Microsoft is removing some of the compatibility options for old documents in Word. For Word for Windows, the changeover begins in early December 2026, and on the Mac it follows in early 2027. Affected are files that were created or last saved in Word 2010 or earlier.
Microsoft expects that the layout of such files may change. You don't have to configure anything for this; the change takes effect on its own. You should therefore take a look at quotes, templates, and teaching materials from previous years beforehand.
What changes for old documents?
Word opens such files in compatibility mode. It preserves the layout of the old version and blocks newer features.
According to the message MC1551147 in the Microsoft 365 message center, text in affected documents may wrap differently, spacing and page count differ, and images or shapes shift to a different page. The message does not state which options exactly will be removed. Microsoft writes that you don't have to do anything, and recommends checking important older documents as soon as the exact page layout matters. You can preserve the current state with a PDF export, which Microsoft also advises.
When does the change come?
For Word on Windows, the rollout begins in early December 2026 and is supposed to be completed by the end of December. For Word for Mac, Microsoft only states the start in early 2027; an end date is missing. The Microsoft 365 environments for US government agencies (GCC, GCC High, DoD) follow from the end of December to early January.
The schedule for Word
According to Microsoft Message Center, message MC1551147 of November 13, 2026
- November 13, 2026Microsoft announces the change
- Early December 2026Word for Windows: rollout begins
- End of December 2026Word for Windows: rollout completed
- Early 2027Word for Mac: start, Microsoft does not state an end
Source: Microsoft 365 Message Center
The message is addressed to organizations. Microsoft does not say whether accounts that are not managed by a company or IT department follow the same schedule.
How do you recognize affected documents?
Word displays compatibility mode in the title bar after the file name. According to the Microsoft help, you can check it more precisely in the English interface under File, Info, Check for Issues, Check Compatibility and Select versions to show. A checkmark shows which mode applies to the document. The help page does not give the German menu names.
Documents from Word 2013 and newer are not affected. According to the Microsoft help, Word does not display compatibility mode for them.
What this means for you
Open important old documents once right now and note the page count. It is especially worth a look for contracts, quotes, and teaching materials with page references. Export a PDF copy before the changeover reaches you, then you have the previous state in black and white.
Only convert a document if you need the new features. The Convert command under File and Info deletes the compatibility options, so that the layout looks as in Word 2016. Via Save As, a copy is created if you deselect the checkbox Maintain compatibility with previous versions of Word; the original then remains unchanged. Microsoft points out that a converted document may only be editable to a limited extent with an older Word version.
Microsoft published the message on November 13, 2026.
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