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

I am grateful to you. As I had suspected, it wasn't just a matter of deleting files; it had the feel of something that needed to be fixed in its entirety at the registry level.

I was able to resolve this today on 2 of our computers with similar issues. I followed the steps listed here: Microsoft Learn but pasted the relevant portion below.

Steps to Fix Office Activation Error

1. Remove all license token files and folders if found in the following locations: **Nothing was here for me, so I proceeded to step 2.** a. For vNext license type:

    %localappdata%\Microsoft\Office\Licenses
   

   (Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise version 1909 or later) b. For Shared Computer Activation license type:

    %localappdata%\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Licensing
   

2. Check for and remove legacy licensing by using the ospp.vbs script. IMPORTANT: Make sure that the user account you use is a member of the Administrators group on the computer on which you run the script. a. Navigate to the correct directory. Run one of the following commands from an elevated command prompt, as appropriate for your Office installation: i. For a 64-bit Office installation on a 64-bit operating system:

    cd "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16"
   

   ii. For a 32-bit Office installation on a 64-bit operating system:

    cd "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16"
   

3. Run the following command to get a list of the licenses currently in use:

    cscript ospp.vbs /dstatus
   

   NOTE: The output could include licenses for multiple applications. If it displays “No installed product keys detected,” skip steps 4 and 5 and go to step 6, “Delete the following registry entry,” below. If a partial product key is returned for the applications whose licenses you want to remove, note the value displayed for Last 5 characters of the installed product key to use in step 4, below.
4. Run the following command to remove the license for an application by using the associated partial product key:

    cscript ospp.vbs /unpkey:<last 5 characters of product key>
   

   For example:

    cscript ospp.vbs /unpkey:2WC00
   

   You should see the message “Product key uninstall successful” when the license is removed.
5. Repeat the cscript ospp.vbs /unpkey command as needed to remove the licenses for the applications listed in the output from step 3.
6. Delete the following registry entry: ** I think this step made all the difference**

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\Licensing
   

Part 2: Remove Cached Office Account Identities in HKCU Registry

1. Delete the following registry entry:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\Identity
   

   If you have Shared Computer Activation enabled, remove the Identity registry key location from the HKEY_USERS\<The user SID>\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common registry key. To get the currently signed-in user’s SID, run the command whoami /user in a non-elevated command prompt.
2. Check for and delete any values present under the following registry key:

    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Protected Storage System
   

I will try this, but I remain concerned. If Microsoft Office is merely misidentifying the version of Office I am using, why do the apps still look like Microsoft Office Pro 2021? I have seen screenshots of the 2024 version of the apps, and they do not look like what I see in my version, which remains exactly like it has since I started using the 2021 version several years ago. Again, however, I will try your solution and report back here on the outcome.

Hi,

This is due to 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.