Microsoft Word
Updated: 5/24/2026, 5:33:27 PM Wikipedia source
Microsoft Word, or simply Word, is a word processing program developed by Microsoft. It was first released on October 25, 1983, under the original name Multi-Tool Word for Xenix systems. Subsequent versions were later written for several other platforms including IBM PCs running DOS (1983), Apple Macintosh running the Classic Mac OS (1985), AT&T UNIX PC (1985), Atari ST (1988), OS/2 (1989), Microsoft Windows (1989), SCO Unix (1990), Handheld PC (1996), Pocket PC (2000), macOS (2001), Web browsers (2010), iOS (2014), and Android (2015). Microsoft Word has been the de facto standard word processing software since the 1990s when it eclipsed WordPerfect. Commercial versions of Word are licensed as a standalone product or as a component of Microsoft Office, which can be purchased with a perpetual license, as part of the Microsoft 365 suite as a subscription, or as a one-time purchase with Office 2024.
Infobox
Other names
Multi-Tool Word
Developer
Microsoft
Initial release
October 25, 1983 (1983-10-25)
Office 2024 (LTSC)
2408 (Build 17932 ) / 14 May 2026 (2026-05-14)
Office 2021 (LTSC)
2108 (Build 14334 ) / 14 May 2026 (2026-05-14)
Office 2019 (LTSC)
1808 (Build 10417 ) / 12 May 2026 (2026-05-12)
Office 2021-24 (Retail)
2605 (Build 20026 ) / 20 May 2026 (2026-05-20)
Office 2019 (Retail)
2509 (Build 19231 ) / 14 October 2025 (2025-10-14)
Windows
May 2026 Update (19 ) / May 18, 2026 (2026-05-18)
Android
16 (Build 19530 ) / December 10, 2025 (2025-12-10)
iOS
2 / May 14, 2026 (2026-05-14)
Written in
C (back-end), Objective-C (API/UI on Mac)
Operating system
Windows, macOS, Android, iOS (current versions)
Platform
IA-32, x86-64, Arm, Arm64
Predecessor
Multi-Tool Word or WordPad
Type
Word processor
License
Trialware
Website
microsoft /en-us/microsoft-365/word
Tables
Microsoft Word for Windows release history · Release history
Word for Windows 1
Word for Windows 1
Year released
1989
Name
Word for Windows 1
Version
Unsupported: 1
Comments
Code-named Opus
Word for Windows 1
Word for Windows 1
Year released
1990
Name
Word for Windows 1
Version
Unsupported: 1
Comments
For Windows 3 . Code-named Bill the Cat
Word for Windows 1
Word for Windows 1
Year released
1990
Name
Word for Windows 1
Version
Unsupported: 1
Comments
On March 25, 2014, Microsoft made the source code to Word for Windows 1 available to the public via the Computer History Museum.
Word for Windows 2
Word for Windows 2
Year released
1991
Name
Word for Windows 2
Version
Unsupported: 2
Comments
Included in Office 3 .
Word for Windows 6
Word for Windows 6
Year released
1993
Name
Word for Windows 6
Version
Unsupported: 6
Comments
Version numbers 3, 4, and 5 were skipped, to bring Windows version numbering in line with that of DOS, Mac OS, and WordPerfect (the main competing word processor at the time). Also, a 32-bit version for Windows NT only. Included in Office 4 , 4 , and 4 .
Word for Windows 95
Word for Windows 95
Year released
1995
Name
Word for Windows 95
Version
Unsupported: 7
Comments
Included in Office 95
Word 97
Word 97
Year released
1997
Name
Word 97
Version
Unsupported: 8
Comments
Included in Office 97
Word 98
Word 98
Year released
1998
Name
Word 98
Version
Unsupported: 8
Comments
Included in Office 97
Word 2000
Word 2000
Year released
1999
Name
Word 2000
Version
Unsupported: 9
Comments
Included in Office 2000
Word 2002
Word 2002
Year released
2001
Name
Word 2002
Version
Unsupported: 10
Comments
Included in Office XP
Office Word 2003
Office Word 2003
Year released
2003
Name
Office Word 2003
Version
Unsupported: 11
Comments
Included in Office 2003
Office Word 2007
Office Word 2007
Year released
2006
Name
Office Word 2007
Version
Unsupported: 12
Comments
Included in Office 2007; released to businesses on November 30, 2006, released worldwide to consumers on January 30, 2007. Extended support until October 10, 2017.
Word 2010
Word 2010
Year released
2010
Name
Word 2010
Version
Unsupported: 14
Comments
Included in Office 2010; skipped 13 due to triskaidekaphobia.
Word 2013
Word 2013
Year released
2013
Name
Word 2013
Version
Unsupported: 15
Comments
Included in Office 2013
Word 2016
Word 2016
Year released
2016
Name
Word 2016
Version
Unsupported: 16
Comments
Included in Office 2016
Word 2019
Word 2019
Year released
2019
Name
Word 2019
Version
Unsupported: 16
Comments
Included in Microsoft Office 2019
Word 2021
Word 2021
Year released
2021
Name
Word 2021
Version
Supported: 16
Comments
Included in Microsoft Office 2021
Word 2024
Word 2024
Year released
2024
Name
Word 2024
Version
Latest version: 16
Comments
Included in Microsoft Office 2024
| Year released | Name | Version | Comments |
| 1989 | Word for Windows 1 | Unsupported: 1 | Code-named Opus |
| 1990 | Word for Windows 1 | Unsupported: 1 | For Windows 3 . Code-named Bill the Cat |
| 1990 | Word for Windows 1 | Unsupported: 1 | On March 25, 2014, Microsoft made the source code to Word for Windows 1 available to the public via the Computer History Museum. |
| 1991 | Word for Windows 2 | Unsupported: 2 | Included in Office 3 . |
| 1993 | Word for Windows 6 | Unsupported: 6 | Version numbers 3, 4, and 5 were skipped, to bring Windows version numbering in line with that of DOS, Mac OS, and WordPerfect (the main competing word processor at the time). Also, a 32-bit version for Windows NT only. Included in Office 4 , 4 , and 4 . |
| 1995 | Word for Windows 95 | Unsupported: 7 | Included in Office 95 |
| 1997 | Word 97 | Unsupported: 8 | Included in Office 97 |
| 1998 | Word 98 | Unsupported: 8 | Included in Office 97 |
| 1999 | Word 2000 | Unsupported: 9 | Included in Office 2000 |
| 2001 | Word 2002 | Unsupported: 10 | Included in Office XP |
| 2003 | Office Word 2003 | Unsupported: 11 | Included in Office 2003 |
| 2006 | Office Word 2007 | Unsupported: 12 | Included in Office 2007; released to businesses on November 30, 2006, released worldwide to consumers on January 30, 2007. Extended support until October 10, 2017. |
| 2010 | Word 2010 | Unsupported: 14 | Included in Office 2010; skipped 13 due to triskaidekaphobia. |
| 2013 | Word 2013 | Unsupported: 15 | Included in Office 2013 |
| 2016 | Word 2016 | Unsupported: 16 | Included in Office 2016 |
| 2019 | Word 2019 | Unsupported: 16 | Included in Microsoft Office 2019 |
| 2021 | Word 2021 | Supported: 16 | Included in Microsoft Office 2021 |
| 2024 | Word 2024 | Latest version: 16 | Included in Microsoft Office 2024 |
Microsoft Word for classic Mac OS and macOS release history · Release history
Word 1
Word 1
Year released
1985
Name
Word 1
Version
Unsupported: 1
Word 3
Word 3
Year released
1987
Name
Word 3
Version
Unsupported: 3
Word 4
Word 4
Year released
1989
Name
Word 4
Version
Unsupported: 4
Comments
Part of Office 1 and 1
Word 5
Word 5
Year released
1991
Name
Word 5
Version
Unsupported: 5
Comments
Part of Office 3 Requires System 6 , 512 KB of RAM (1 MB for 5 , 2 MB to use spell check and thesaurus), 6 MB available hard drive space
Word 5
Word 5
Year released
1992
Name
Word 5
Version
Unsupported: 5
Comments
Part of Office 3 Last version to support 68000-based Macs
Word 6
Word 6
Year released
1993
Name
Word 6
Version
Unsupported: 6
Comments
Part of Office 4 Shares code and user interface with Word for Windows 6
Requires System 7 , 4 MB of RAM (8 MB recommended), at least 10 MB available hard drive space, 68020 CPU
Word 98
Word 98
Year released
1998
Name
Word 98
Version
Unsupported: 8
Comments
Part of Office 98 Macintosh Edition
Requires PowerPC-based Macintosh
Renumbered alongside contemporary Windows version
Word 2001
Word 2001
Year released
2000
Name
Word 2001
Version
Unsupported: 9
Comments
Part of Microsoft Office 2001
Word 2001 is the last version that is compatible with Classic Mac OS (Mac OS 9 or earlier)
Word v. X
Word v. X
Year released
2001
Name
Word v. X
Version
Unsupported: 10
Comments
Part of Office v. X
First version for Mac OS X only
Word 2004
Word 2004
Year released
2004
Name
Word 2004
Version
Unsupported: 11
Comments
Part of Office 2004
Word 2008
Word 2008
Year released
2008
Name
Word 2008
Version
Unsupported: 12
Comments
Part of Office 2008
Word 2011
Word 2011
Year released
2010
Name
Word 2011
Version
Unsupported: 14
Comments
Part of Office 2011; skipped 13 due to triskaidekaphobia.
Word 2016
Word 2016
Year released
2015
Name
Word 2016
Version
Unsupported: 16
Comments
Part of Office 2016; skipped 15
Word 2019
Word 2019
Year released
2019
Name
Word 2019
Version
Unsupported: 17
Comments
Included in Microsoft Office 2019
Word 2021
Word 2021
Year released
2021
Name
Word 2021
Version
Supported: 17
Comments
Included in Microsoft Office 2021
Word 2024
Word 2024
Year released
2024
Name
Word 2024
Version
Latest version: 17
Comments
Included in Microsoft Office 2024
| Year released | Name | Version | Comments |
| 1985 | Word 1 | Unsupported: 1 | |
| 1987 | Word 3 | Unsupported: 3 | |
| 1989 | Word 4 | Unsupported: 4 | Part of Office 1 and 1 |
| 1991 | Word 5 | Unsupported: 5 | Part of Office 3 Requires System 6 , 512 KB of RAM (1 MB for 5 , 2 MB to use spell check and thesaurus), 6 MB available hard drive space |
| 1992 | Word 5 | Unsupported: 5 | Part of Office 3 Last version to support 68000-based Macs |
| 1993 | Word 6 | Unsupported: 6 | Part of Office 4 Shares code and user interface with Word for Windows 6 Requires System 7 , 4 MB of RAM (8 MB recommended), at least 10 MB available hard drive space, 68020 CPU |
| 1998 | Word 98 | Unsupported: 8 | Part of Office 98 Macintosh Edition Requires PowerPC-based Macintosh Renumbered alongside contemporary Windows version |
| 2000 | Word 2001 | Unsupported: 9 | Part of Microsoft Office 2001 Word 2001 is the last version that is compatible with Classic Mac OS (Mac OS 9 or earlier) |
| 2001 | Word v. X | Unsupported: 10 | Part of Office v. X First version for Mac OS X only |
| 2004 | Word 2004 | Unsupported: 11 | Part of Office 2004 |
| 2008 | Word 2008 | Unsupported: 12 | Part of Office 2008 |
| 2010 | Word 2011 | Unsupported: 14 | Part of Office 2011; skipped 13 due to triskaidekaphobia. |
| 2015 | Word 2016 | Unsupported: 16 | Part of Office 2016; skipped 15 |
| 2019 | Word 2019 | Unsupported: 17 | Included in Microsoft Office 2019 |
| 2021 | Word 2021 | Supported: 17 | Included in Microsoft Office 2021 |
| 2024 | Word 2024 | Latest version: 17 | Included in Microsoft Office 2024 |
Word for MS-DOS release history · Release history
Word 1
Word 1
Year released
1983
Name
Word 1
Version
Unsupported: 1
Comments
Initial version of Word
Word 2
Word 2
Year released
1985
Name
Word 2
Version
Unsupported: 2
Word 3
Word 3
Year released
1986
Name
Word 3
Version
Unsupported: 3
Comments
Removed copy protection
Word 4
Word 4
Year released
1987
Name
Word 4
Version
Unsupported: 4
Word 5
Word 5
Year released
1989
Name
Word 5
Version
Unsupported: 5
Word 5
Word 5
Year released
1991
Name
Word 5
Version
Unsupported: 5
Word 5
Word 5
Year released
1991
Name
Word 5
Version
Unsupported: 5
Comments
First DOS version to use a Windows-like user interface
Word 6
Word 6
Year released
1993
Name
Word 6
Version
Unsupported: 6
Comments
Last DOS version.
| Year released | Name | Version | Comments |
| 1983 | Word 1 | Unsupported: 1 | Initial version of Word |
| 1985 | Word 2 | Unsupported: 2 | |
| 1986 | Word 3 | Unsupported: 3 | Removed copy protection |
| 1987 | Word 4 | Unsupported: 4 | |
| 1989 | Word 5 | Unsupported: 5 | |
| 1991 | Word 5 | Unsupported: 5 | |
| 1991 | Word 5 | Unsupported: 5 | First DOS version to use a Windows-like user interface |
| 1993 | Word 6 | Unsupported: 6 | Last DOS version. |
Word release history on other platforms · Release history
Microsoft Write
Microsoft Write
Platform
Atari ST
Year released
1988
Name
Microsoft Write
Comments
Based on Microsoft Word 1 for Mac OS
Microsoft Word 5
Microsoft Word 5
Platform
OS/2
Year released
1989
Name
Microsoft Word 5
Comments
Word 5 for DOS is a "family mode" application capable of running as a native app on either MS-DOS or 16-bit OS/2.
Microsoft Word 5
Microsoft Word 5
Platform
OS/2
Year released
1991
Name
Microsoft Word 5
Comments
Word 5 for DOS is a "family mode" application capable of running as a native app on either MS-DOS or 16-bit OS/2.
Microsoft Word for OS/2 Presentation Manager version 1
Microsoft Word for OS/2 Presentation Manager version 1
Platform
OS/2
Year released
1990
Name
Microsoft Word for OS/2 Presentation Manager version 1
Microsoft Word for OS/2 Presentation Manager version 1
Microsoft Word for OS/2 Presentation Manager version 1
Platform
OS/2
Year released
1991
Name
Microsoft Word for OS/2 Presentation Manager version 1
Microsoft Word for Unix version 5
Microsoft Word for Unix version 5
Platform
SCO Unix
Year released
1990
Name
Microsoft Word for Unix version 5
Microsoft Word for Unix version 5
Microsoft Word for Unix version 5
Platform
SCO Unix
Year released
1991
Name
Microsoft Word for Unix version 5
| Platform | Year released | Name | Comments |
| Atari ST | 1988 | Microsoft Write | Based on Microsoft Word 1 for Mac OS |
| OS/2 | 1989 | Microsoft Word 5 | Word 5 for DOS is a "family mode" application capable of running as a native app on either MS-DOS or 16-bit OS/2. |
| OS/2 | 1991 | Microsoft Word 5 | Word 5 for DOS is a "family mode" application capable of running as a native app on either MS-DOS or 16-bit OS/2. |
| OS/2 | 1990 | Microsoft Word for OS/2 Presentation Manager version 1 | |
| OS/2 | 1991 | Microsoft Word for OS/2 Presentation Manager version 1 | |
| SCO Unix | 1990 | Microsoft Word for Unix version 5 | |
| SCO Unix | 1991 | Microsoft Word for Unix version 5 |
References
- Including iPadOS and visionOS
- Microsoft Learnhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdates/update-history-office-2024
- Microsoft Learnhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdates/update-history-office-2021
- Microsoft Learnhttps://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdates/update-history-office-2019
- Microsoft Appshttps://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9wzdncrd29v9
- Google Playhttps://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.office.officehubrow
- APKMirrorhttps://www.apkmirror.com/apk/microsoft-corporation/office-mobile-2/microsoft-365-copilot-16-0-19426-20100-release/
- App Storehttps://apps.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-365-office/id541164041
- "C++ in MS Office"https://cppcon.org/bonus-talk-cxx-in-ms-office-2014/
- Officehttps://products.office.com/en/office-system-requirements
- Pingdomhttps://web.archive.org/web/20180813072250/https://royal.pingdom.com/2009/06/17/first-version-of-todays-most-popular-applications-a-visual-tour/
- A History of the Personal Computer: The People and the Technologyhttps://archive.org/download/A_History_of_the_Personal_Computer/eBook12.pdf
- "Microsoft Office online, Getting to know you.. : The Ribbon"https://web.archive.org/web/20110511074037/http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA101996251033.aspx
- "The history of branding, Microsoft history"https://web.archive.org/web/20090528002301/http://www.historyofbranding.com/microsoft.html
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- Microsofthttps://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/p/office-home-2024/cfq7ttc0pqvj#:~:text=Office%202024%20is%20a%20one,with%20a%20Microsoft%20365%20subscription.
- PC Worldhttps://web.archive.org/web/20120704162738/http://www.pcworld.com/article/152585/microsoft_word_turns_25.html
- Microsoft First Generationhttps://archive.org/details/microsoftfirstge00cher
- MSDN Blogshttps://web.archive.org/web/20100201040227/http://blogs.msdn.com/rick_schaut/archive/2004/05/19/135315.aspx
- InfoWorldhttps://books.google.com/books?id=4S8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA10