What’s New in Microsoft Office 2024? Features by Application
The short answer: Microsoft Office 2024 is a perpetual, non-subscription Office release with updated versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote and, in Professional Plus for Windows, Access. Its main improvements include new Excel functions, better Word document recovery, updated PowerPoint recording tools, improved Outlook search, stronger accessibility features and a refreshed interface.
Office 2024 does not include the continuously updated cloud, collaboration and Copilot features available with qualifying Microsoft 365 subscriptions. It is designed for users who want a fixed version of the core Office desktop applications without a recurring subscription.
What is Microsoft Office 2024?
Microsoft Office 2024 is the latest perpetual version of Microsoft’s desktop productivity suite. A perpetual release is purchased for the licensed version rather than through a monthly or annual Microsoft 365 subscription.
Office LTSC Professional Plus 2024 for Windows includes the following main applications:
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Microsoft Outlook
- Microsoft OneNote
- Microsoft Access
The applications supplied depend on the exact Office edition. Microsoft Publisher is not included with Office LTSC 2024 because Microsoft is retiring Publisher in October 2026.
Office 2024 features at a glance
Word 2024
Improved session recovery, updated commenting tools, better accessibility features and support for newer document standards.
Excel 2024
Fourteen new text and array functions, dynamic charts linked to dynamic arrays and improved tools for working with modern datasets.
PowerPoint 2024
Recording Studio, cameo camera feeds, improved recording tools and additional ways to present and export presentations.
Outlook 2024
Improved search, more meeting-creation options and a more modern interface for managing email, contacts and calendars.
OneNote 2024
Improved drawing and ink tools, more pen colours and sizes, and better organisation of the Draw tab.
Access 2024
New database capabilities, modernised features and improved integration options for organisations using Access-based solutions.
New features shared across Office 2024 applications
A refreshed Office design
Office 2024 introduces a more consistent visual design across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote and Access. The updated appearance uses Microsoft’s Fluent Design principles and is intended to feel familiar while fitting more naturally with Windows 11.
Improved accessibility tools
Microsoft has added new and improved accessibility features across Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. These changes are intended to make documents, spreadsheets, presentations and emails easier to create and use for people with different accessibility requirements.
Support for OpenDocument Format 1.4
Word, Excel and PowerPoint in Office 2024 support OpenDocument Format 1.4. This improves compatibility when working with documents saved in open formats such as ODT, ODS and ODP.
Insert pictures from a mobile device
Office LTSC 2024 can allow users to insert pictures from a compatible Android phone into Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents. Availability depends on the application, operating system and connected-device setup.
Improved comments
Word and PowerPoint include updated commenting features, including clearer indicators for new comments and the ability to react to comments with a Like.
What’s new in Word 2024?
Recover an interrupted Word session
If Word closes unexpectedly before recent changes are saved, Word 2024 can reopen the documents that were active when the application closed. This can make it easier to continue working after a crash or unexpected shutdown.
Important: session recovery is a safety feature, not a replacement for regularly saving documents or keeping backups of important files.
Improved accessibility
Word 2024 includes updated accessibility tools designed to help identify and correct issues that may make a document difficult for some readers to use.
Updated comments and document compatibility
Users can work with improved commenting tools and newer OpenDocument standards. These changes are most useful when documents are reviewed by several people or exchanged with users of other office software.
What’s new in Excel 2024?
Fourteen new text and array functions
Excel 2024 includes fourteen additional text and array functions. These functions make it easier to split, combine, reshape, resize and select information within worksheets.
Examples include functions designed for:
- Separating text into rows or columns
- Combining ranges and arrays
- Selecting specific rows or columns
- Reshaping data into a more useful layout
- Working with variable-length datasets
Dynamic charts using dynamic arrays
Charts in Excel 2024 can reference dynamic arrays. When the underlying array expands, contracts or recalculates, the associated chart can update to reflect the changing dataset rather than remaining fixed to a predefined range.
Improved accessibility
Excel 2024 contains updated accessibility tools intended to make workbooks easier to review and improve before they are shared.
What Office 2024 does not add: the perpetual version does not include Microsoft 365 Copilot or continuously updated AI analysis features. Claims that Office 2024 automatically analyses business data using Copilot-style AI confuse it with subscription features available in qualifying Microsoft 365 plans.
What’s new in PowerPoint 2024?
Recording Studio
PowerPoint 2024 includes Recording Studio tools for recording a presentation or an individual slide. A recording can include narration, video and ink gestures and may be exported as a video for sharing or playback.
Present with cameo
The cameo feature allows a compatible live camera feed to be placed directly onto a PowerPoint slide. The camera object can be positioned and formatted in a similar way to other visual elements.
Updated comments and accessibility
PowerPoint 2024 includes improved comments and accessibility features, helping users review presentations and identify potential accessibility problems before presenting or distributing them.
PowerPoint 2024 does not include Microsoft 365 Copilot’s automatic presentation creation as part of the perpetual licence.
What’s new in Outlook 2024?
Improved search
Outlook 2024 includes search improvements designed to surface more relevant email messages, attachments, contacts and calendar entries while a user types a search.
More meeting options
Users have additional options when creating and managing meetings, including settings that can shorten meetings automatically to leave breaks between appointments.
Updated interface and accessibility
Outlook 2024 uses the refreshed Office design and includes improved accessibility tools. The exact features available can vary according to the email account type and organisational configuration.
Office 2024 does not add a separate Copilot AI assistant or Microsoft 365-style advanced security service to Outlook as part of the perpetual release.
What’s new in OneNote 2024?
Improved Draw tab and ink tools
OneNote LTSC 2024 includes updates to the Draw tab and inking experience. These improvements include more pen colours and sizes, better organisation of drawing tools and more responsive digital ink on compatible hardware.
OneNote remains useful for organising notes into notebooks, sections and pages. Synchronisation and collaborative features may depend on the Microsoft account, storage service and organisational setup being used.
What’s new in Access 2024?
Access 2024 remains the Windows database application included with Office LTSC Professional Plus 2024. It is intended for creating and managing relational databases, forms, reports and queries.
Microsoft documents new and improved Access capabilities for the 2024 release. The exact benefit depends on the database and the tools used within it, so organisations relying on complex Access systems should test existing databases, add-ins and integrations before replacing an earlier version.
Compatibility advice: add-ins and extensibility solutions that worked with Office LTSC 2021 or Office 2019 are likely to work with Office LTSC 2024, but important business systems should still be tested before deployment.
Does Office 2024 include Microsoft Publisher?
No. Microsoft Publisher is not included with Office LTSC 2024. Microsoft says this is connected with Publisher’s planned retirement, after which it will no longer be supported from October 2026.
Users with important Publisher files should begin planning how those files will be archived, exported or recreated using alternatives such as Word, PowerPoint or specialist publishing software.
Does Office 2024 include Microsoft Teams?
Microsoft Teams is not preinstalled with Office LTSC 2024. Teams can be downloaded separately when it is required for workplace communication and collaboration.
Does Office 2024 include Copilot AI?
No. Office 2024 and Office LTSC 2024 do not include the integrated Copilot features available through qualifying Microsoft 365 subscriptions.
This distinction matters because many online Office 2024 articles incorrectly describe Copilot writing, AI spreadsheet analysis and automatic presentation generation as standard Office 2024 features. Those capabilities are associated with Microsoft 365 and eligible Copilot plans, not the fixed perpetual Office 2024 release.
Office 2024 versus Microsoft 365
| Feature | Office 2024 | Microsoft 365 |
|---|---|---|
| Payment model | Perpetual, non-subscription release | Monthly or annual subscription |
| Feature updates | Fixed feature set, with security and quality updates during support | Receives ongoing feature additions and improvements |
| Copilot | Not included | Available with qualifying plans and allowances |
| Cloud services | Not bundled in the same way as a Microsoft 365 plan | Plan-dependent cloud storage and connected services |
| Best suited to | Users wanting a fixed desktop Office release without a recurring subscription | Users wanting continuous updates, cloud services and subscription features |
Who is Office 2024 Professional Plus suited to?
Office 2024 Professional Plus may suit:
- Users who prefer a perpetual Office release instead of a recurring subscription
- Businesses requiring the core desktop Office applications on compatible Windows devices
- Users who need Access as part of the Professional Plus edition
- Organisations that prefer a fixed feature set rather than frequent feature changes
- Customers who do not require Microsoft 365 Copilot or continuously updated cloud features
It may be less suitable for users who need bundled cloud storage, multi-device subscription benefits, continuous new features, advanced Microsoft 365 collaboration or integrated Copilot tools.
Is Office 2024 worth upgrading to?
Office 2024 is a sensible upgrade for users who want a newer perpetual Office release, longer remaining support and the documented application improvements described above.
The value of upgrading depends on the current Office version and the features actually needed. A user who mainly creates ordinary Word documents may notice fewer practical changes than somebody who relies on Excel’s newer text and array functions or PowerPoint’s recording tools.
Users comparing Office 2024 with Office 2021 should also consider support dates, Publisher requirements and operating-system compatibility before deciding.
For a detailed comparison, read our Office 2024 vs Office 2021 guide.
Frequently asked questions
Is Office 2024 a subscription?
No. Office 2024 is a perpetual, non-subscription release. The exact installation, activation and device rights depend on the specific product and licence supplied.
Does Office 2024 receive new features after purchase?
Office LTSC 2024 has a fixed feature set. It receives applicable security and quality updates during its support period, but it does not receive the continuous stream of new features supplied to Microsoft 365 Apps.
Does Office 2024 include Word, Excel and PowerPoint?
Yes. Word, Excel and PowerPoint are included in Office 2024 editions. The complete application list depends on the edition purchased.
Does Office 2024 Professional Plus include Access?
Yes. Microsoft lists Access as part of Office LTSC Professional Plus 2024 for Windows.
Does Office 2024 include Publisher?
No. Publisher is not included with Office LTSC 2024 and Microsoft is retiring Publisher in October 2026.
Does Office 2024 include Teams?
No. Teams is not preinstalled with Office LTSC 2024, although it can be downloaded separately.
Does Office 2024 include Copilot?
No. Integrated Copilot features are associated with qualifying Microsoft 365 plans and are not included with the perpetual Office 2024 release.
Can Office 2024 work without a constant internet connection?
The desktop applications can be used locally after installation and activation, although internet access may still be required for activation, updates, connected services and some account-dependent features.
Review Office 2024 Professional Plus
Ready to review the applications, compatibility and licence information? Visit the Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus product page.
