Microsoft Word: Retirement of legacy compatibility settings

Microsoft Word will retire legacy compatibility settings for documents in Compatibility Mode starting December 2026 (Windows) and early 2027 (Mac). This may cause layout changes in older documents. No action is required, but review important documents if exact layout is critical. What and Why: We are retiring a set of compatibility options in Microsoft Word (desktop app) for documents in Compatibility Mode. These settings help preserve how documents were laid out in older versions of Word. We are introducing this change in phases to simplify how Word handles document layout and provide a more consistent experience across platforms. Learn more. Rollout schedule: Word for Windows starting December 2026; Word for Mac starting early 2027. Rollout Schedule: We will begin rolling out on early December 2026 and expect to complete by late December 2026. General Availability (GCC): We will begin rolling out on late December 2026 and expect to complete by early January 2027. General Availability (GCC High): We will begin rolling out on late December 2026 and expect to complete by early January 2027. General Availability (DoD): We will begin rolling out on late December 2026 and expect to complete by early January 2027. Impact on Your Organization: Who is affected: Organizations with documents created or last saved in Word 2010 or earlier that use the affected legacy compatibility settings. Platforms and services: Microsoft Word. What will happen: Some legacy compatibility options will be retired. Affected documents may show layout differences, such as text reflow, changes in spacing or page count, or images and shapes moving to another page. Action Required/Recommendations: No action is required for the change to take effect. If exact page layout matters for your organization, consider reviewing important older documents before the change reaches your users. To preserve a copy of a document’s current appearance, consider exporting it to PDF before the change. Compliance considerations: No compliance considerations identified. Review as appropriate for your organization. Message ID: MC1551147

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