Talk to live agent -- Office lost after trying to upgrade Windows

Question

Hello, I need help. My lifetime office software disappeared after attempts to upgrade. So, I deleted all my pictures to free up space. Therefore, today my update to Microsoft 11 finally worked and restarted, OK. But I still don't see my Word, Excel, PowerPoint applications listed. I can't seem to open and edit my existing files still. PLEASE HELP!! My phone number is -removed for privacy-.

My information

[Moderator Note: PII removed]

Answer 1

It sounds like you are experiencing issues with your Microsoft Office applications after upgrading to Windows 11. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot and hopefully resolve the issue:

1. Check if Office is Installed: Go to the Start menu and search for "Word", "Excel", or "PowerPoint" to see if the applications are listed. If they are not, you may need to reinstall Office.
2. Reinstall Microsoft Office: If the applications are missing, you can reinstall them. You can do this by going to the Microsoft 365 website, signing in with your account, and downloading the Office applications again.
3. Check for Updates: Ensure that your Windows 11 is fully updated. Go to Settings > Windows Update and check for any pending updates.
4. Repair Office: If you find the applications but they won't open, you can try repairing Office. Go to Settings > Apps > Apps & features, find Microsoft Office in the list, click on it, and select "Modify". Then choose the repair option.
5. Check Disk Space: Since you mentioned deleting pictures to free up space, ensure that you have enough disk space available for Office to function properly. You can use the Disk Cleanup tool to free up additional space if needed.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may want to reach out to Microsoft Support directly for further assistance.

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References:

• You receive an error message when you try to open an Office document
• Windows 10 to Windows 11 Upgrade

Answer 2

Hello louise notaro,

Thank you for reaching out in Microsoft Q&A forum

I understand you’re facing an issue where your Office apps disappeared after upgrading to Windows 11 and you can’t open or edit your existing files

The upgrade to Windows 11 likely removed the pre-installed Office suite or broke its activation, which is common when moving from older versions or lifetime licenses.

To resolve this, please follow these steps:

1. Check if Office is still installed
   • Press Windows + S, type Control Panel, open it.
   • Go to Programs > Programs and Features and look for Microsoft Office.
   • If missing, go to next steps to reinstall.
2. Go to Install Microsoft 365 or Office > choose your Office version > follow instructions to install Office.
3. Activate Office:
   • Open Word or Excel, sign in with the same Microsoft account tied to your license.
   • If activation fails, use the activation tool via this link: Activate Office for Windows
4. Restart your PC after installation and check if Word, Excel, and PowerPoint appear in Start Menu.

If you still want to talk with an agent:

1. Go to Contact Us - Microsoft and sign in your account.
2. Type Can't install Office in the search box.
3. Click Get help and Select Contact Support.
4. Choose Microsoft 365 and Office as Products and Services; and Download and Install as Category
5. Click Confirm.
6. You can choose to chat with a support representative.

Note: The chat support team only works during certain working hours. Therefore, if the last window indicates that you are unavailable, try opening it again the next day. If you prefer phone support, you can leave a phone number. That way, they can call you and help you.

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Answer 3

Josh was trying to connect me with agent. No I am still trying to figure out how to restore my office, deleted during Windows 11 upgrade. Can you help me? Could you check PII ******@rochester.rr.com emails?

I went through this a couple years ago and they gave me the key but cant find.

Thank you

Answer 4

Hello louise notaro,

Thank you for trying my suggestions.

Based on what you've described, I'd like to clarify some information to better assist you:

If you ever signed in to Office and didn’t use a 25‑character key, you likely have a Microsoft 365 subscription. If that, follow these steps:

1. Go to https://account.microsoft.com/services and sign in with the account you used for Office.
2. Under your subscription, click Install Office → Download → Run the installer.
3. When Word first opens, sign in with the same account to activate.

If you bought Office 2016/2019/2021 outright, you’ll have a product key and should link it to your Microsoft account, then follow these steps:

1. Go to https://setup.office.com. Sign in
2. Choose Redeem a product key (if you still have it) → follow prompts → Install.
3. If you lost the key but previously redeemed it, the license should appear under Services & subscriptions in your account, install from there.
4. If you never linked the key and cannot find it, collect proof of purchase and contact Microsoft Support for recovery options (follow my instructions in the above answer to contact Microsoft support team).

If an actual Office installation appears (Microsoft 365 Apps or Office 2019/2021) but won’t open: go to Settings → Apps → Installed apps → Office → Change/Modify → Quick Repair, then Online Repair if needed.

Let me know if it helps.

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