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

I will add to the string of dissatisfied users - I'm having the same problem.

I have Office Home & Business 2021 on a laptop. Just bought a new desktop and since I can't share the license, I bought an Office Home & Business 2024 for the desktop. When I signed in to the new desktop, evidently MS decided to load the 2021 version without my prompting. I did not accept the license and closed it down. Then loaded 2024 to the desktop and now all I get is 2021 showing when check on the Account tab. I can change the license to the 2024 version with the Switch License button but when I exit the app and open it again it reverts back to 2021.

I've uninstalled both from the desktop, reinstalled 2024 with no fix; tried the "modify" with no fix; went into cscript ospp.vbs actions to identify and then delete the key, reinstalled - no fix; downloaded SARA (Support and Recovery Assistant) to totally uninstall both versions but that didn't work either. That's when the CSR said it needs to get sent to Office Tech Support Team and they never answered or picked up on the chat...

So far I've been on MS Help chat and calls for over 4 hours. Still not solved and with all the transfers, the call dropped when they transferred me. I call back, get transferred again, call drops during transfer again...repeated enough times that I now have to wait 24 hours to call again.

I've tried to chat but it seems there is an open ticket that occurred when a CSR answered and then the call dropped. They never closed the ticket so it shows as open and "issue resolved" and so I can't enter a new ticket.

Is there any other number to call to actually talk to someone to get out of this crazy loop?

Or has anyone stumbled upon a fix yet?

Hi Professor, first please stay away from Office 16 folder on C Drive. You cannot do anything there and it make little sense. You need to uninstall your Office 2021 from Control Panel or Settings. Check at Services & Subscriptions of the Microsoft Account associated with your Offices> Here is direct link: https://account.microsoft.com/services  you should see both your office install links.

If you open an App, e.g. Word>File>Account>Which version of Office shows there>2021 or 2024?

First, I fully uninstalled Office Pro 2021, and second, I chose the Office 2024 license in my Accounts. When any Microsoft program opens, it show "2024" in the splash at initialization, but the program, itself, (Work, Excel, PowerPoint) is nothing but the Office 2021 version I had for three years. It is, in fact, Office 2021, notwithstanding the opening screen that shows "2024." That would be fine because Office Pro 2021 served me well, but the promotions, articles, and other media pitches to upgrade show noticeable differences and new facilities in 2024, and they just aren't there. I bought a new license for Office 2021.

Hi Professor, I did not realise you were talking about Office Professional Plus 2021, which are sold in contravention of the Microsoft licence. You need to uninstall your Office Pro Plus, not sure why Microsoft thinks Office Pro 2021 is a better choice, but that is how it works Microsoft will attempt to install the better version of Office, and in doing so you sometimes end up with a different plash screen to the installed Office. I had the same problem on my other computer.

Had this issue as well.

Even with uninstalling the older version and reinstalling the new version, it still defaults to the old version.

I found if you launch one of the apps, go under Account and find "Product Information". Under that there should be a new option "Switch Versions", select that and pick the new version. It should switch the Product Info to the other version, but still remains the same. You must then go below that and search for "Updates". It will try to update it to the latest/other version. I repeated this for all the apps.

Even then, it still might be the previous version. Go under Windows > Settings > Apps > Installed Apps > Microsoft Office and run a "Quick Repair" if it says it's the latest version. If it's still saying it's the previous one, uninstall it, reboot, and then reinstall the latest.

The critical key is to ensure the selected license version has been changed firstly before reinstalling or repairing it. Otherwise, it just ends up grabbing the older one each time.