Share via

My Office 2016 has been replaced by Office 365 without my permission - how do I get 2016 back?

Anonymous
2023-10-03T10:35:17+00:00

Hello there,

After several years of using Microsoft Office 2016 I have recently found that all my apps have switched to Office 365 without my knowledge.

Now when I attempt to use any Office app I am told that my '5 day pass has ended', and that I need to Buy Microsoft 365 to use Office. This means that I cannot use Office at all.

I attempted to follow the instructions provided in a solution found here https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/forum/all/why-did-my-office-2016-oem-disappear/292b3de7-9a1b-4840-8648-aa0f3ecfd1fb but stopped when I saw that the uninstall program appeared to be set on removing what I want - Office 2016 -instead of what I don't want, Office 365.

All I want is to go back to what I have before where I was using Office 2016.

Thanks!

Microsoft 365 and Office | Install, redeem, activate | For home | Other

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.

0 comments

22 answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2023-10-10T17:53:35+00:00

    I no longer have the product key for the 2016 version that is supposedly installed.

    Pretty sure I am just going to have to give up at this point.

    365 has basically acted as malware and corrupted my Office.

    Was this answer helpful?

    6 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2023-10-13T09:26:50+00:00

    I've already done this.

    Nothing has changed.

    Whenever I open an Office application I am confronted with this pop up pushing me to buy 365 if I want to be able to use my installed 2016.

    Was this answer helpful?

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2023-10-09T20:37:51+00:00

    Hi,

    So I have uninstalled Office 2016 and reinstalled it.

    Nothing has changed.

    It is still prompting me to try and buy 365

    And telling me that my 2016 is now unlicensed.

    If I try to activate it, it just takes me back to the start.

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2023-10-03T11:26:34+00:00

    Hello SpinCS,

    Welcome to Microsoft Community.

    I am a Microsoft user just like you, I hope you are doing well.

    Sorry for the inconvenience. However, I will suggest you verify from your installed programs if you have Office 2016 installed or Office 365. If you have Office 2016 installed, I will suggest you try repairing Office using the steps below:

    1. Right-click the Start button (lower-left corner), and select Apps and Features on the pop-up menu.
    2. Select the Microsoft Office product you want to repair, and select Modify.
    3. In the window How would you like to repair your Office Programs, select Online Repair > Repair to make sure everything gets fixed.
    4. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the repair.

    https://support.microsoft.com/office/7821d4b6-7c1d-4205-aa0e-a6b40c5bb88b

    Please let me know if you need more assistance.

    Give back to the Community, Help the next person who has this issue by indicating if this reply solved your problem. Click Yes or No below.

    Warm Regards

    Was this answer helpful?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2023-10-03T11:55:01+00:00

    Hi Raymond,

    Thanks for replying.

    As per my app information, I currently have Office 365 installed. This has only been the case in the last seven days. Before this I had a standalone version of Office Home and Student 2016.

    I have followed the initial repair instructions you suggested but unfortunately this has not resulted in a resolution.

    If I were to follow the follow-up instructions and use the Support and Recovery tool the implication is that it would only remove Office 2016 from my device, which is the opposite of what I want to do:

    I can see in my online account that I still have 2016 listed as an available product, but if I click on 'DOWNLOAD NOW' it simply wants to install 365 again. Because of this I have been reluctant to remove what I have and re-download.

    If you believe this would be the correct route to me getting 2016 back however, then I will do so.

    Thanks.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments