windows and the Office mobile app in January 2023.
- Who will these changes apply to?
- These changes will apply to everyone who uses the Office app for work, school, or personal use.
- What is Microsoft 365?
- Microsoft 365 is our 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.
- 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.
Microsoft 365 is sold under various plans, including a Microsoft 365 Family plan that enables access for up to six people with up to 6 TB of cloud storage for $99.99/year. Additional benefits of the service include ad-free email, data and device protection, and more.