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Purchased Office 2024 but still shows Office 2021 or Office 365

Mark Yost 20 Reputation points
2025-12-01T19:57:57.38+00:00

I purchased Office 2024 on Black Friday for my 2 laptops. I already have Office 2021 installed on laptop 1, but wanted to upgrade it, and had no Office software on laptop 2. I installed Office on laptop 2, so I wouldn't mess up the installation on laptop 1. At first, the Product Information only showed Office 365 Subscription, but after several attempts, I got it to show Office 2021 as the Product. instead of Office 365. I assume it pulled that license from my Microsoft Account.

How do I get it to show Office 2024 instead of Office 2021?

What's the difference between Activation keys and licenses?

I read that if I have multiple licenses, Microsoft should either give me an option to choose which license to use or select the best option for me. I don't get to choose licenses; I only get my Office 2021 license. How do I get Office 2024 as a choice?

This is confusing.

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

Answer accepted by question author

  1. Stefan Blom 339.2K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2025-12-01T21:23:21.33+00:00

    @Stefan Blom Thank you! That's the most straightforward answer I've seen while trying to fix this. I don't understand why the volume licensing for Office 2024 Professional Plus is quite inexpensive (under $30) compared to over $150 for Office Home and Business 2024. The Black Friday and Cyber Monday "deals" offered by Groupon et al are misleading. I guess I'll stick to Office 2021, which I purchased a couple of years ago for laptop 1.

    Thanks for the follow-up. When a product is unexpectedly cheap, that is a warning sign that something is not right. You should definitely try and get your money back.

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  1. Stefan Blom 339.2K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2025-12-01T20:19:21.0733333+00:00

    Hello Stefan, I purchased Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus License for 3 PCs.

    Mark,

    Office Professional Plus requires volume licensing (see https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/office/ltsc/2024/overview). It is not a consumer product. If you intended to purchase a consumer (home use) product, you need to ask your money back for Professional Plus. You can get Office Home & Business 2024 directly from Microsoft. Go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/p/office-home-business-2024/cfq7ttc0pbm7 .

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  2. Mark Yost 20 Reputation points
    2025-12-01T20:57:22.82+00:00

    @Stefan Blom Thank you! That's the most straightforward answer I've seen while trying to fix this. I don't understand why the volume licensing for Office 2024 Professional Plus is quite inexpensive (under $30) compared to over $150 for Office Home and Business 2024. The Black Friday and Cyber Monday "deals" offered by Groupon et al are misleading. I guess I'll stick to Office 2021, which I purchased a couple of years ago for laptop 1.

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  3. Q&A Assist
    2025-12-01T19:58:16.0533333+00:00
    AI generated content. This question contains an answer created with AI from Q&A Assist. Learn more

    To resolve the issue of your Office 2024 installation showing as Office 2021 or Office 365, you can follow these steps:

    1. Uninstall Office 2021: Since you want to upgrade to Office 2024, it might be best to uninstall Office 2021 from your laptop. You can do this through the Control Panel or Settings on Windows.
    2. Install Office 2024: After uninstalling, make sure to install Office 2024 using the product key you received upon purchase. This should ensure that the correct version is installed.
    3. Check Your Microsoft Account: Make sure that your Microsoft account is linked to the Office 2024 license. Sometimes, licenses can be tied to your account, and you may need to sign in with the correct account that holds the Office 2024 license.
    4. Activation: After installation, activate Office 2024 using the product key. If it still shows Office 2021, you may need to contact Microsoft support for assistance in ensuring that the correct license is being recognized.

    Regarding the difference between activation keys and licenses:

    • Activation Key: This is a unique code that you enter to activate your software. It confirms that your copy of Office is genuine and allows you to use the software.
    • License: This refers to the legal right to use the software. A license can be associated with a specific product key and may allow for multiple installations, depending on the terms of the license.

    If you have multiple licenses, Microsoft typically allows you to choose which license to use during installation or activation. However, if you are not seeing this option, it may be due to how the licenses are set up in your Microsoft account or the installation process you followed.

    If issues persist, consider reaching out to Microsoft support for tailored assistance based on your account and installation situation.

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