All about Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook, Microsoft 365, Office 2021 and earlier versions.
Can You Use Microsoft 365 from a Different Country?
Buying Microsoft 365 from another country might seem like a money-saver, but Microsoft’s region locks often block activation. Learn why it fails—and smart, legal ways to make it work. That might be tempting because of exchange rate and price differences but Microsoft won’t let you do it. A little currency arbitrage isn’t allowed. For example […]
Critical Office security bug fixes for June
Among Microsoft’s June security bug fixes there are some that directly affect Microsoft Office users. These three caught our eye. Two are rated as High risk while another is Critical, though we’d suggest ‘Unforgivable’ is a better word. Power Automate Privilege Escalation Vulnerability CVE-2025-47966 CVSS score: Critical 9.8 out of 10. Via a leakage of […]
Stop Using Old Office Document Formats Now
Still using .doc, .xls, or .ppt files? These outdated Microsoft Office formats are not just relics—they’re major security risks and should be banned. Hackers exploit these older files to spread malware, ransomware, and steal data, as they often bypass modern antivirus protections. After our suggestion to ignore old style Office documents, it’s clear some folks […]
Are RTF Files Safe? Hidden Security Risks You Need to Know
RTF files may seem safe, but they can carry hidden risks. Hackers use RTFs to exploit Microsoft Word and even infect systems through email previews. Learn why RTF isn’t as harmless as it looks—and how to stay protected. The confusion is understandable. After all .RTF (Rich Text Format) files aren’t designed to carry any computer […]
Outlook Calendar sharing goes off the rails
Microsoft has ‘improved’ calendar sharing for all their Microsoft hosted accounts but Outlook (classic) has been left behind with too many bugs with some still outstanding. The changed Shared Calendars is a good move that’s been poorly implemented for many customers. The Shared Calendar changes are an attempt to standardize the mix of different technologies […]
Introducing the new boss of Microsoft Office
Ryan Roslansky is the new boss of Microsoft Office, adding to his existing role as the CEO of Microsoft LinkedIn. His official title is Executive Vice President of Office, leading Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and the Microsoft 365 Copilot. The new post is part of yet another internal reorganization of Microsoft. I wonder how many […]
Make OneNote Quick Notes anywhere
OneNote Quick Notes is the fast way to add a short ‘jotting’, image or whatever. How a Quick Note is made varies a lot for each OneNote app; Windows, iPhone, iPad, Mac or Web. Windows Windows has shortcuts and a taskbar icon for Quick Notes In the OneNote app, go to View | New Quick […]
Quick Notes in OneNote for Windows
OneNote offers an electronic equivalent to the ‘sticky note’ or side-note. Most OneNote demos show off the full-size pages with a full range of feature but Quick Notes is the smaller and faster part of OneNote for Windows. Let’s explore how to make a Quick Note, what they can do and where they are saved […]
Microsoft’s New Calendar App: A Peek at Your Day—Whether You Want It or Not
Microsoft has rolled out a new Calendar app, because apparently, we all needed another way to be reminded we’re too busy. This latest tool is part of the “Microsoft 365 Companion” experience, a trio of apps aimed at helping users stay productive—or at least feel like they are. It joins the People and File Search […]
What’s new in Outlook (new) for June 2025
There are ten new or improved features in Outlook (new) for Windows. Some are welcome additions, others are ‘catch up’ from classic Outlook and one Microsoft is ‘thrilled’ about but we’re not sure why. Here’s Microsoft’s June 2025 announcements plus Office Watch extra info, screenshots and comments. As regular readers know, we don’t take Microsoft’s […]
Outlook (new) lets you move emails between mailboxes
Outlook (new) for Windows is finally getting a feature that should have been there from the start … the ability to move emails between mailboxes. It’s another case of paying customers having to be grateful that Microsoft has finally provided an important feature. In businesses, especially small ones, moving emails between mailboxes is essential for […]
2025 Spelling Bee champs vs Microsoft Word
Our annual look at the words that challenged the Scripps Spelling Bee champs to see how many are recognized by the spell check in Microsoft Word. Again in 2025 Word was beaten by some very clever 14 year olds. Here’s a selection of the last round words from the 2025 Bee, starting with the winning […]
Microsoft money grab from non-profits
Microsoft has decided to discontinue the free Microsoft 365 Business Premium licenses previously granted to non-profit organizations. They’ll now have to pay a discounted price or move away from the Microsoft 365 desktop apps. Effective immediately, nonprofits will no longer receive ten complimentary Business Premium licenses, which included desktop versions of Office applications and management […]
Collective Nouns – Copilot to the rescue.
Can Copilot do a better job adding the right collective noun for an animal or group? The answer is a good example of why NOT to trust AI fully. Plus, another AI trick and the better answer from ChatGPT. Microsoft Word grammar has a problem with collective nouns, see our article Collective Noun check in […]
Watch Out for Fake Microsoft 365 Purchase Emails
A new scam is making the rounds via email. It pretends to be a receipt for a Microsoft 365 subscription renewal—usually with a high price to scare you. Worse – noone is sure how the hackers are doing it. The email urges you to call a phone number if the charge looks wrong. But don’t […]
Mastering Date Comparisons in Excel Using IF Statements
Whether you’re managing schedules, tracking deadlines, or analyzing time-based data, comparing dates in Excel is a critical skill. This guide walks you through how to use the powerful IF function to compare dates—such as determining if one date is before, after, or equal to another. Learn essential Excel formulas that simplify date logic and help […]
