Alongside the version included in the Office 365 subscription package, Microsoft says it will release another Office for Mac update in 2021, which will be a single purchase.

Ahead of its refreshed Outlook for Mac coming in October, Microsoft has announced that it will release a new edition of the full Office for Mac with what it calls a 'perpetual licence' instead of subscription. Coming some time in the second half of next year, what may be called 'Office 2021' is to be sold as a one-off purchase.

'Microsoft Office will also see a new perpetual release for both Windows and Mac, in the second half of 2021,' said Microsoft in a blog post. No further details were provided, and the blog post was chiefly about updates to Exchange Server, which 'are only available with the purchase of a subscription license.'

Office for Mac was originally a single, one-off purchase from when it first came out in 1998. From 2013 onwards, however, Microsoft has been increasingly promoting its continuous subscription version, Office 365, for both Mac and Windows.

More recently referred to as Microsoft 365, the subscription comes in business, personal and family versions. The business version costs from $5 per month per user, and the personal edition is $6.99 per month.

Microsoft recently announced that it was officially ending support for Office 2016 for Mac on October 13, 2020.

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Under Important Updates, choose Install updates automatically, and under Microsoft Update check the Give me updates for Microsoft products and check for new optional Microsoft software when I update Windows box to get the Office updates. Your IT department might set automatic updates for you. If they do, you'll see the message in the yellow bar, and you won't be able to use the Important. On June 8th, 2020, we released an Insider preview of Version 16.38, the June feature update for Office for Mac. Release details Here's everything you need to know about this feature update.

Microsoft Office for Mac 2011 14.7.7 Update. This update fixes critical issues and also helps to improve security. It includes fixes for vulnerabilities that an attacker can use to overwrite the contents of your computer's memory with malicious code.
Here’s how to stop Microsoft Office for Mac from automatically updating itself and why you might want to do that. Office 2019 / 2016 for Mac. All versions of Office for Mac that have current support (currently Office 2016 and later) get: updates to fix bugs in the software; patches to stop security bugs that might allow access to your computer.
Start quickly with the most recent versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote and OneDrive —combining the familiarity of Office and the unique Mac features you love. Work online or offline, on your own or with others in real time—whatever works for what you’re doing.

How to get updates for macOS Mojave or later

If you've upgraded to macOS Mojave or later, follow these steps to keep it up to date:

Choose System Preferences from the Apple menu , then click Software Update to check for updates.
If any updates are available, click the Update Now button to install them. Or click ”More info” to see details about each update and select specific updates to install.
When Software Update says that your Mac is up to date, the installed version of macOS and all of its apps are also up to date. That includes Safari, iTunes, Books, Messages, Mail, Calendar, Photos, and FaceTime.

To find updates for iMovie, Garageband, Pages, Numbers, Keynote, and other apps that were downloaded separately from the App Store, open the App Store on your Mac, then click the Updates tab.

To automatically install macOS updates in the future, including apps that were downloaded separately from the App Store, select ”Automatically keep my Mac up to date.” Your Mac will notify you when updates require it to restart, so you can always choose to install those later.

How to get updates for earlier macOS versions

If you're using an earlier macOS, such as macOS High Sierra, Sierra, El Capitan, or earlier,* follow these steps to keep it up to date:

Open the App Store app on your Mac.
Click Updates in the App Store toolbar.
Use the Update buttons to download and install any updates listed.
When the App Store shows no more updates, the installed version of macOS and all of its apps are up to date. That includes Safari, iTunes, iBooks, Messages, Mail, Calendar, Photos, and FaceTime. Later versions may be available by upgrading your macOS.

To automatically download updates in the future, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, click App Store, then select ”Download newly available updates in the background.” Your Mac will notify you when updates are ready to install.

Updates For Microsoft Office For Mac 2011

* If you're using OS X Lion or Snow Leopard, get OS X updates by choosing Apple menu  > Software Update.

How to get updates for iOS

Mac Office Updater Location

Learn how to update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch to the latest version of iOS.

Mac For Office Update Windows 7

Learn more

Learn how to upgrade to the latest version of macOS.
Find out which macOS your Mac is using.
You can redownload apps that you previously downloaded from the App Store.
Your Mac doesn't automatically download large updates when it's using a Personal Hotspot.