Uninstall Office 365 and Install Office 2021 or 2024 Cleanly

To replace pre-installed Microsoft 365 with Office 2021 or Office 2024, you first need to fully uninstall Microsoft 365 (every entry such as "Microsoft 365 - en-gb", "- en-us", "- fr-fr" and so on), restart, then install your new version with its product key. Both suites use the same Click-to-Run technology and can't coexist: if you skip the uninstall step, the Office 2021 or 2024 installation fails or the activation gets mixed up. Allow about twenty minutes, documents included, without losing anything.

In support, this is one of the requests we handle most often: a new PC delivered with a Microsoft 365 trial that expires after a month, and a customer who prefers a perpetual licence. Here's the procedure we follow, with the pitfalls we come across in practice.

Why do you need to uninstall Microsoft 365 before installing Office 2021 or 2024?

On most PCs sold today, the manufacturer installs a version of Microsoft 365 (often in several languages) that runs as a trial or waits for a subscription. It takes the same place as Office 2021 or Office 2024: same folders, same update services, same Word, Excel and Outlook apps.

Microsoft says so clearly on its page about installing different versions of Office on the same PC: in most cases, a subscription version and a non-subscription version such as Office 2021 can't work together on the same computer. Microsoft also states that you can't mix 32-bit and 64-bit installations.

In practice, if you start installing Office 2021 without cleaning up, you'll see one of three scenarios:

• the installer stops with a message saying the product can't be installed alongside another;
• the installation goes through, but Word keeps showing "Unlicensed Product" or a Microsoft 365 subscription banner;
• the error "Office (64-bit or 32-bit) couldn't be installed" appears because the pre-installed version doesn't have the same architecture as the one you're installing.

If you're still torn between keeping the subscription and moving to a perpetual licence, our Office 2021 vs Microsoft 365 comparison covers both models.

What should you check before uninstalling Microsoft 365?

Uninstalling only removes the applications: your Word, Excel and PowerPoint files stay in Documents, on the Desktop or in OneDrive. A few checks still prevent unpleasant surprises:

• Your documents: if they're in OneDrive, check they're synced (cloud icon with no red arrow). OneDrive isn't uninstalled with Office.
• Outlook: with an IMAP or POP account, note down the server settings. .pst and .ost files stay in the Documents\Outlook Files folder or in %localappdata%\Microsoft\Outlook, but you'll need to recreate the profile.
• The architecture: in Word, open File > Account > About Word. The first line says "32-bit" or "64-bit". Keep the same for Office 2021/2024 unless you have a specific reason (old 32-bit add-ins).
• Your new product key: have the key you received by email to hand and, if needed, the Microsoft account you'll link it to.
• Visio or Project: if they're installed as Click-to-Run, they must also have the same architecture and be compatible with the new suite.

Method 1: uninstall Microsoft 365 from Windows Settings

This is the method to try first; it's enough in the vast majority of cases.

1. Close all Office apps, including Outlook and Teams.
2. In Windows 11, open Settings > Apps > Installed apps. In Windows 10, open Settings > Apps > Apps & features. You can also go through Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.
3. Type Microsoft 365 in the search box. On a new PC you'll often see several lines: "Microsoft 365 - en-gb", "Microsoft 365 - en-us", "Microsoft 365 - fr-fr", sometimes "Microsoft OneNote - en-gb".
4. Click the three dots (or select the line), then Uninstall. Confirm and let the wizard finish.
5. Repeat for each language listed. A single forgotten entry is enough to block the new installation.
6. Restart the PC, even if Windows doesn't ask you to.

Don't confuse the suite with the Microsoft 365 Copilot app (formerly "Office"), which is just a portal to apps and online files. It doesn't interfere with installing Office 2021 or 2024: keep it or remove it as you prefer. The same goes for the new Outlook built into Windows 11, which is a separate app.

If Microsoft 365 doesn't appear in the list even though Word is installed, it's probably a Microsoft Store installation. Open Windows PowerShell as administrator and run:

Get-AppxPackage -name "Microsoft.Office.Desktop" | Remove-AppxPackage

Then run Get-AppxPackage -name "Microsoft.Office.Desktop" again: if the command returns nothing, the package has been removed.

Method 2: Microsoft's uninstall tool (Get Help)

When the standard uninstall fails (error, stuck progress bar, entry that reappears), use the official utility. The old Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA) has been replaced by a troubleshooter launched from the Windows Get Help app. Microsoft's page Uninstall Microsoft 365 or Office from a PC has an Uninstall button that opens it directly.

1. On the PC concerned, open the Microsoft page above and click Uninstall in the section about the utility.
2. If the browser shows "This site is trying to open Get Help", click Open.
3. Follow the wizard's questions, select the version to remove (Microsoft 365), then confirm.
4. Restart when the tool asks you to.

Important: according to Microsoft, this utility handles Microsoft 365, Office 2021, 2019 and 2016, but not yet Office 2024. To remove a pre-installed Microsoft 365, it's therefore ideal.

Office is still there or stays "unlicensed": what should you do?

In our experience, two kinds of leftovers cause problems after uninstalling: an old key still registered and a Microsoft account still signed in. Before installing the new version, or straight after if activation goes wrong, run this check.

Open Command Prompt as administrator and go to the Office folder (64-bit here; for 32-bit, use C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16 instead):

cd "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16"
cscript ospp.vbs /dstatus

The command lists the licences present with the last five characters of each key ("Last 5 characters of installed product key"). If you see a licence that doesn't match your new key, remove it with:

cscript ospp.vbs /unpkey:XXXXX

where XXXXX is the five characters shown. Then, in Word, go to File > Account and click Sign out if the old account linked to the Microsoft 365 trial still appears. Sign back in only with the account you'll use for your perpetual licence.

If the Office16 folder no longer exists and Word is no longer listed, the uninstall is complete: go straight to installation.

Install Office 2021 or Office 2024 on the cleaned-up PC

Once the PC has restarted and Microsoft 365 is completely removed, installation proceeds normally. We've already written a full step-by-step guide for each version, so there's no need to repeat it here:

• to install and activate Office 2021 Professional Plus;
• to install and activate Office 2024 Professional Plus.

After installation, open Word, then File > Account. Under "Product Information" you should see "Product Activated" followed by the exact name of your edition (for example Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2021). If it still says "Microsoft 365", an entry from the old suite has survived: go back to method 2.

If Office 2024 activation returns an error code, our article on Office 2024 activation errors covers the most common cases.

Pre-installed Microsoft 365, Office 2021 or Office 2024: what changes?

Office 2021 keeps working normally after its end of support: your documents open and edit as before; only security updates stop. For a new PC you plan to keep for several years, however, Office 2024 is the more durable option, since it's supported until 2029.

Common errors when replacing Office

Here are the situations we see most often in support, with the fix that works:

• "Stop, you should wait to install Office": a standalone app (Word on its own, OneNote) from another version is still present. Uninstall it, then restart the installation.
• Office 32-bit or 64-bit couldn't be installed: an installation of the other architecture remains. Check the app list, including Visio and Project, then use the uninstall tool.
• The old subscription banner still shows: sign out of the account in File > Account, check the licences with ospp.vbs /dstatus, then restart.
• Outlook can't find your emails: recreate the profile in Control Panel > Mail > Show Profiles, then add the account. Old .pst files can be reopened via File > Open & Export.

Frequently asked questions

Will I lose my documents if I uninstall Microsoft 365?

No. Uninstalling only removes the applications. Your files stay where they are (Documents, Desktop, OneDrive) and open afterwards with Office 2021 or 2024.

Can I keep Microsoft 365 and install Office 2021 alongside it?

No, in most cases. Both are Click-to-Run installations and Microsoft doesn't support them coexisting. You have to choose one or the other.

Do I also need to uninstall OneDrive and Teams?

No. OneDrive and Teams are separate apps that don't prevent Office 2021 or 2024 from installing. Keep them if you use them.

I have a paid Microsoft 365 subscription: should I cancel it?

Yes, if you no longer use it; otherwise you'll keep being charged. You cancel at account.microsoft.com, in the Services & subscriptions section. Uninstalling the apps doesn't stop the subscription.

Where can I find my Office key if I need to reinstall later?

Keep the delivery email. On a PC that's already activated, the command cscript ospp.vbs /dstatus shows the last five characters of the installed key, which lets you identify it.

Switch to a perpetual Office licence

Once Microsoft 365 has been removed cleanly, installing a perpetual suite takes just a few minutes and you no longer have a subscription to renew. If you want the version supported for longest, choose Office 2024 Professional Plus for Windows; if you already know Office 2021 well and want exactly the same experience, Office 2021 Professional Plus is still available, bearing in mind it no longer receives security updates since 13 October 2026. If you get stuck during the switch, our support team will guide you step by step.