Microsoft Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version: What You Need to Know


Introduction

If you are looking for a productivity software that offers the latest features, security, and performance without requiring a subscription or frequent updates, you might be interested in Microsoft Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version. This is the newest version of Microsoft’s popular office suite that is available to organizations through a volume licensing agreement.

In this article, we will explain what Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version is, who it is for, what are the benefits, how to get it, what are the requirements, what’s new in it, how to install it, how to activate it, how to use it, how to update it, and how to support it. We will also answer some frequently asked questions about this product.

By the end of this article, you will have a clear understanding of what Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version is, and whether it is the right choice for you or your organization.

What’s New in Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version?

Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version is the successor of Office 2019, which was released in 2018. LTSC stands for Long Term Servicing Channel, which means that this version of Office will receive security and quality updates for 5 years, but no new features or functionality updates. This is different from the Semi-Annual Enterprise Channel (SAC), which is the default update channel for Office 365 and Microsoft 365 subscribers, and which receives new features and functionality updates twice a year.

Professional Plus is the most comprehensive edition of Office 2021 LTSC, which includes the following applications: Access, Excel, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher, Skype for Business, Teams, and Word. It also includes additional features and services such as Group Policy support, Telemetry, Volume Activation, and Roaming Use Rights.

Some of the new features and improvements in Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version are:

New Features and Improvements

  • Dark Mode: You can now choose between light and dark themes for your Office applications, which can help reduce eye strain and improve contrast. You can also set your system theme to automatically switch between light and dark modes based on the time of day or your preferences.
  • Line Focus: You can now focus on one, three, or five lines of text at a time in Word, which can help you read more comfortably and avoid distractions. You can also adjust the line spacing and background color to suit your needs.
  • XLOOKUP: You can now use the XLOOKUP function in Excel, which is a more powerful and flexible alternative to the VLOOKUP function. It allows you to look up values in a table or range by row or column, match values exactly or approximately, return multiple results, and handle errors more easily.
  • Morph Transition: You can now use the Morph transition in PowerPoint, which creates smooth animations between slides by automatically moving and resizing objects. It can help you create dynamic and engaging presentations with minimal effort.
  • Dynamic Arrays: You can now use dynamic arrays in Excel, which are formulas that can spill over into multiple cells and update automatically when the source data changes. They can help you perform complex calculations and analysis more efficiently and accurately.
  • Accessibility Checker: You can now use the Accessibility Checker in all Office applications, which helps you identify and fix issues that might make your documents, spreadsheets, presentations, or emails difficult to read or use by people with disabilities. It also provides suggestions and best practices for making your content more accessible and inclusive.

New Privacy and Security Options

Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version also gives you more control over your data collection and connected experiences. You can now choose between three levels of diagnostic data collection: Required, Optional, or Neither. Required data is the minimum amount of data that Microsoft needs to keep Office secure, up to date, and performing as expected. Optional data is additional data that Microsoft uses to improve Office features and services. Neither data is no data collection at all, except for a device ID that is used to verify your license.

You can also choose whether to enable or disable connected experiences in Office. Connected experiences are features that require internet connectivity and enhance your productivity and creativity. Some examples are Bing search, Smart Lookup, Translator, Ideas, Editor, Resume Assistant, and PowerPoint Designer. You can turn off all connected experiences or only some of them depending on your preferences.

How to Install and Activate Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version?

If you want to install and activate Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version on your device, you will need to have a volume licensing agreement with Microsoft or an authorized reseller. You will also need to meet the following system requirements:

  • Operating System: Windows 10 or Windows 11
  • Processor: 1.6 GHz or faster, 2-core (Intel or AMD)
  • Memory: 4 GB RAM (64-bit); 2 GB RAM (32-bit)
  • Hard Disk: 4 GB available disk space
  • Display: 1280 x 768 screen resolution
  • Graphics: DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 2.0 driver
  • Internet Connection: Required for installation and activation

Once you have a valid license and meet the system requirements, you can follow these steps to install Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version on your device:

Installation Steps

  1. Download the Office Deployment Tool (ODT) from this link. The ODT is a command-line tool that allows you to customize and manage Office installations.
  2. Extract the ODT files to a folder on your device or a network share. You should see two files: setup.exe and configuration.xml.
  3. Edit the configuration.xml file using a text editor such as Notepad. You can use this file to specify various installation options, such as the product ID, the update channel, the language, the architecture, the installation path, and the exclusion of certain applications. You can find more information and examples on how to edit the configuration.xml file here.
  4. Save and close the configuration.xml file.
  5. Open a command prompt as an administrator and navigate to the folder where you extracted the ODT files.
  6. Run the following command to download the Office installation files from Microsoft’s servers: setup.exe /download configuration.xml. This may take some time depending on your internet speed and the size of the files.
  7. Once the download is complete, run the following command to install Office on your device: setup.exe /configure configuration.xml. This may also take some time depending on your device’s performance and the number of applications you are installing.
  8. When the installation is finished, you should see a message that says “The installation of Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version is complete”. You can then close the command prompt and launch any Office application from the Start menu or the desktop.

Activation Methods

To activate Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version, you will need to use either Key Management Service (KMS) or Multiple Activation Key (MAK). These are volume activation methods that allow you to activate multiple devices using a single product key or a server.

KMS is a service that runs on a local network and activates devices that connect to it. You will need to install and configure a KMS host on your network and obtain a KMS host key from Microsoft or an authorized reseller. You will also need to ensure that your devices have access to the KMS host and meet the minimum activation threshold. You can find more information and instructions on how to use KMS here.

MAK is a product key that activates a specific number of devices online or by phone. You will need to obtain a MAK key from Microsoft or an authorized reseller and enter it on each device that you want to activate. You will also need to ensure that your devices have internet access or a phone line. You can find more information and instructions on how to use MAK here.

How to Use Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version?

Once you have installed and activated Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version, you can start using it for your personal or professional needs. Here is an overview of each application included in this edition and some tips and tricks for getting the most out of them.

Overview of Applications Included

  • Access: This is a database management system that allows you to create, store, query, and analyze data. You can use it to create desktop or web-based applications that can handle large amounts of information efficiently and securely.
  • Excel: This is a spreadsheet program that allows you to perform calculations, analysis, visualization, and modeling of data. You can use it to create budgets, reports, charts, dashboards, forecasts, scenarios, and more.
  • OneNote: This is a digital notebook that allows you to capture, organize, and share notes, images, audio, video, web pages, and more. You can use it to create personal or collaborative notebooks for various purposes such as brainstorming, planning, research, learning, and more.
  • Outlook: This is an email and calendar program that allows you to manage your communications, appointments, tasks, contacts, and more. You can use it to send and receive emails, schedule meetings, set reminders, sync with other devices and services, and more.
  • PowerPoint: This is a presentation program that allows you to create slideshows with text, images , audio, video, animations, transitions, and more. You can use it to create professional or personal presentations for various audiences and occasions.
  • Publisher: This is a desktop publishing program that allows you to create and print publications such as flyers, brochures, newsletters, cards, posters, and more. You can use it to design and layout your publications with templates, graphics, fonts, colors, and more.
  • Skype for Business: This is a communication and collaboration program that allows you to make voice and video calls, send instant messages, share screens, and conduct online meetings with other people. You can use it to connect and work with your colleagues, clients, partners, and more.
  • Teams: This is a teamwork and chat program that allows you to create and join teams, channels, and chats with other people. You can use it to collaborate and communicate with your team members, share files, co-edit documents, conduct online meetings, and more.
  • Word: This is a word processing program that allows you to create and edit documents with text, images, tables, charts, and more. You can use it to write letters, reports, essays, resumes, articles, and more.

Tips and Tricks for Getting the Most Out of Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version

Here are some tips and tricks for using Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version more efficiently and effectively:

  • Use keyboard shortcuts: You can save time and effort by using keyboard shortcuts to perform common tasks in Office applications. You can find a list of keyboard shortcuts for each application here.
  • Use the Tell Me feature: You can quickly find what you need by using the Tell Me feature in Office applications. It is a search box that appears on the ribbon that allows you to type what you want to do and get suggestions for commands, features, or help topics. For example, you can type “insert table” in Word and get options for inserting a table in your document.
  • Use the Quick Access Toolbar: You can customize the Quick Access Toolbar in Office applications to access your frequently used commands with one click. It is a small toolbar that appears at the top left corner of the application window that allows you to add or remove commands from the ribbon or other sources. For example, you can add the Save As command to the Quick Access Toolbar in Excel and save your workbook with a different name or location easily.
  • Use the Office Clipboard: You can copy and paste multiple items across Office applications using the Office Clipboard. It is a special clipboard that stores up to 24 items that you copy or cut from any Office application. You can access it by clicking the Clipboard button on the Home tab of the ribbon. You can then paste any item from the Office Clipboard to any Office application.
  • Use the Format Painter: You can copy and apply the formatting of one object to another object in Office applications using the Format Painter. It is a tool that appears on the Home tab of the ribbon that allows you to select an object with the formatting you want to copy and then click another object to apply the same formatting. For example, you can use the Format Painter in PowerPoint to copy the font style and color of one text box to another text box.

How to Update and Support Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version?

To keep your Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version up to date and secure, you will need to update it regularly. You will also need to know how long it is supported and where to find help and documentation if you encounter any issues or have any questions.

Update Options and Frequency

You can update Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version manually or automatically depending on your preferences. You can also choose between two types of updates: quality updates and security updates.

Quality updates are updates that fix bugs and improve performance and stability of Office applications. They are released monthly and are cumulative, which means that each update contains all the previous updates. You can install quality updates manually by downloading them from the Microsoft Update Catalog or automatically by enabling the Windows Update service on your device.

Security updates are updates that fix vulnerabilities and protect your device and data from malicious attacks. They are released as needed and are also cumulative. You can install security updates manually by downloading them from the Microsoft Update Catalog or automatically by enabling the Windows Update service on your device.

You can check for updates and view the update history of Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version by going to File > Account > Update Options in any Office application. You can also change the update settings and preferences from there.

Support Lifecycle and Resources

Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version is supported for 5 years from its release date, which is October 5, 2021. This means that Microsoft will provide security and quality updates, technical support, and online resources for this product until October 5, 2026. After that date, Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version will no longer receive any updates or support, and you will need to upgrade to a newer version of Office or switch to a subscription-based service such as Microsoft 365.

If you need help or documentation for Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version, you can find various resources online, such as:

  • Office Help and Training: This is the official website that provides guides, tutorials, videos, tips, and answers for using Office applications and features. You can access it by going to this link or by clicking the Help button (question mark icon) on the ribbon of any Office application.
  • Office Support: This is the official website that provides technical support, troubleshooting, error messages, downloads, updates, and community forums for Office products and services. You can access it by going to this link or by clicking the Contact Support button on the Account page of any Office application.
  • Office Blog: This is the official blog that provides news, announcements, insights, tips, and stories about Office products and services. You can access it by going to this link or by clicking the What’s New button on the Account page of any Office application.

Conclusion

In this article, we have covered everything you need to know about Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version, the newest version of Microsoft’s popular office suite that is available to organizations through a volume licensing agreement.

We have explained what it is, who it is for, what are the benefits, how to get it, what are the requirements, what’s new in it, how to install it, how to activate it, how to use it, how to update it, and how to support it. We have also answered some frequently asked questions about this product.

We hope that this article has helped you understand what Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version is and whether it is the right choice for you or your organization. If you have any feedback or questions, please feel free to leave a comment below or contact us through our website.

Thank you for reading and happy working!

FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions about Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version:

  1. What is the difference between Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version and Office 365 or Microsoft 365?
  2. Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version is a one-time purchase product that does not require a subscription or frequent updates. It is designed for organizations that need a stable and secure office suite with minimal changes. It receives security and quality updates for 5 years but no new features or functionality updates.

    Office 365 or Microsoft 365 are subscription-based services that provide access to the latest version of Office applications as well as other cloud-based features and services such as OneDrive , SharePoint, Teams, and more. They receive new features and functionality updates twice a year as well as security and quality updates. They are designed for organizations that need a flexible and modern office suite with constant innovation.

  3. Can I use Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version on multiple devices?
  4. Yes, you can use Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version on multiple devices, but you will need to have a valid license for each device. You can activate up to 10 devices per user using the same license key, but you can only use one device at a time. If you want to use more than 10 devices per user or use multiple devices simultaneously, you will need to purchase additional licenses or switch to a subscription-based service such as Microsoft 365.

  5. Can I upgrade from Office 2019 to Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version?
  6. Yes, you can upgrade from Office 2019 to Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version, but you will need to have a valid license for Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version. You can either uninstall Office 2019 and install Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version using the steps described above, or you can use the in-place upgrade option that allows you to keep your settings and preferences. You can find more information and instructions on how to use the in-place upgrade option here.

  7. Can I use Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version with other versions of Office or Microsoft 365?
  8. Yes, you can use Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version with other versions of Office or Microsoft 365, but you may encounter some compatibility issues or limitations. For example, some features or functionality may not work properly or be available across different versions of Office or Microsoft 365. You may also have difficulties opening or editing files created with different versions of Office or Microsoft 365. To avoid these issues or limitations, it is recommended that you use the same version of Office or Microsoft 365 across all your devices and users.

  9. Can I use Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version offline?
  10. Yes, you can use Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus Version offline, but you will need to have an internet connection for installation and activation. You will also need an internet connection for some features and services that require online connectivity, such as Bing search, Smart Lookup, Translator, Ideas, Editor, Resume Assistant, PowerPoint Designer, Skype for Business, Teams, and more. If you want to use these features and services offline, you will need to switch to a subscription-based service such as Microsoft 365.

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