Microsoft will end support for Office 2008 for Mac on April 9, according to an official blog post. After that deadline, the company will no longer release any new updates for the software. People will, however, be able to download existing updates until April 19. It’s unknown if Microsoft will post one final patch before the 9th.
Microsoft’s last-minute reprieve of Office for Mac 2004 was a one-time deal, as the MacBU made plain at the time. “This extension does not change the five-year support policy for other Office for Mac products, including future versions,” a senior product manager said then.
Microsoft extended support for Office for Mac 2004 to allow its users, many of whom relied on Visual Basic-based macros, time to migrate to the impending Office for Mac 2011, which launched in October 2010. Office for Mac 2008 dropped support for Visual Basic macros, but that support was restored in Office for Mac 2011.
The last major update of Office for Mac was the 2011 version. Mac owners can either buy a copy of that, or pay for an Office 365 subscription, which currently includes Office 2011. Office 365 subscriptions also covers any future Office upgrades so long as a agreement remains active.
Please note you, have less than three more years before Office for Mac 2011 falls off Microsoft’s support list in January 2016.
