The University of Dayton transitioned from Office 2021 to Microsoft 365 to ensure continued access to the latest features, security updates, and support.
Self-Upgrade Option
Faculty and staff using UD-owned Windows or macOS computers may choose to install Microsoft 365 themselves beginning Wednesday, January 28, 2026. To upgrade to Microsoft 365, open the self-upgrade tool provided by UDit and use the instructions listed below.
IMPORTANT: Before running the installer, be sure to close all open Office applications. To prevent data loss, the installer will not run if any Office applications are still open.
Scheduled Automatic Upgrade Option
UD-owned Windows and macOS computers still running Office 2021 will be upgraded automatically to Microsoft 365 according to the following schedule:
- February 23, 2026: UDit, Advancement, Athletics, Campus Operations
- March 2, 2026: College of Arts and Sciences, School of Education and Health Sciences
- March 9, 2026: Enrollment Management, Facilities Management, Finance and Administration, School of Engineering
- March 16, 2026: School of Law, Library, Marketing and Communications
- March 23, 2026: President, Provost
- April 7, 2026: School of Business Administration, Student Development
Checking Your Current Version of Office
- Open Microsoft Word.
- Click File in the top left corner.
- Click Account (depending on your version, this may be at the bottom or middle of the menu).
- Under Product Information, you’ll see the version of Office you are running (e.g. Microsoft 365 or Office 2021):
- or -
Self-Upgrading with the Portal Manager (Windows)
IMPORTANT: Before running the installer, be sure to close all open Office applications. To prevent data loss, the installer will not run if any Office applications are still open.
- Open the Portal Manager. Go to the Windows search bar and type Portal. The Portal Manager App appears in the Best Match section of the search results. Click on the Portal Manager link.
NOTE: If you can't find the Portal Manager on your computer or do not see Microsoft 365 Individual after refreshing, contact the IT Service Center for assistance.
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Look for Microsoft 365 Individual and click Install.
NOTE: If you do not see Microsoft 365 Individual as an option, click the refresh button and check again.
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A download bar displays the installation progress and lets you know when it's done. Once the install is complete, check your version of Office and verify that you have Microsoft 365:
Self-Upgrading for the Mac
- Open Microsoft Word.
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Click the Word menu (top left by the apple icon) then click About Microsoft Word.
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Look at the About Word window. If the Version is less than 16.105, you are running an older version of office.
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Navigate to Self Service and look for any of the office products ending in 365 and install them.
NOTE: To access Microsoft 365 for the first time, click the following link and follow the instructions: Signing In to Microsoft 365 for the First Time
Thank you for your cooperation as we keep campus technology secure and up to date. If you have questions or need assistance with the upgrade, please contact the IT Service Center at itsc@udayton.edu or call (937) 229-3888.