Windows 11 and Office 2021: Enhancing productivity and collaboration

Windows 11 and Office 2021 together bring lots of new features designed to enhance productivity, creativity, and collaboration.

Our work to roll out the Windows 11 and Office 2021 upgrade to all of our managed PC (desktop and laptop) users continues during the first half of 2025. Managed PC users in UAS and GLAM will be contacted personally when it is their turn to run the upgrade, which they need to complete before July 2025. 

New features to keep you secure, efficient and connected 

Windows 11 introduces a number of new features, making your workflow smoother and more intuitive. Features include:

• Improved virtual desktops. You can create multiple desktops for different purposes, such as work or study. Dedicated spaces help keep your tasks organised and reduce clutter, making multitasking more efficient.  
• Snap layouts and Snap groups can help your productivity, allowing you to easily arrange multiple windows on your screen in various configurations. Whether you’re working on a research paper or comparing data, Snap layouts make it simple to keep everything in view and manage your workspace more effectively.
• Security is a top priority in Windows 11, with enhanced encryption keeping your data safe. Knowing that your information is protected lets you focus on what matters most. 

Office 2021 enhancements help productivity

Office 2021 introduces features to enhance collaboration. In particular:  

• Office 2021 better integrates with OneDrive, ensuring that your changes are automatically saved and synchronised. 
• Excel users will appreciate new functions like XLOOKUP and dynamic arrays, which simplify data analysis.  

Overall, Windows 11 and Office 2021 offer a blend of visual improvements, productivity enhancements, and robust security features, designed to boost your efficiency with easy-to-use, intuitive interfaces. Here's what Microsoft has to say about the new features and enhancements.

Upgrades for managed PC (desktop and laptop) users 

Our programme of rolling out the Windows 11 and Office 2021 upgrade to our managed PC users continues during Hilary and Trinity term.  

We will contact users individually when it is their turn and will provide the information needed to complete the upgrade before July 2025.  Please read the instructions carefully and make sure you have plenty of time available.