To ensure continued high-quality performance of the Read Aloud, Transcription, and Dictation features in Microsoft 365 Office apps, we’re upgrading the backend service that powers these capabilities. As a result, these features will no longer function on Office clients running versions earlier than 16.0.18827.20202 after January 2026. When this will happen
- General Availability (Worldwide): End of January 2026
- General Availability (GCC, GCC High, DoD) End of March 2026
If your organization is using Microsoft 365 Office apps with version numbers lower than 16.0.18827.20202, users will lose access to Read Aloud, Transcription, and Dictation features after the dates listed above.
There is no change to the user experience for clients on supported versions.
To avoid service disruption, ensure that all Office clients are updated to version 16.0.18827.20202 or later before the applicable deadline.
You can learn more about these features using the following resources:
Compliance considerations
No compliance considerations identified, review as appropriate for your organization.
Source: Microsoft
Latest Posts
- (Updated) Microsoft 365 Copilot: Steer your presentation length, tone, style, and images when creating with Copilot [MC1185911]
![(Updated) Microsoft 365 Copilot: Steer your presentation length, tone, style, and images when creating with Copilot [MC1185911] 2 pexels jeswin 700971](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==)
- (Updated) Changes to how users install Microsoft 365 apps from the Microsoft 365 Copilot app [MC1062453]
![(Updated) Changes to how users install Microsoft 365 apps from the Microsoft 365 Copilot app [MC1062453] 3 pexels kelly 1179532 2876511](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==)
- Power Platform – Power Platform Environment Settings app [MC1194585]
![Power Platform – Power Platform Environment Settings app [MC1194585] 4 pexels frostroomhead 9436715](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==)
- Microsoft Viva – Viva Glint: Export Executive Summary report in Viva Glint to editable PowerPoint slides [MC1194612]
![Microsoft Viva - Viva Glint: Export Executive Summary report in Viva Glint to editable PowerPoint slides [MC1194612] 5 socks 1322489 1920](data:image/svg+xml;base64,PHN2ZyB3aWR0aD0iMSIgaGVpZ2h0PSIxIiB4bWxucz0iaHR0cDovL3d3dy53My5vcmcvMjAwMC9zdmciPjwvc3ZnPg==)
![Please update Microsoft 365 Office apps to a version higher than 16.0.18827.20202 [MC1127222] 1 Please update Microsoft 365 Office apps to a version higher than 16.0.18827.20202 [MC1127222]](https://mwpro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/pexels-artur-roman-158558-534673-1024x683.webp)
![(Updated) Microsoft 365 Copilot: Steer your presentation length, tone, style, and images when creating with Copilot [MC1185911] 2 pexels jeswin 700971](https://mwpro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/pexels-jeswin-700971-150x150.webp)
![(Updated) Changes to how users install Microsoft 365 apps from the Microsoft 365 Copilot app [MC1062453] 3 pexels kelly 1179532 2876511](https://mwpro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/pexels-kelly-1179532-2876511-150x150.webp)
![Power Platform – Power Platform Environment Settings app [MC1194585] 4 pexels frostroomhead 9436715](https://mwpro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/pexels-frostroomhead-9436715-150x150.webp)
![Microsoft Viva - Viva Glint: Export Executive Summary report in Viva Glint to editable PowerPoint slides [MC1194612] 5 socks 1322489 1920](https://mwpro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/socks-1322489_1920-150x150.webp)
![Viva Learning: data export reporting now available [MC1127223] 7 Viva Learning: data export reporting now available [MC1127223]](https://mwpro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/pexels-pixabay-144243-96x96.webp)