Microsoft has unveiled what may be the second-to-last version of its perpetual licensed Office suite, marking a significant moment for users who prefer traditional software over subscription models.
Office LTSC 2024: A Step Back to Stability
Released on September 16, the Office Long Term Servicing Channel (LTSC) 2024 has somewhat slipped under the radar, overshadowed by the company’s recent Copilot innovations. While Microsoft is keen to steer customers towards its Microsoft 365 subscription service, it recognizes that a segment of its user base values the stability and predictability that comes with a perpetual license.
This latest iteration is tailored specifically for government and commercial clients utilizing Windows, and it promises five years of support. Notably, Office LTSC 2024 is designed as a disconnected product, meaning it operates independently of the internet. Unlike Microsoft 365, which requires periodic online access, devices running LTSC 2024 can function without ever connecting to the outside world.
A device running Office LTSC 2024 need never be attached to the outside world…
However, this independence comes with trade-offs. Microsoft has made it clear that users opting for LTSC will miss out on several features available in Microsoft 365, including cloud storage and the ability to subscribe to Microsoft 365 Copilot for an additional fee. A detailed comparison table published by Microsoft highlights the key applications that will be absent, such as Publisher—set for deprecation in 2026—and the absence of Teams, which is not preinstalled with LTSC 2024. Furthermore, the Publish to Power BI feature has been removed from Excel, and ActiveX controls are disabled by default, although administrators can re-enable them if necessary.
In a nod to ongoing customer needs, Microsoft has also announced that new on-premises versions of Project and Visio will be generally available to all customers by October 1, further solidifying its commitment to users who prefer traditional software solutions.
Despite the focus on perpetual licensing, Microsoft has been somewhat reticent about this model, particularly in light of ongoing legal challenges regarding incentives that encourage customers to transition from perpetual licenses to Microsoft 365 subscriptions. The future of these licenses remains uncertain, yet Microsoft has indicated that at least one more release of Office LTSC is expected before the decade concludes. While specifics beyond this remain unconfirmed, it is clear that customer demand will play a pivotal role in shaping the trajectory of Office LTSC.
Ultimately, the existence of Office LTSC 2024 underscores the necessity for certain users who require their devices to remain offline, illustrating that for some, the allure of cloud-based solutions simply does not align with their operational requirements.