News - Debunking the Microsoft Office Rebranding Rumor

Microsoft's history of changing product names has led to confusion among users regarding the alleged rebranding of Microsoft Office to Microsoft 365 Copilot. Recent claims on platforms like Reddit and Hacker News fueled this misconception. Though many users believed Office had been renamed Microsoft 365 Copilot, it's an error primarily stemming from the way Microsoft communicates its branding. The misunderstanding originated from the Microsoft 365 Copilot app page, which mistakenly suggested the replacement of Office with a new AI-infused brand. In reality, 'Office' on the product page refers to the website allowing free access to Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint as part of Microsoft 365 for the web. Office was indeed rebranded in 2022, but to Microsoft 365, intended to market it as a cloud-based service rather than a mere desktop suite. Complicating matters, Microsoft introduced Copilot to Microsoft 365 in 2024, elevating subscription prices and adding to public confusion. Then, in 2025, Microsoft further muddled the waters by renaming Microsoft 365 to Microsoft 365 Copilot. Nevertheless, consumer subscriptions remain listed under the Microsoft 365 label without incorporating Copilot in the title. Significantly, the 'Office' name endures but specifically for the one-time purchase desktop version, the most recent being Microsoft Office 2024. Meanwhile, the Microsoft 365 or Microsoft 365 Copilot brand pertains to the subscription-based and web versions. Microsoft's naming conventions have sparked headaches for users trying to decipher its evolving products and brandings. The introduction of multiple versions of Copilot, especially, has compounded the difficulty. Microsoft must address these ongoing labeling challenges to mitigate user frustration and ensure clearer communication about its products.