Microsoft is counting the number of users of Office 2013 / 2010 / 2007 through the KB5021751 update patch.

CTOnews.com, January 20, Microsoft wants to check the number of users who are still using the unsupported version of Office (and the soon-to-be unsupported version of Office 2013), and Microsoft will do so with the KB5021751 update patch being pushed.

"the update is designed to help Microsoft identify the number of users running unsupported (or about to be unsupported) versions of Office, including Office 2013, Office 2010 and Office 2007," Microsoft said in the announcement. "the update will be run silently without installing anything on the user's device."

This update can be downloaded and installed automatically by using Microsoft Update. Microsoft will ensure that users are secure about the file.

"Microsoft scans the file for viruses by using the latest virus detection software available on the date of its release," it explained. "the file is stored on a security-hardened server and helps prevent any unauthorized changes to it."

After installation, the user does not need to restart the computer because the update does not change, simply to identify numbers. However, Microsoft did not clarify the details that the update will collect, except for counting the number of users of the above-mentioned Office version. Fortunately, users can choose not to install the update on their system through the Show or hide update troubleshooter.

CTOnews.com has learned that Office 2007 and Office 2010 are no longer supported from October 2017 and October 2020, respectively. Office 2013 will end support on April 11, prompting Microsoft to count the number of users who have not yet embraced the latest Office version.