Why is my computer still using Microsoft Office 2021 after installing Office 2024?

Anonymous
2024-10-03T23:45:42+00:00

I just bought and installed the stand-alone Microsoft Office 2024 (Home & Business edition, 64-bit) after using Microsoft Office 2021 since it came out several years ago. I was expecting my Office files I open in Excel, Word, and PowerPoint to open in Office 2024 tonight, but they're still opening in the Office 2021 apps (and it's not just a matter of 2024 still carrying 2021 logos because none of the features new to 2024 are there; it's just the same layout as always).

I can't even find any .exe files in my Program Files → Microsoft Office → Office16 folder. Everything is still intact in the Microsoft Office 15 folder, but that "Office16" folder has hardly anything in it, and definitely nothing that looks like it could launch an app. I am reasonably sure that my computer isn't the issue: I'm running Windows 11 Pro on an MSI Titan with three SSD cards and 64 Gb of RAM. I've rebooted my computer twice, just in case it was one of those Microsoft things about installations not completing until the reboot, but that didn't help. So what's going on? Did I just pay $250 plus tax for vaporware?

***Moved from Microsoft 365 and Office / Other / For business / Other***

Microsoft 365 and Office | Install, redeem, activate | Other | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-10-06T23:16:42+00:00

    I'm having this issue also.

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  2. Anonymous
    2024-10-06T08:29:06+00:00

    Same here, and everything in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is exactly the same.

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  3. Anonymous
    2024-10-06T01:52:17+00:00

    I've uninstalled 2021 and after installing 2024, the Account option still shows 2021.

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  4. Anonymous
    2024-10-04T07:14:33+00:00

    Installing a later version does not upgrade/remove the earlier version, you have to uninstall that via win Add/Remove dialogue.

    Once done

    Win search for Word > Resulting shortcut > Rt click > Pin to task bar > start Word from that shortcut (hover mouse over the shortcut gives access to the 10 most recent docs)

    Same applies to other components.

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