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

I did this on 1/29/2025 and it worked perfectly, thanks to Oxymoron and PC Saxon posts in January 2025.

It worked similar to PC Saxon. I had three files... each with vague numbers and letters (no mention of Office etc). So what the heck deleted the three files. Went back and opened Word, then "File", then Account - and at last 2024!!!!! checked Excel/PowerPoint ditto.

I had to sign in again, with no problem.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

Sitting comfortably folks - after two weeks with this issue and many, many tries, about to give up. - I found something very simple to resolve the conflict with Word/Excel/PowerPoint still showing 2021, after installing and re-installing three times.

I went to Microsoft Help again read through a few suggestions and found the below solution: ==== to ====

I tried to click on the link provided, and that didn't work but then opened each folder one at a time and that got me to the "culprit" Licenses folder- which had two files each with vague numbers and letters (no mention of Office etc). So what the heck deleted the two files. Went back and opened Word, then "File", then Account - and at last 2024!!!!! check Excel/PowerPoint ditto.

It could not be an easier solution - as to the very complex, here's how twenty lines!

Brilliant "The Oxymoron"!! - somehow I missed your solution over the past couple of weeks using the forum.

I didn't have to enter the purchase Product key or sign into my MS account.

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The Oxymoron Replied on November 10, 2024Report abuse

Hi,

This is due to the remaining license files of the old Office. The new Office has been installed but identifies itself incorrectly.

I had this problem too and found it extremely annoying.

Here's the solution:

Close all Office applications.

Use Explorer to go to c:\program data\Microsoft\office\licences and delete all files in this directory.
(The \program data folder may be hidden. If so, click on “show” at the top of explorer and then on “show hidden items”.)

Restart Word. You will be asked to log in or you can choose to enter the product key. Do not log in, but then enter the key again and the identification will normally be correct as Office 2024.

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Hi Jamez, Yes some stores do add Pro Plus versions of Office. Also, a free trial version of Microsoft 365 is added to all new computers, which causes problem when user tries to install a perpetual version of Office. A store should NOT install a retail version of Microsoft Office, it messes it up for the customer. This is because to do so they need to use their Microsoft Account (email address). This means the customer can NEVER reinstall their Office or do an Online repair. If the store does not install Office and give you a Product Key Card that will be fine. Note: Once a Product Key has been used to redeem Office, it cannot be used again to reinstall Office. The Microsoft Account used with the Product Key to redeem Office in the first place is used.

Your Microsoft Office Home & Business 2021 and Microsoft Office Home & Business 2024 will probably be showing you can switch at the Office Account page.

You should be able to reinstall all three versions of Office you have at: https://account.microsoft.com/services using the Microsoft Account associated with your Offices.

I know it gets complicated; it is not easy to explain either!

My MSI Titan was pre-installed with Windows 11 Home. I immediately upgraded to Windows 11 Pro when Microsoft had a limited-time deal for it. There were no Office products on the machine, but I cloned my Office Pro 2021 over (which was done with help from a Microsoft CSR to make sure that canceling the license on the copy on the old computer was done at the right time before the clone was licensed on the new computer). As it turned out, we figured out that it was easier just to de-license the one on the old computer, then uninstall it, then do a fresh install on the new computer. That's why the fellow accusing people here of having "illegitimate licenses" really honked me off: Microsoft verifies licenses when new installations are done. To your reply, Microsoft has a page with your licenses listed. It shouldn't get confused about products, but there might be an issue because, at least on my computer, even after I do a complete install of Office 2024, the "Office 16" folder (as someone else mentioned, too) has almost nothing in it, and the "Licenses" subfolder is completely empty. Oddly, there's nothing in the "Office 15" folder as far as ".exe" files or licenses, either. It's like the apps are running from some Cloud source.