Sway Desktop App Retirement: What Changes

The Sway desktop app retirement took effect on 1 June 2026. That's when Microsoft stopped supporting the Sway app for Windows and moved everyone to the browser version at sway.cloud.microsoft. Sway itself hasn't gone away. Your existing Sways are still online, the editing tools are the same, and you sign in with the same Microsoft, work or school account. The only change is that you now open Sway in a web browser instead of a Windows app.

What Is the Sway Desktop App Retirement?

Microsoft retired the Windows app version of Sway, its tool for building scrolling, web-style reports, newsletters and presentations. Microsoft announced the change to administrators in Microsoft 365 message MC1213784 in January 2026, with a retirement date of 1 June 2026. Microsoft's Sway FAQ now carries the same notice: the Sway Windows app is no longer supported from 1 June 2026, and you should continue in your browser.

This is the latest of several small Microsoft retirements this year. It follows the end of Outlook Lite in May 2026 and Publisher's removal from Microsoft 365. Unlike those, though, it removes only one way of opening Sway, not Sway itself.

What Changes and What Stays the Same?

Only the Windows app is affected. Here's how the change looks in practice:

Your content is safe because of how Sway works. The desktop app never stored your Sways as files on your PC. It was a window onto the same online service the browser uses. Sway needs an internet connection to lay out its content, so retiring the app doesn't move or delete anything.

Is Microsoft Sway Being Discontinued Completely?

No, not based on anything Microsoft has announced. The retirement notice covers only the Windows app, and Microsoft says Sway on the web keeps its current capabilities. It's worth knowing the wider picture, though. When Microsoft removed Sway from the Create tab in the Microsoft 365 Copilot app in March 2025, its admin message said it is not investing in improving Sway, while its current features remain fully supported. Microsoft gave low usage as the reason.

In plain terms, Sway is in maintenance mode. It works and it's supported, but you shouldn't expect new features. If Sway is central to how you publish newsletters or training material, keep an exported copy of important work and know which alternative you'd move to. That's the approach we suggest in our Office end of support dates guide for any Microsoft product that is winding down.

How Do You Keep Using Sway After the Desktop App Retirement?

Switching to the web version takes a couple of minutes:

1. Open Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari and go to sway.cloud.microsoft.
2. Sign in with the same account you used in the desktop app: a personal Microsoft account (Outlook.com, Hotmail, Live or Xbox), or your work or school account.
3. Your Sways appear on the My Sways page. Open any of them to keep editing.
4. Optional: pin the site in your browser, or install it as an app from the browser menu, so it opens like a desktop program. In Edge, use Settings and more (…) → Apps → Install this site as an app.
5. Remove the old app from Settings → Apps → Installed apps. Find Sway, select the three-dot menu and choose Uninstall.

Two practical limits apply in the browser. Viewing works at any screen size, but creating and editing a Sway needs a browser window at least 600 pixels wide. You'll also need a reliable internet connection, just as the app did.

How Do You Save an Offline Copy of a Sway?

Sway can't be downloaded as a working Sway file, but you can export it to Word or PDF for an offline copy or an archive. To export:

1. Open the Sway at sway.cloud.microsoft.
2. Select the More options (…) menu at the top right.
3. Choose Export, then pick Word or PDF.
4. Save the downloaded file somewhere backed up, such as OneDrive or an external drive.

Expect the layout to change. Sway's scrolling, animated design doesn't fit neatly onto fixed pages, so a Word export works best as an editable starting point and a PDF as a record. If you plan to rebuild the content in another tool, the Word export saves the most retyping.

What Are the Best Alternatives to Sway?

The best replacement depends on what you used Sway for. If you'd rather work in installed desktop apps than a browser, these are the closest Microsoft options:

• PowerPoint for visual stories and presentations. Morph transitions and Designer layout suggestions get close to Sway's polished look. Designer requires a Microsoft 365 subscription.
• Word for reports, handbooks and newsletters that people will print or download.
• Sway on the web itself, if your Sways are shared mainly as links. Nothing about the result changes for your readers.

If your Sway work was mainly print-style layouts, our roundup of Microsoft Publisher alternatives covers dedicated layout tools. A one-time-purchase suite such as Office 2024 Professional Plus gives you desktop Word and PowerPoint without a subscription. Our comparison of Microsoft Office vs Microsoft 365 explains which features you give up without one.

A Common Mistake We See

When an app is retired, some people assume their work went with it and start rebuilding from scratch. Others keep an outdated, unsupported copy installed for months. With Sway, neither makes sense. Everything you made in the app is already waiting at sway.cloud.microsoft under the same account.

The real risk is signing in with the wrong account. If My Sways looks empty, sign out and try the other account you use, for example your work account instead of a personal Outlook.com address. Sways are tied to the account that created them.

Frequently Asked Questions

When did the Sway desktop app retire?

The Sway app for Windows was retired on 1 June 2026. Microsoft announced the date to Microsoft 365 administrators in January 2026 and added a notice to its Sway FAQ. Since then, Microsoft has supported Sway only in a web browser, at sway.cloud.microsoft, with the same features and content.

Will I lose my Sways after the retirement?

No. Your Sways were stored online all along, not inside the desktop app, so they stay available at sway.cloud.microsoft. Sign in with the same Microsoft, work or school account you used before. Sharing links you've already sent keep working, and you can still edit, share and export everything.

Is Sway still free to use?

Yes. Anyone with a free Microsoft account, such as an Outlook.com or Hotmail address, can create Sways in a browser. Sway is also included with Microsoft 365 business and education plans, which use a work or school account. The desktop app retirement didn't change who can use Sway.

Can I still use Sway offline?

Not really. Sway needs an internet connection to manage its layout, and this was true in the desktop app as well. For an offline copy, export the Sway to Word or PDF from the More options menu. You can also print a Sway directly from your browser.

Is Sway part of Office 2024 or Microsoft 365?

Sway is an online service, not one of the desktop apps installed with Office 2024 or Office 2021. You open it in a browser with any Microsoft account. Microsoft 365 work and school plans include it, and the Microsoft 365 Copilot app links to it from its Apps section.

Conclusion

The Sway desktop app retirement changes where you open Sway, not what you can do with it. Bookmark sway.cloud.microsoft, export important Sways to Word or PDF, and keep a backup plan, because Microsoft isn't developing new Sway features. If you're moving your publishing work into the desktop apps instead, browse our Office 365 and Microsoft 365 options to compare plans.

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