Can I install both Microsoft 365 and Office 2021 on the same computer in different user profiles

Question

I have both, and regularly answer questions here in the Word forum. My laptop with 365 just died and I would like to be able to access both on one machine, even if I have to switch users.

I know that I can't have both on the same computer with the same user.

Answer 1

Hi Charles, Welcome to the Microsoft Community. I am a Microsoft user just like you, and I hope you are well.

Please note: This is a user-to-user community forum. We are users just like you who help others. We are not employees of Microsoft.

Yes, you can install both Microsoft 365 (formerly known as Office 365) and Office 2021 on the same computer, even with different user profiles. These are separate installations and can coexist on the same machine without conflicts.

I hope this helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.

Best Regards, Umar Majeed

Answer 2

So are you telling me that I can have the desktop applications from Office 2021 Pro and from Microsoft 365 coexist on a computer, even with the same user profile? I'm skeptical but am willing to try.

Microsoft's AI gives the following response which is closer to what I think of as reality.

Yes, you can install both Microsoft 365 and Office 2021 on the same computer in different user profiles. However, you cannot have both installed on the same user profile. You will need to create a separate user profile for each installation. Once you have created the separate user profiles, you can switch between them to access the different installations of Microsoft Office.

Answer 3

Hello Charles,

Thank you for reaching out to this forum. As a fellow Microsoft user, I'm here and ready to help you out today.

Apologies for the confusion. If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription or non-subscription version such as Office Home and Business 2021, 2019, 2016 or 2013, in most cases you can't run these versions together on the same computer.

But if you're trying to install on different user profile, it should work fine.

Please verify the details in below link. https://support.microsoft.com/office/6ebb44ce-18a3-43f9-a187-b78c513788bf

Best Regards, Ravikumar

Answer 4

I think you will have problems in the second profile too since they share the same program files -each side will install updates to override the other side. A virtual machine is a better option.

Try it report back in a couple of weeks. :)

BTW... AI lies. :))

Answer 5

Hello, I bought a new desktop PC (Windows 11) that has "Microsoft 365" available on it for subscription purchase. I didn't purchase it or download anything for it as I know of. ***I also didn't delete any of the 365 data***. Instead, I simply bought and installed Office Pro Plus 2021, since I didn't want a subscription.

Fyi, in the "Installed Apps" folder I see my working Pro Plus 2021, and there is no 365 showing (seems to make sense), but there is an "Office" entry (with almost solid red icon next to it). There's no MB size noted next to Pro Plus, but the "Office" item shows as 160MB.

I've since read that 365 should be uninstalled before installing PP2021. Since I didn't install 365, nor delete any of it's data, is it okay to continue with PP2021 as is, or do I need to delete anything related to 365 even though I didn't install it? PP2021 seems to be working fine thus far, two days after installing it.

Many thanks