Earlier this month, Microsoft announced via admin center message that certain existing features will no longer be available in older versions of Office 365 apps starting end of January 2026. The change is due to a backend service update that impacts these features. For the first time, a regular Office update will be mandatory for all users.
The affected features include Transcription, Dictation, and Read Aloud. Transcription and Dictation are only available in Word, while Read Aloud is available in Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, and OneNote.
To continue using these features, you will need to update your Office 365 to at least version 16.0.18827.20202 by end of January 2026.
If you’re the admin of an organization, Microsoft advises that you should take action by checking your organization’s Office version and updating well ahead of time. Without updating, these features will stop working altogether; meanwhile, the update itself is straightforward and brings with it several new features and security improvements.
This measure is another move by Microsoft to free up resources for current services by dropping support for older services. Users with outdated installations risk not only missing features but also security vulnerabilities. Switching to Microsoft 365 or alternative Office solutions could be an option for those affected.
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