Microsoft is getting ready to end support of the Office 2013 app suite released more than nine years ago. The company recently notified its customers about its plans to stop releasing security patches, so they have enough time to upgrade to newer releases.
According to the official documentation, Office 2013 will reach its end of life on April 11, 2023. The app suite received five years of mainstream support and four years of extended support (security fixes and critical updates).
Here is a statement from Microsoft (via Bleeping Computer):
After five years of Mainstream Support, and five years of Extended Support, Office 2013 will reach the End of Extended Support on April 11, 2023. Per the Fixed Lifecycle Policy, after this date security updates for Office 2013 will no longer be available.
After Office 2013 reaches the end of support, Microsoft won"t provide any new security updates, and the continued use of Office 2013 after April 2023 may increase your organization"s exposure to security risks or impact your ability to meet compliance obligations.
The end of support does not mean the apps will stop functioning. Customers are free to continue using Office 2013 after April 2023, but they must keep in mind that the lack of support increases security risks. Also, Microsoft will no longer provide technical support after the specified end-of-life date, and customers may face various reliability issues with Microsoft 365.
Office 2013 users can opt for the Office 365 subscription to keep their Office apps updated and receive regular feature updates. Microsoft also sells perpetual Office 2021 licenses for those who prefer one-time purchases.