Critical Update for Microsoft Office Users: Upgrade Required by 2026
Microsoft has provided a significant update aimed at IT administrators and system managers, highlighting essential changes to certain features within its Office suite. The tech giant has confirmed that several functionalities, particularly those pertaining to Office Intelligent Services, will cease to operate unless users upgrade to the latest version of the application. This announcement was officially made through the Microsoft 365 Admin Center portal.
Impact of the Update on Office Intelligent Services
Features such as Read Aloud, Transcribe, and Dictate—all of which fall under Office Intelligent Services—are designed to enhance user experience and convenience. Microsoft urges organizations that utilize these services to update their applications to version 16.0.18827.20202 or newer to maintain continued access to these capabilities. Notably, these features are primarily integrated into popular applications like Word, but users of Outlook, OneNote, and PowerPoint will also feel the effects of this update.
Details on the Backend Upgrade
While specifics remain scarce, Microsoft indicates that they are “upgrading the backend service”that supports these features, suggesting possible enhancements and optimizations to the Office Intelligent Service platform. This is classified as a “major change, ”an important designation by Microsoft whenever an upgrade could influence both users and administrators.
Timeline and Recommendations
The positive news is that users have ample time to prepare for this transition. The features will remain functional until January 2026, providing approximately six months for administrators to strategize their approach to updates.
To ensure continued high-quality performance of the Read Aloud, Transcription, and Dictation features in Microsoft 365 Office apps, we’re upgrading the backend service that powers these capabilities. As a result, these features will no longer function on Office clients running versions earlier than
16.0.18827.20202after January 2026.…
To avoid service disruption, ensure that all Office clients are updated to version
16.0.18827.20202or later before the applicable deadline.
Next Steps for Users
For users whose applications are already updated, functionality will proceed as usual. Administrators can find further details on this update by accessing the Microsoft 365 Admin Center portal under message ID MC1127222.
For additional information, click here.
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