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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***
Processes in Microsoft 365 for setting up Office apps, redeeming product keys, and activating licenses.
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
Hi Jamezy, unless you know different, it is grabbing what Microsoft sees as the best version, and a Pro Plus 2021 will be a better version so far as Microsoft installers see it. Not sure if this is done on purpose because Pro Plus 2021 is not legit.
Thanks for the info. I will give it a try next week. Out of town for the weekend.
Hi Jamezy, unless you know different, it is grabbing what Microsoft sees as the best version, and a Pro Plus 2021 will be a better version so far as Microsoft installers see it. Not sure if this is done on purpose because Pro Plus 20221 is not legit.
I have store purchased copies of:
Microsoft Office Home and Business 2021
Microsoft Office Home and Business 2024
I don't know why it would see it as a better version. Does it not come with OneNote or something the previous version has, that I need to remove?
Those licenses show up as the two options under the Apps (Switch License) and under the Microsoft Account.
I had originally tried the "default" Office installer, following the instructions on the package/license card. I later tried downloading the installer EXE from the Microsoft Account for "Microsoft Office Home and Business 2024" - both trying the "default" and the "64-bit version". They all gave the same results, defaulting back to "Microsoft Office Home and Business 2021" each time.
It's now saying Office 2024, except for under the Product Information, which still toggles back to Office 2021?
It says it's Version 2409 (Build 18025.20160 Click-to-Run) and fully Up-To-Date.
I'm using a Windows 11 64-Bit OS.
This is similar to my experience. You'll find my original question and the "solutions" to the problem. It now appears that there is no sure way to fix what Microsoft has done, and all the responses from Microsoft on this thread are just "Here, try this" deflections. Microsoft will not offer refunds, and it won't reel back and fix whatever the underlying problem is so all of the purchasers can uninstall the failed version and installed the fixed version. As I am now convinced from my original post, I paid $250 for vaporware. So did all of you, here.
This is similar to my experience. You'll find my original question and the "solutions" to the problem. It now appears that there is no sure way to fix what Microsoft has done, and all the responses from Microsoft on this thread are just "Here, try this" deflections. Microsoft will not offer refunds, and it won't reel back and fix whatever the underlying problem is so all of the purchasers can uninstall the failed version and installed the fixed version. As I am now convinced from my original post, I paid $250 for vaporware. So did all of you, here.
Another thing to note is that during this time of struggling to download/install and reinstall it... this was during the weekend. I later got an email from Microsoft claiming that "Order Placed" - Your Microsoft order (number) has been processed. Any downloads you brought, except preorders, are available now.
I'm guessing it might have taken a day or two for the store license key to be verified and processed by the Microsoft Account online? It might have just been ignoring it before that. If just purchased, wait till processed. I also have a desktop and laptop; it wasn't processed till signing onto both of them. I'm installing on the laptop, but it might have needed to confirm the desktop account. It said the license key is already taken by the laptop, but that's when the processed email arrived.
However, yeah, it's quite annoying and an odd glitch. The office installer itself should check for previous versions to at least warn you to uninstall first, and that the license is currently being processed, etc.