January 5, 2026
Click-to-Run? Click-to-drama!
Why Microsoft Store Discontinued Support for Office Apps
Microsoft drops Store Office for a streaming install — confusion, cynicism, and a callout
TLDR: Microsoft is ending updates for Office installed from the Microsoft Store and wants users on the faster Click‑to‑Run version. Commenters split between confusion and “Microsoft doesn’t trust its own Store,” while IT pros shrug it’s already standard—and a racist remark got promptly called out.
Microsoft is phasing out the Microsoft Store version of Office and steering everyone to its “Click‑to‑Run” setup — think Netflix-style install that streams what you need. Starting October 2025 there’ll be no new features on the Store edition, and security fixes stop December 2026, per Microsoft’s announcement. The upgrade path? Use Microsoft’s 365 Apps installer to swap versions if you’ve got a license. Easy in theory. In the comments, though, the mood is anything but chill. The hottest take: “Even Microsoft doesn’t believe in the Microsoft Store.” That stung — especially with Windows 10 nearing sunset and old apps like Publisher getting shelved, fueling a “Microsoft consolidates, users cope” narrative. One crowd is baffled — “I read this and still don’t know why” — while IT folks shrug, noting Click‑to‑Run is already the default in corporate tools like Intune (Microsoft’s device manager for companies) and wishing Apple had something similar on Mac. Then the thread swerved: a user lobbed a slur, and the room went cold. Others immediately called it out, turning a tech gripe into a teachable moment about toxic culture online. Jokes flew too: “Store so empty even Microsoft left,” and “Click‑to‑Run? More like click‑to‑escape.” The verdict: consolidation makes sense, but the trust issues (and tempers) are very, very real.
Key Points
- •Microsoft will end support for Microsoft Store-installed Office 365 apps, halting feature updates in October 2025 and security fixes in December 2026.
- •Microsoft will focus maintenance on Click-to-Run versions of Office, consolidating to a single distribution method.
- •Users can check their installation type in Word or Excel under File > Account > About and must upgrade to Click-to-Run to continue receiving updates.
- •The 365 Apps installer can automatically migrate users from the Microsoft Store version to Click-to-Run, requiring a valid Office 365 license.
- •Microsoft Publisher was discontinued in 2025; Microsoft recommends Word, PowerPoint, Designer, and Microsoft Create as alternatives.