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Microsoft Office 15 was the development codename for the Office generation released commercially as Office 2013. Microsoft opened a limited technical preview in January 2012, showed the customer preview publicly in July 2012, and released Office 2013 on January 9, 2013. The preview emphasized touch and stylus input, cloud and social features, and collaboration scenarios. Office 2013 reached the end of support on April 11, 2023.
What was Microsoft Office 15?
“Office 15” was not the final product name. It was Microsoft’s codename for the next generation of Office products and services. In Microsoft’s January 30, 2012 announcement, PJ Hough, then corporate vice president of development in the Office Division, described it as “the codename for the next generation of the Office products and services.”
The preview label therefore refers to a historical development stage. When discussing the released desktop suite, the correct name is Office 2013.
Office 15 Preview timeline
| Date | Event | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| January 30, 2012 | Technical Preview Program announced | Selected customers received access under nondisclosure agreements. |
| July 16, 2012 | Customer preview unveiled publicly | Microsoft presented the new Office design and its touch, cloud, social and collaboration messaging. |
| January 9, 2013 | Office 2013 original release start | The preview generation became the commercially released Office 2013 product line. |
| April 11, 2023 | Office 2013 support ended | Microsoft ended technical support, bug fixes and security fixes. |
What Microsoft promoted in the preview
Microsoft’s July 2012 unveiling described the preview’s goals and examples. These are Microsoft’s launch claims, not independent usability or performance test results.
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Input for modern Windows devices
The company said Office was designed to work with touch, a stylus, a mouse and a keyboard. The messaging connected the suite to new Windows devices and to activities such as reading, note-taking, meetings and communications.
Touch-oriented document interaction
Microsoft highlighted touch interactions in documents as part of the updated experience. The announcement positioned this as an additional way to work alongside traditional mouse-and-keyboard controls, rather than as a replacement for them.
PowerPoint Presenter View
The preview announcement described a Presenter View showing the current and upcoming slides, elapsed time and speaker notes. That feature was presented as a way to support live presenting and meeting scenarios.
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Communication and collaboration scenarios
Microsoft also promoted collaboration capabilities across its Office and communications products, including:
- Lync multiparty high-definition video;
- shared OneNote notebooks; and
- a virtual whiteboard.
Microsoft’s CEO Steve Ballmer called the product “the new, modern Office” and said it would deliver “unparalleled productivity and flexibility for both consumers and business customers.” That statement was promotional language made at the unveiling, not a third-party finding.
Office 15 Preview versus Office 2013
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Office 15 | Microsoft’s internal development codename and the name used for the preview program. |
| Office 2013 | The commercial product generation that followed the preview. |
| Office 365 plans discussed in 2012 | Historical subscription packaging mentioned in the launch material; those references do not establish that the same plans or prices remain available today. |
Do not treat “Office 15 Preview” as a current edition, a separate supported product, or proof that an old preview installer can still be downloaded or activated. The available Microsoft material establishes the preview’s history, not the present availability or activation behavior of archived builds.
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Can you still use Office 2013?
Microsoft says Office 2013 applications can continue to function after the end-of-support date. However, continued operation is not the same as continued support or security coverage.
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| Question | Office 2013 status after April 11, 2023 |
|---|---|
| Can the applications launch and open files? | They may continue to function, according to Microsoft’s support guidance. |
| Are security fixes provided? | No. |
| Are bug fixes provided? | No. |
| Is Microsoft technical support provided? | No. |
| Does the end-of-support date mean the software immediately stops launching? | No. Microsoft specifically says it continues to function, while warning that support and updates have ended. |
Running an unsupported Office installation leaves it without vendor fixes for vulnerabilities discovered after support ended. Compatibility with a particular current Windows configuration, add-in, cloud service or file workflow is not guaranteed by the fact that the programs still open.
What should you use instead?
Microsoft’s upgrade guidance directs users of older Office versions toward supported Office software. It names Microsoft 365 Apps as one migration option, but the appropriate choice depends on your requirements.
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- Used Book in Good Condition
Check support and security first
Choose software that is still within Microsoft’s support lifecycle and receives security updates. This is the primary distinction between a supported replacement and continuing to run Office 2013.
Decide between subscription and non-subscription licensing
Microsoft 365 Apps is a subscription-based route. A supported one-time-purchase Office edition may suit someone who does not want a subscription, but the exact edition, lifecycle and features must be checked against the current Microsoft offering.
Verify device and operating-system compatibility
Confirm that the edition you select supports your operating system, processor architecture and deployment method. Do not assume that a current Office release has the same system requirements as Office 2013.
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- Used
- Ok Condition
- Has some wears but no tears
Match cloud and collaboration needs
If you need current cloud storage integration, coauthoring, organizational administration or online services, compare those requirements directly with the capabilities and licensing of the supported product you are considering.
List the desktop applications you actually need
Check whether your work depends on specific desktop programs, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Access or Publisher. Product bundles and platform availability differ, so a generic “upgrade Office” decision may not cover every application requirement.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A practical migration checklist
- Record the Office 2013 applications, add-ins, templates and macros your work depends on.
- Identify the operating systems and devices on which those workflows run.
- Decide whether a subscription or a supported non-subscription license fits your organization or household.
- Compare the candidate product’s support status, security-update policy, collaboration features and application list.
- Back up documents, mail data and custom templates before changing installations.
- Test essential files, macros, add-ins, printers and integrations in the replacement environment.
- Remove or retire the unsupported installation according to your organization’s security and licensing policy.
Bottom line for people searching for “Microsoft Office 15 Preview”
Office 15 was the codename for the preview of what became Office 2013. Microsoft began the technical preview in January 2012, unveiled the customer preview in July 2012, and released Office 2013 in January 2013. Office 2013 still may run, but its support ended on April 11, 2023, so it no longer receives security fixes, bug fixes or technical support. For current use, evaluate a supported Office product—Microsoft lists Microsoft 365 Apps among the migration options—against your licensing, device, application and collaboration needs.
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