How do I upgrade WorkSpaces to the latest version of Microsoft Office?

Resolution

After October 10, 2023, Microsoft no longer supports connectivity to Microsoft 365 through Microsoft Office 2016 or 2019. If your AWS account uses Microsoft Office 2016 or 2019, then you must upgrade to access the features of Microsoft 365. It's a best practice to upgrade to Microsoft Office 2021. To learn more, see Office versions and connectivity to Microsoft 365 services on the Microsoft website.

Note: Make sure that you upgrade to a supported application and operating system (OS) combination in WorkSpaces.

Upgrade your Microsoft Office based on your Windows Server OS version.

Upgrade your Windows Server 2016 WorkSpaces

For WorkSpaces with Windows Server 2016, you can't use the WorkSpaces console to upgrade your Microsoft Office bundle. You can only uninstall the existing Microsoft Office bundle. To upgrade your Microsoft Office version, first, migrate your existing Windows Server 2016 to Windows Server 2019 or Windows Server 2022.

Important: Before you migrate your WorkSpace, save a copy of important data from your root volume (C drive). During migration, WorkSpaces deletes all data on the root volume and keeps only the data on the user volume (drive D).

After you migrate to Windows Server 2019 or Windows Server 2022, complete the steps in to upgrade to Microsoft Office 2021.

Note: If you have multiple WorkSpaces that run on Windows Server 2016, then upgrade only one WorkSpace to Windows Server 2019 or Windows Server 2022. Then, upgrade that WorkSpace to Microsoft Office 2021. Finally, complete the steps in Upgrade your Microsoft Office on multiple WorkSpaces that run on Windows Server 2016.

Upgrade your Windows Server 2019 or Windows Server 2022 WorkSpaces to Microsoft Office 2021

Complete the following steps:

1. Open the WorkSpaces console.
2. In the navigation pane, choose WorkSpaces Personal.
3. Select your WorkSpace.
4. Under Applications, choose Manage applications.
5. Under Current applications, select your existing Microsoft Office bundle. Then, choose Disassociate.
   The bundle's status is now Pending uninstall deployment.
6. Under Choose applications, select Microsoft Office 2021. Then, choose Associate.
   The bundle's status is now Pending install deployment.
7. Choose Deploy applications.
8. Under Update applications, for To confirm these updates, enter confirm, and then choose Deploy applications.

Note: You can't access WorkSpaces when the applications are being installed or uninstalled.

When the installation is completed, the status for the updated Microsoft Office version changes to Installed.

Note: After you install or uninstall an application bundle on WorkSpaces, the actions to restore, rebuild, or migrate a WorkSpace might affect existing configurations.

Upgrade your Microsoft Office on multiple WorkSpaces that run on Windows Server 2016

Complete the following steps:

1. Open the WorkSpaces console.
2. In the navigation pane, choose WorkSpaces Personal.
3. Select the WorkSpace that you upgraded to Microsoft Office 2021.
4. Create a custom image of the WorkSpace.
5. Update the existing bundle with the custom image. Then, rebuild each Windows Server 2016 WorkSpace.
   Or, create a new custom bundle with the new image, and then migrate each Windows Server 2016 WorkSpace to the new bundle.

Related information

Manage applications in WorkSpaces Personal