Does Microsoft Access and Office Pro Plus Still Have a Future? – A Fact-Based Look Beyond the Rumors

Does Microsoft Access and Office Pro Plus Still Have a Future? – A Fact-Based Look Beyond the Rumors

Introduction – Why These Questions Matter Now 
Many of our customers – both private users and businesses – are currently asking: 
“Is Microsoft Access being discontinued?” 
“Is it still worth buying Office Professional Plus?” 

The background: Microsoft is increasingly focusing on cloud-based solutions like Microsoft 365 and promoting modern platforms such as Power Apps. At the same time, the traditional “Office” brand was officially retired in 2023. It's no surprise that this has caused some uncertainty. 

In this article, we’ll separate fact from fiction and explain why Access and Office Pro Plus will continue to play an important role in 2025 and beyond – especially for businesses with their own IT infrastructure. 

 

🛒 Explore Now: Our Microsoft Products in the Shop 

  • Office 2021 Professional Plus (incl. Access)
    The classic Office suite with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access. Ideal for businesses and individual users who prefer a perpetual license without a subscription. Fully functional locally – no cloud required.
  • Office 2024 Professional Plus (incl. Access)
    The latest version of the perpetual Office license with long-term support until 2029. Includes all familiar apps and security updates – perfect for businesses seeking a stable, long-term solution without a Microsoft 365 subscription.
  • Microsoft 365 Business Standard
    The flexible, cloud-based solution for businesses – includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, and more. Ideal for modern workplaces with online collaboration, AI features, and regular updates.
  • Microsoft Access
    The trusted database application, ideal for managing large data sets and building custom business apps. Perfect for companies working with structured data – usable locally or integrated with cloud services.

 

Microsoft Access: Often declared dead, but still alive 

For years, rumors have circulated that Microsoft Access might be discontinued. In fact, Microsoft Access has received little marketing attention lately – but that doesn’t mean it’s being abandoned. 
On the contrary: In several official Q&A sessions and support documents, Microsoft has made it clear: 
“There is no planned end of support for Microsoft Access.” 

Access continues to be part of many Microsoft 365 subscriptions – including Microsoft 365 Business Premium, Apps for Business, and Enterprise E3 and E5. It is also included in the current perpetual license version Office 2024 Professional Plus. Long-term support is guaranteed until at least October 2029. 

While Access is no longer being developed as dynamically as Excel or Word, it still receives regular updates and bug fixes. Especially noteworthy is the integration with the Power Platform – for example, through the Dataverse Connector, which allows Access data to be transferred to the cloud and used in Power Apps. 

Despite all the speculation, the facts are clear: Microsoft Access continues to be supported and developed. 
• Access is included in Office 2021 Professional Plus and the new Office 2024 Professional Plus. 
• Many Microsoft 365 Business subscriptions also include Access – ideal for hybrid environments. 
• Microsoft has confirmed support for Access 2024 until at least October 2029. 

🔍 Product Tip: 
Office 2024 Professional Plus – The ideal perpetual license without cloud dependency. Includes Access, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook & more. 

 

Office Professional Plus: Far from obsolete 

Office Professional Plus – the classic perpetual license without subscription – is also here to stay, despite Microsoft’s strategic focus on the cloud. In fall 2024, Microsoft released the latest version: Office LTSC 2024, with 5 years of product support guaranteed until 2029. 

Most importantly, Microsoft has explicitly announced that more perpetual Office licenses are planned beyond 2024. This is a clear rejection of all rumors suggesting that Office would be entirely moved to a cloud-based model. 
“We know that many customers still need Office without a subscription. That’s why there will be new Office versions in the future.” 
– Microsoft Blog, 2023 

This means Office Pro Plus remains a reliable solution for businesses, public institutions, and individual users who cannot or do not want to use a cloud-based solution. 
With Office 2021 Professional Plus or the new Office 2024 Professional Plus, you get a one-time license – no monthly fees, no cloud requirement. 

 

Why do these rumors exist in the first place? 

The confusion mainly stems from the following developments: 

  • Rebranding: In 2023, Microsoft officially announced that the "Office" brand would be phased out and replaced by "Microsoft 365." Products like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint still exist—just under a new umbrella. 
  • Focus on Microsoft 365: New features (e.g., Microsoft Copilot) are released first—or exclusively—for the cloud-based versions. 
  • Increased promotion of Power Apps: Microsoft is increasingly positioning the Power Platform as a modern alternative for custom business applications—a space previously often served by Access. 

These changes lead traditional Office users to believe that Microsoft Access and Pro Plus may soon disappear—but there’s no solid evidence to support that claim. 

 

Access vs. Power Apps: Competitor or Successor? 

Microsoft emphasizes that Access continues to be supported, but Power Apps is recommended for new solutions—especially when web or mobile access is desired. Power Apps is part of the Power Platform and enables the creation of custom business applications with little code—even directly within Microsoft Teams or as a mobile app. 

Access, on the other hand, remains ideal for local, database-based applications—for example, in public administration, small and medium-sized businesses, or specialized enterprise processes. Thanks to the introduction of the Dataverse connector, Access data can now be combined with the Power Platform—not replaced. 

Power Apps is particularly suited for new scenarios: 

  • Mobile applications 
  • Web interfaces 
  • Integration with Microsoft Teams 

💡 Good to know: With the Dataverse connector, Access data can easily be moved to the cloud and reused there—e.g., in Power Apps or Dynamics 365. 

 

What Are Power Apps – and Why Is Microsoft Talking About Them So Much? 

Power Apps are part of the Microsoft Power Platform and allow businesses and advanced users to create their own custom business applications – without traditional programming. 

Instead of writing complex code, users can design apps using drag-and-drop interfaces that run directly in Microsoft Teams, in the browser, or on a smartphone. They're ideal for digitizing internal processes, such as: 

  • Forms for vacation requests or time tracking 
  • Data queries with real-time evaluations 
  • Automated approval workflows 
  • Mobile apps to access data on the go 

🔍 The big advantage for businesses: 
Power Apps can be connected directly to Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Dataverse, SQL Server, Dynamics 365, or even Microsoft Access. For example, if you want to bring existing Access databases to the cloud, you can integrate them into Power Apps via a Dataverse connector – and build modern applications on top. 

🧠 Power Apps at a glance: 

  • Low-code platform for app development 
  • Works on desktop, tablet, and smartphone 
  • Integrated into Microsoft 365 & Teams 
  • Supports over 500 data sources 
  • Ideal for digitizing internal processes 
  • Requires no traditional programming knowledge 

 

Planning for the Future: What Should Businesses and Private Users Do Now? 

For businesses: 

  • Using Access databases? You can continue to use them productively, but you should start getting familiar with cloud interfaces like Power Platform for the long term. 

For private users: 

 

Conclusion: No Need to Panic – But Stay Open to New Developments 

Neither Microsoft Access nor Office Pro Plus is “dead.” Microsoft is clearly committed to continuing both products – with new versions, support periods until 2029, and ongoing technical maintenance. 
If you’re working with Access or using Office without a subscription, you can continue doing so in the future – with confidence. 

But: Microsoft is clearly focusing its innovation efforts on the cloud – on Microsoft 365, Power Platform, and AI-powered tools like Copilot. 
If you want to stay up to date, you should keep an eye on these developments and start getting familiar with alternatives like Power Apps, Dataverse, or Microsoft Lists sooner rather than later. 

👉 Still have questions? Our team is happy to help you find the right key – whether for individual workstations or complete business solutions.