Microsoft will officially end support for Project 2016 and Project 2019 on October 14, 2025, marking the end of security updates, bug fixes, and compatibility patches for these older versions. Once support ends, users running these editions will face increasing security vulnerabilities, performance issues, and Windows 11 compatibility limitations.

To stay protected and ensure smooth project management workflows, Microsoft strongly recommends upgrading to Project 2024 LTSC Professional or Project 2024 Professional (Non-LTSC)—the latest and most secure versions aligned with Office 2024. Pairing the upgrade with Windows 11 ensures optimal performance, long-term support, and full integration with modern Microsoft ecosystem tools.

What Does End of Support Mean for Project 2016 & 2019?

When Microsoft announces End of Support (EOS) for a product, it means the software will no longer receive critical maintenance or security protections. After this date, the product becomes increasingly unsafe and incompatible with modern systems. Once Project 2016 and Project 2019 reach end of support on October 14, 2025, Microsoft will stop providing:

• Security updates to protect against new threats

• Bug fixes and performance patches to maintain stability

• Compatibility updates for newer apps, formats, and operating systems

• Official technical support from Microsoft

Although you can technically continue to use these versions after the 2025 EOS deadline, doing so introduces significant risks. Without ongoing updates, Project 2016 and 2019 become vulnerable to cybersecurity threats, malware, and data loss—especially in business environments.

You will also face growing compatibility issues with modern Microsoft platforms such as Windows 11, Office 2024, SharePoint, OneDrive, and collaboration tools. Many workflows, cloud services, and integrations will no longer function properly on outdated Project versions.

For long-term security, performance, and reliability, upgrading to Microsoft Project 2024 LTSC Professional or Project 2024 Professional (Non-LTSC) is the recommended path. These versions deliver full support, Windows 11 optimization, and enhanced performance—ensuring your project management tools remain secure and future-ready.

Why You Shouldn’t Keep Using Project 2016 or 2019 After the 2025 End-of-Support Deadline

When Project 2016 and Project 2019 reach End of Support on October 14, 2025, continuing to use these outdated versions becomes risky for individuals and especially for businesses. Here’s why upgrading to Project 2024 LTSC or Project 2024 Professional is essential.

1. Major Security Risks (Cybersecurity Threats Increase Dramatically)

Once support ends, Microsoft stops releasing security updates, leaving older Project versions wide open to cyberattacks. Unsupported software is one of the most common entry points for: Malware & ransomware, Data breaches, Unauthorized access, Corrupted project files

With the rise of AI-powered cyber threats, running outdated Microsoft software becomes even more dangerous. Staying on Project 2016 or 2019 means you no longer benefit from Microsoft’s security patches and threat intelligence.

Upgrading to a supported version ensures full protection, especially when paired with Windows 11 and updated antivirus solutions.

2. Loss of Compatibility with Windows 11, Office 2024 & Microsoft 365

New Microsoft technologies—including Office 2024, Windows 11, and cloud services like Teams, SharePoint, and OneDrive—are optimized for Project 2024 LTSC, not older releases.

If you continue using Project 2016/2019 after 2025, you may experience: File formatting issues, Sync failures with Teams or SharePoint, Add-ins or plugins not working, Crashes or performance slowdowns, Missing integration with cloud-based tools

In modern environments, seamless compatibility is essential for project tracking, reporting, and collaboration.

3. Reduced Productivity with Older Tools (No AI, No Cloud, No Modern Features)

Project 2016 and 2019 lack the advanced productivity tools included in Project 2024, such as: AI-powered scheduling & resource recommendations, Modern reporting dashboards, Enhanced timeline and Gantt chart features, Cloud-syncing for real-time collaboration, Faster performance on Windows 11 hardware

Outdated software slows teams down and makes project planning more manual and error-prone. In contrast, Project 2024 helps teams work smarter—not harder—thanks to automation, improved insights, and cloud capabilities.

4. Compliance & Regulatory Concerns (Audit Failures & Policy Violations)

Organizations in regulated industries—such as finance, healthcare, engineering, and government—must meet strict IT security, compliance, and audit requirements. Running unsupported software may result in: Failing security audits, Violating industry regulations, Increased liability and legal risks, Loss of certifications or contracts

Upgrading to a supported version ensures your systems remain compliant with modern security standards, privacy policies, and corporate governance requirements.

Key Features of Project 2024 

Upgrading from Microsoft Project 2016 or Project 2019 to Project 2024 gives organizations a newer supported desktop project-management platform while avoiding the support limitations of older releases. Both Project 2016 and Project 2019 reached the end of support on October 14, 2025, so organizations still using these versions should consider moving to a supported Project release or an appropriate subscription-based service.

Project 2024 is available in Professional and Standard editions, with Project 2024 also serving as the current volume-licensed desktop generation. Microsoft describes Project and Visio 2024 as the latest volume-licensed versions, with no regular feature updates in the LTSC model.

1. Advanced Project Planning and Scheduling

Microsoft Project 2024 provides comprehensive tools for building detailed project schedules and managing dependencies between tasks. Project managers can create tasks, define durations, establish task relationships, assign resources, and monitor the overall project timeline.

The scheduling environment makes it possible to organize complex projects into structured task hierarchies and identify the relationships that determine when individual activities can begin or finish.

This is especially useful for construction projects, software development, engineering projects, business operations, product launches, and organizational planning.

2. Gantt Chart and Timeline-Based Project Management

The Gantt Chart remains one of the central tools in Microsoft Project for visualizing project schedules. It provides a timeline-based view of tasks, durations, dependencies, milestones, and project progress.

Project managers can use Gantt charts to:

• Track task durations
• Identify project milestones
• Monitor task dependencies
• Review schedule progress
• Identify overlapping activities
• Communicate project timelines

The Timeline view can also provide a simplified visual summary of important project tasks and milestones.

3. Advanced Resource Management

Project 2024 provides tools for assigning resources to project tasks and monitoring resource utilization. Resources can include employees, equipment, materials, and other project requirements.

Resource planning helps project managers identify workloads, avoid excessive resource allocation, and understand how individual resources contribute to the overall project schedule.

This makes Project particularly useful when several projects depend on the same employees or organizational resources.

4. Task Dependencies and Project Scheduling

A major strength of Microsoft Project is its ability to create relationships between project tasks. Task dependencies help establish the correct sequence of activities and allow changes to one task to affect related tasks within the schedule.

Project managers can create relationships such as:

• Finish-to-Start
• Start-to-Start
• Finish-to-Finish
• Start-to-Finish

Using dependencies instead of manually entering every date can make schedules easier to maintain when project requirements change.

5. Professional Reporting and Project Analysis

Project provides reporting capabilities that help project managers examine schedule progress, resource allocation, costs, and other project information.

Users can organize project information into views and reports to better understand the current state of a project and communicate important information to stakeholders.

Project reporting is useful for project status reviews, management meetings, resource planning, budget monitoring, and project documentation.

6. Team Planner and Resource Workload Management

For resource-focused project management, the Team Planner view can help users examine assigned work and identify scheduling conflicts or resource-related issues.

This can be particularly valuable for project managers coordinating teams across multiple tasks. By reviewing assignments and workloads, managers can make informed scheduling adjustments before resource conflicts affect project delivery.

7. Modern Project Management Workflow

Project 2024 provides a familiar Microsoft Office-style environment for creating and managing professional project schedules. Users who are already familiar with Word, Excel, or other Microsoft Office applications can transition to Project's Ribbon-based interface more easily.

The application also supports a wide range of views and navigation tools, allowing project managers to switch between detailed task information, resource information, timelines, and other project-management perspectives.

8. Project 2024 and Modern Microsoft Environments

Project 2024 is designed as a current desktop generation of Microsoft Project, making it a relevant option for organizations replacing older Project 2016 and Project 2019 installations.

However, features such as cloud collaboration, online project management, and Microsoft 365 integration can depend on the specific Project product, licensing model, and Microsoft service being used. Therefore, organizations should distinguish between the Project 2024 desktop application and Microsoft's subscription-based Project services before planning a deployment.

Microsoft Project 2024 Commands and Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard shortcuts can make project planning faster by reducing the need to navigate through menus. Microsoft provides keyboard shortcuts that apply to Project Professional 2024 and Project Standard 2024, as well as several earlier Project versions.

Basic Project Commands

To create a new project, press Ctrl + N.

To open an existing Project file, press Ctrl + O. You can also use Ctrl + F12 to open the project file dialog.

To save your project, press Ctrl + S.

To close the Project application, press Alt + F4.

These commands are useful for everyday project-file management.

Task Editing Commands

Press F2 to activate the entry bar and edit text in a selected project field.

Use Shift + F2 to display task, resource, or assignment information for the selected item.

The F3 key can be used to display filtered tasks or resources, while Alt + F3 opens Field Settings.

These commands can help project managers edit schedule information without repeatedly navigating through menus.

Project Outline Commands

Project schedules often contain summary tasks and subtasks. Keyboard commands can make it easier to organize these task levels.

Use Alt + Shift + Right Arrow to indent a selected task.

Use Alt + Shift + Left Arrow to remove a task indent.

Use Alt + Shift + Up Arrow to move a selected task upward.

Use Alt + Shift + Down Arrow to move a selected task downward.

You can also use Alt + Shift + Plus Sign to show subtasks and Alt + Shift + Minus Sign to hide subtasks.

Selection and Navigation Commands

Use the Arrow Keys to navigate through fields and selections.

Press Page Up or Page Down to move through larger sections of a project sheet.

Use Ctrl + Home and Ctrl + End where supported to move quickly toward the beginning or end of a project data area.

These navigation shortcuts are particularly useful when working with large schedules containing hundreds or thousands of tasks.

Undo and Calculation Commands

Use Ctrl + Z to undo the previous action and Ctrl + Y to redo an action.

Project also provides a shortcut for switching Auto Calculate on or off: press Ctrl + F9.

Auto Calculate can be useful when managing complex project schedules where changes to tasks, resources, or dependencies require recalculation.

Timeline and Project View Commands

Microsoft Project includes several views for analyzing project information, including Gantt Chart, Timeline, Team Planner, Network Diagram, and other specialized views.

Keyboard navigation can help users move between project areas and work more efficiently without constantly switching between the mouse and Ribbon commands.

Network Diagram Commands

The Network Diagram provides a visual representation of task relationships and dependencies. It can help project managers understand the logical structure of a project and identify how individual activities connect to one another.

This view is particularly useful for complex schedules where understanding task relationships is more important than simply viewing dates in a Gantt chart.

Why You Should Pair Project 2024 With Windows 11

Upgrading to Windows 11 alongside Project 2024 delivers the best possible performance, security, and compatibility for modern project management. Running both together ensures that you are using Microsoft’s latest optimized ecosystem designed for hybrid work environments and future-ready productivity.

Here’s why Windows 11 is the ideal companion for Project 2024:

Advanced Security for Modern Threats (TPM 2.0 + Secure Boot)

Windows 11 includes enterprise-grade security features, including TPM 2.0, Secure Boot, hardware-based ransomware defenses, and stronger protection against emerging cyber threats. When combined with Project 2024, you get a secure, compliant, and stable project management environment—far superior to what older systems can offer.

Optimized Performance on Modern CPUs

Designed for next-gen processors, Windows 11 offers faster multitasking, improved memory handling, and efficient background processing. This results in smoother performance when running Project 2024’s AI scheduling, dashboards, and cloud features—capabilities that older operating systems struggle to support.

Improved Compatibility Across Microsoft’s Latest Ecosystem

Microsoft updates its apps—Office 2024, Teams, SharePoint, OneDrive, and Project 2024—for Windows 11 first. Using outdated versions of Windows can lead to sync issues, reduced functionality, and feature limitations. Running both Windows 11 and Project 2024 ensures seamless compatibility and access to all new features.

Productivity Features Built for Modern Workflows

Windows 11 includes several tools that directly enhance productivity when working with Project 2024, including: Snap Layouts & Snap Groups, Virtual desktops for multi-project management, Enhanced Teams integration, Improved touch, pen, and accessibility support

These workflow improvements make project planning, collaboration, and reporting far easier compared to older systems.

Preparing for the Upgrade: Step-by-Step Transition Checklist

To ensure a smooth transition from Project 2016 or 2019 to Project 2024, follow this upgrade checklist:

1. Check Your Current Setup

Inventory all users who still rely on Project 2016 or Project 2019, and determine which devices or departments need upgrading before the October 2025 end-of-support deadline.

2. Choose the Correct Edition of Project 2024

Match your Project version to your Office setup:

• Using Office 2024 (Non-LTSC)?
  → Choose Project 2024 Professional (Non-LTSC)

• Using Office 2024 LTSC?
  → Choose Project 2024 LTSC Professional

This ensures perfect compatibility and stable integration across your environment.

3. Ensure Device Compatibility With Windows 11

Verify your hardware meets Microsoft’s Windows 11 requirements: TPM 2.0, Secure Boot capable system, Supported processor, Sufficient RAM & storage.

Upgrading without checking compatibility may cause installation issues or reduced performance.

4. Train Users on Project 2024’s New Features

Prepare staff or teams by reviewing the latest AI tools, reporting dashboards, Teams integration, and cloud features. Proper training shortens the learning curve and boosts productivity from day one.

5. Set a Timeline & Avoid the 2025 Deadline Rush

Plan your upgrade in advance. Don’t wait until the October 2025 end-of-support date, when support lines and IT resources become crowded. Scheduling early ensures a smooth, stress-free transition.

Office 2019 End of Support in October 2025 – Your Official Upgrade Path

Office 2019 is approaching its end of support on October 14, 2025, meaning it will no longer receive security patches, bug fixes, or compatibility updates from Microsoft. To stay protected and maintain seamless performance across Microsoft’s modern ecosystem, the recommended upgrade is Office 2024—the latest long-term release designed to pair perfectly with Project 2024 and Windows 11.

Upgrading ensures your organization remains compliant, secure, and fully integrated with Microsoft’s newest collaboration and cloud features, something Office 2019 will no longer support after 2025.

Upgrade Path for Office 2019 Users (Choose the Right Edition)

Selecting the correct version of Office 2024 is essential for avoiding compatibility issues with Project 2024 and ensuring stable performance.

1. If You Choose Office 2024 (Non-LTSC) → Pair It With Project 2024 Professional (Non-LTSC)

The Non-LTSC version of Office 2024 is designed for users who want the newest features, regular improvements, and cloud-first updates. This edition integrates tightly with: Microsoft Teams, OneDrive and SharePoint, Modern collaboration tools, Microsoft Copilot (where available).

To maintain full compatibility, pair it with Project 2024 Professional (Non-LTSC).
This ensures: Synchronized updates, Seamless file compatibility, Shared cloud features, Unified user experience.

This pairing is ideal for businesses that want ongoing innovation and cloud connectivity.

2. If You Choose Office 2024 LTSC → Pair It With Project 2024 LTSC Professional

For organizations that prioritize stability, predictable updates, and long-term lifecycle support, the Office 2024 LTSC edition is the best option. LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) offers: No feature changes over time, Long-term stability, Fixed lifecycle support, Minimal update interruptions

To maintain technical consistency, pair this version with Project 2024 LTSC Professional.
This combination guarantees: A stable production environment, Maximum reliability for regulated industries, No disruptive UI or feature changes, Long-term security and support

This pairing is ideal for enterprise environments with strict IT governance.

Conclusion

With Project 2016 and Project 2019 reaching end of support on October 14, 2025, continuing to use these outdated versions exposes your projects, data, and organization to unnecessary security and compatibility risks. As Microsoft phases out older software, relying on unsupported tools becomes increasingly unsafe and inefficient.

Upgrading to Project 2024 paired with Windows 11 is the most reliable and future-proof solution. Whether you're managing personal tasks or overseeing large enterprise projects, the newest versions deliver stronger security, full compatibility with Microsoft’s modern ecosystem, and long-term stability.

Don’t wait until the 2025 deadline creates disruptions. Plan your upgrade now to stay protected, maintain peak performance, and take advantage of the latest productivity features.
Explore our Windows 11 and Project 2024 upgrade options to get started today.