Office Online Server will no longer receive support from the end of this year.
Microsoft will discontinue Office Online Server (OOS) on December 31, 2026, the on-premise version of its web-based Office apps. After that date, the company will stop providing security updates, bug fixes and technical support, which particularly challenges businesses with local infrastructure.
Focus on the Cloud
Office Online Server provided browser versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote for organizations that wanted to keep their documents internal without needing the desktop suites. Microsoft says it is now “focusing its investments on Office for the Web within Microsoft 365, to provide secure and collaborative experiences.” In other words: the future lies in the cloud.
Few alternatives
Companies still working with SharePoint Server SE or Exchange Server SE lose their integration with OOS due to this decision. Microsoft refers them to Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise or Office LTSC 2024 to view and edit documents.
For Skype for Business Server users, a range of features also disappears. PowerPoint notes, annotations during meetings and embedded video support will be lost, although whiteboards, polls and app sharing will continue to work. Microsoft refers those users to Teams, writes The Register.