Microsoft Office 2021 Pro Plus Retail
- Key delivered by email right after payment
- Download link and activation guide included
- Secure checkout · digital product, nothing shipped
Office 2021 Professional Plus Retail is a retail licence for one PC that is linked to your Microsoft account. It includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Access and Publisher. You pay once, with no Microsoft 365 subscription. The key is sent by email after payment, with a download link and instructions for redeeming it to your account.
- 1 retail key for 1 PC, linked to your Microsoft account
- Perpetual licence with no monthly or yearly fee
- Includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Access and Publisher
- Microsoft end-of-support date: 13 October 2026
- Digital delivery by email: nothing is shipped
Which apps are included in Office 2021 Professional Plus?
Office 2021 Professional Plus includes seven desktop apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Access and Publisher. It's the most complete Office 2021 edition for Windows. Microsoft has announced that Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026, so plan ahead if you rely on it.
| App | What you use it for |
|---|---|
| Word | Documents, letters, reports and CVs |
| Excel | Spreadsheets, budgets, formulas and charts |
| PowerPoint | Presentations and slide decks |
| Outlook | Email, calendar and contacts |
| OneNote | Notes, notebooks and to-do lists |
| Access | Desktop databases (only in Professional Plus, not Standard) |
| Publisher | Flyers, newsletters and print layouts |
What's the difference between Office 2021 Standard and Professional Plus?
The only app difference is Access: Professional Plus includes it and Standard doesn't. If you build or use Access databases, or simply want the full set, Professional Plus is the edition to choose. Both Office 2021 editions include Publisher.
| Office 2021 Standard | Office 2021 Professional Plus | |
|---|---|---|
| Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote | Included | Included |
| Publisher | Included | Included |
| Access | Not included | Included |
| Runs on | Windows PC | Windows PC |
| Payment | One-time purchase | One-time purchase |
A question we often get is whether Standard can open Access files. It can't: .accdb databases need Access, which only Professional Plus includes.
What does a retail licence linked to your Microsoft account mean?
A retail licence is redeemed once and then saved to your Microsoft account. You can find it in your account later and reinstall Office on your PC from there, for example after resetting Windows, without searching for the key again.
Use a personal Microsoft account you plan to keep, because the licence stays tied to the account you redeem it with. The licence still covers one PC at a time.
Is Office 2021 still supported by Microsoft?
Office 2021's end-of-support date is 13 October 2026, for both the Windows and Mac versions. From that date, Microsoft no longer releases security updates, bug fixes or technical support for it. The apps keep working, but if you want a version supported until 2029, choose Office 2024.
Office 2021 still suits buyers who need to match an existing setup, for example an office where every PC runs the same version. For a new installation, Office 2024 gives you the longest remaining support period.
What are the system requirements for Office 2021 Professional Plus?
You need a Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC with a 1.1 GHz dual-core processor, 4 GB of RAM and about 4 GB of free disk space. Office 2021 Professional Plus doesn't run on macOS; Mac users need a Mac edition of Office.
| Component | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 11 or Windows 10 (and supported Windows Server versions) |
| Processor | 1.1 GHz or faster, 2 cores |
| Memory (RAM) | 4 GB |
| Storage | 4 GB of free disk space |
| Display | 1280 × 768 resolution |
| Internet | Needed for installation and activation |
For full details, see Microsoft's Office 2021 overview for IT pros.
How do I install and activate Office 2021 Professional Plus?
With a retail licence, you first redeem the key to your Microsoft account, then install Office and sign in with the same account. Uninstall any older Office version before you start.
- Uninstall any previous Office or Microsoft 365 versions from Settings → Apps.
- Following the instructions in your order email, open Microsoft's Office setup page and sign in with your Microsoft account.
- Enter the 25-character key. The licence is then added to your Microsoft account.
- Download and install Office 2021 Professional Plus as described in the email.
- Open Word, sign in with the same Microsoft account and check that File → Account shows "Product Activated".
A common issue we see is signing in to Office with a different Microsoft account from the one used to redeem the key, for example a work account instead of a personal one. Office then can't find the licence. Sign out and sign in with the redeeming account.
Frequently asked questions
Can I reinstall Office after resetting my PC?
Yes. Because the retail licence is linked to your Microsoft account, you can sign in to your account and reinstall Office on your PC without entering the key again. Make sure you sign in with the same account you used to redeem it.
Can I move the licence to a new PC?
Retail licences are generally the most flexible type when you replace a computer. Remove Office from the old PC first, then install it on the new one from your Microsoft account. If activation fails, contact our support team with your order number.
Does Office 2021 include Publisher?
Yes. Both the Standard and Professional Plus editions of Office 2021 include Publisher for Windows. Microsoft has announced that Publisher will no longer be supported after October 2026, so it's worth planning a replacement if you use it a lot.
Can I install it on a Mac?
No. Office 2021 Professional Plus is for Windows only. Mac users need a dedicated Mac edition of Office, which uses a different product key. The Mac editions include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote, but not Access or Publisher.
Compare all Office 2021 editions, or get Windows and Office together in a Windows + Office bundle.
