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Remove Office 2021 completely and install Microsoft 365 - helped by switching licenses within the app!

Charles Kenyon 166.6K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
2023-09-23T22:24:29+00:00

EDIT ABOUT SOLUTION

Solved with assistance from Microsoft Help Chat on 9/29 - see final post

Did not actually remove 2021. This involves switching the license within the application itself.

![](https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/f59d6a6c-e0cf-450c-9498-65bdc0b258af?platform=QnA"https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/f59d6a6c-e0cf-450c-9498-65bdc0b258af?platform=QnA" title="filestore.community.support.microsoft.com" rel="ugc nofollow">===========================================================

I thought I knew how to do this but Office 2021 seems very stubborn.

I am using Windows 11 Pro.

I am posting this as a discussion rather than a question because I am not interested in getting guesses from IAs.

What I have tried:

Unistall Office 2021 from Settings Programs and Apps.

Install 365.

Result: Office 2021 is the program.

Second method:

Uninstall Office 2021 using SetupProd_OffScrubp.exe fromUninstall Office from a PC - Office Support.

Restart Computer

Install Microsoft 365 from my account

Result: Office 2021 is the program.

I am judging results based upon Word.

I am seeing the Office 2021 splash screen when I start Word.

The Dictate and Transcribe features are not available.

The "What's New" megaphone is not showing.

When I go to File > Account > About Word, it shows Microsoft Office 2021.

![](https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/22002e1c-05d2-4a87-90c4-6fadb494537e?platform=QnA"https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/22002e1c-05d2-4a87-90c4-6fadb494537e?platform=QnA" rel="ugc nofollow">https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/22002e1c-05d2-4a87-90c4-6fadb494537e?platform=QnA"https://learn-attachment.microsoft.com/api/attachments/22002e1c-05d2-4a87-90c4-6fadb494537e?platform=QnA" title="filestore.community.support.microsoft.com" rel="ugc nofollow">1. Uninstall Office 2021 from Settings > Apps & features.

2. Download and run the Microsoft Office Uninstall Support Tool to completely remove any remaining Office 2021 files.

  1. Restart your computer.
  2. Sign in to your Microsoft account and go to the Microsoft 365 download page.
  3. Click Install to download and install Microsoft 365.

If you're still seeing Office 2021 after following these steps, it's possible that there are some leftover files or registry entries that need to be removed manually. In that case, I would recommend contacting Microsoft support for further assistance.

So, I will now try first uninstalling from the Control panel and then using the uninstall support tool. I do not expect anything different. I noticed last time that the simple uninstall did not remove the shortcuts from the taskbar while the support tool did.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | Windows

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.

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12 answers

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  1. Charles Kenyon 166.6K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2023-09-29T13:31:10+00:00

    Nope, the switch license does not give access to the Word 2021 interface even when it says that is the active license. I will keep looking. Low priority.

    7 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Charles Kenyon 166.6K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2023-09-23T22:34:01+00:00

    This is what is showing under the Apps & Features

    Image

    I told the Support and Recovery Assistant to remove all Office installations. (It does not list 2021 as a possible version for removal, though.) This is what I am seeing:

    Image

    I do not believe 2010 nor 2007 were ever installed on this computer but could be mistaken.

    (Update, now also clearing 2013 and 2016, again I do not think these were ever installed.)

    5 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Charles Kenyon 166.6K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2023-09-28T22:12:43+00:00

    I got help with this directly through Word's help by going to Chat.

    Russell was able to assist. It took a while.

    I have to use the Switch License button, that I had not noticed previously. (Not switch account, but license.)

    Image

    Image

    It is now coming up showing Office 2021 but with the Microsoft 365 interface and features.

    Unfortunately, it is also stuck in the New Experience mode.

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  4. Anonymous
    2023-12-17T23:18:49+00:00

    Nope, the switch license does not give access to the Word 2021 interface even when it says that is the active license. I will keep looking. Low priority.

    Thanks so much for this, it was driving me mad for weeks, had tried multiple uninstall and reinstalls, office removal tools etc, nothing worked. I have an office 2021 Pro key on my account as well as my M365. I HAD tried the licence switch, and it did change immediately, but after closing and restarting it was back to Office 2021 Pro. I had not realised it's the actual licence information that was wrong, but I just confirmed what you have said by checking some features that are NOT in Office 2021 Pro, and I do have them. Annoying, but at least I can live with them. Thanks again

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  5. Charles Kenyon 166.6K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2023-09-24T06:04:39+00:00

    Current situation: I just see one Word. And, it is in Office 2021.

    Image

    The computer shows up on my account page as a device under my subscription.

    Image

    Office 2021 Professional Plus shows up on the account page under purchases and has an Install button available.

    I am currently trying to use that install button to install as well and will see what happens.

    I get a message that it is updating Office applications, then that it is starting Word.

    Message shows up that Office 365 and Office products click-to-run are ready.

    Only Office 2021 Professional plus shows up, as originally described.

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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