Can Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2013 Be Upgraded to Office 2019?
Question details
The user wants to know if there is an automatic or discounted upgrade path from an existing Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2013 license to Office 2019.
- Product
- Microsoft Office
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Looking to upgrade an older perpetual Office license purchased through the Home Use Program to a newer version.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft Office perpetual licenses are sold as full standalone versions and do not inherently include free upgrade rights to newer major releases.
Verify your current Microsoft Office 2013 license status and check if you still have access to the corporate email address originally used for the Home Use Program.
Purchase a New Office License or Microsoft 365 Subscription
Because perpetual Office licenses do not include upgrade rights, you must acquire a new license to use a newer version of Office.
Microsoft Office perpetual licenses (like Office 2013 or 2019) are considered one-time purchases and do not offer free or discounted upgrades to newer standalone versions. Each major release is a completely new full version.
Additionally, the Microsoft Home Use Program (now called the Workplace Discount Program) no longer offers discounted one-time purchases for Office Professional Plus bundles. Instead, eligible users can receive discounts on Microsoft 365 Family or Personal subscriptions.
Navigate to the Microsoft Workplace Discount Program (formerly HUP) website and enter your active corporate email address to see if your employer still participates.
If eligible, review the discounted rates for Microsoft 365 Personal or Family. Selecting a subscription model ensures you always receive the latest feature updates and version upgrades automatically.
If you prefer to avoid ongoing subscription fees, visit the Microsoft Store or an authorized retailer to purchase a brand new, one-time retail license for Office 2021 (the successor to Office 2019).
Upgrade Your Productivity for Free with WPS Office
If you are using an outdated version of Microsoft Office and want to avoid the high costs of purchasing a new perpetual license or committing to a recurring Microsoft 365 subscription, WPS Office is the perfect solution. It offers a powerful, modern, and completely free alternative that seamlessly handles all your daily document needs.
- 1. Download and install: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installer for your operating system.
- 2. Set as default application: During or after installation, choose to set WPS Office as your default program for opening Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files.
- 3. Open your existing files directly: Double-click any of your old Office 2013 documents to open them instantly in WPS Office without any format conversion required.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I still use my Office Professional Plus 2013 software?
Yes, your Office 2013 suite will continue to function normally on your computer. However, since it has reached its end of life, it will no longer receive bug fixes or critical security updates from Microsoft.
Why doesn't the Home Use Program offer Office Professional Plus anymore?
Microsoft transitioned the Home Use Program to the Workplace Discount Program, aligning with their shift toward cloud-based subscription models. The program now focuses exclusively on providing employee discounts for Microsoft 365 subscriptions.
Is an Office update the same thing as an upgrade?
No. Updates are regular patches that provide security fixes and minor improvements to your current version (e.g., Office 2013). Upgrades involve moving from an older software version to a completely new major release (e.g., jumping from Office 2013 to Office 2019), which requires a new purchase.
