Topzle Topzle

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

  1. Including iPadOS and visionOS
  2. Microsoft Learn
    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdates/update-history-office-2024
  3. Microsoft Learn
    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdates/update-history-office-2021
  4. Microsoft Learn
    https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdates/update-history-office-2019
  5. Microsoft Apps
    https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9wzdncrd29v9
  6. Google Play
    https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.microsoft.office.officehubrow
  7. APKMirror
    https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/microsoft-corporation/office-mobile-2/microsoft-365-copilot-16-0-19426-20100-release/
  8. App Store
    https://apps.apple.com/us/app/microsoft-365-office/id541164041
  9. "C++ in MS Office"
    https://cppcon.org/bonus-talk-cxx-in-ms-office-2014/
  10. Office
    https://products.office.com/en/office-system-requirements
  11. Pingdom
    https://web.archive.org/web/20180813072250/https://royal.pingdom.com/2009/06/17/first-version-of-todays-most-popular-applications-a-visual-tour/
  12. A History of the Personal Computer: The People and the Technology
    https://archive.org/download/A_History_of_the_Personal_Computer/eBook12.pdf
  13. "Microsoft Office online, Getting to know you.. : The Ribbon"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20110511074037/http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/help/HA101996251033.aspx
  14. "The history of branding, Microsoft history"
    https://web.archive.org/web/20090528002301/http://www.historyofbranding.com/microsoft.html
  15. Digital Writing Technologies in Higher Education
    https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-36033-6_1
  16. Microsoft
    https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/p/office-home-2024/cfq7ttc0pqvj#:~:text=Office%202024%20is%20a%20one,with%20a%20Microsoft%20365%20subscription.
  17. PC World
    https://web.archive.org/web/20120704162738/http://www.pcworld.com/article/152585/microsoft_word_turns_25.html
  18. Microsoft First Generation
    https://archive.org/details/microsoftfirstge00cher
  19. MSDN Blogs
    https://web.archive.org/web/20100201040227/http://blogs.msdn.com/rick_schaut/archive/2004/05/19/135315.aspx
  20. InfoWorld
    https://books.google.com/books?id=4S8EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA10
Image
Source:
Tip: Wheel or +/− to zoom, drag to pan, Esc to close.