Microsoft Word: Certain Dynamic Data Exchange features will be removed in April 2025 [MC863140]

In a security update in 2017, Microsoft Word disabled support for certain Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE) features, as documented in Microsoft Office Defense in Depth Update. At the time, a registry key was added to re-enable the disabled functionality. Beginning in April 2025, the functionality affected by that registry key will be fully removed, and the registry key will no longer have any effect.

[When this will happen:]

This retirement will begin in April 2025.

[How this will affect your organization:]

You may be affected by this change if you currently depend on the HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Word\Security\AllowDDE registry key being set to a value other than 0. If you do not have that key set or if it is currently set to 0, this change will have no effect.

[What you need to do to prepare:]

This rollout will happen automatically with no admin action required. You may want to notify your users about this change and update any relevant documentation as appropriate.