windows confuses word 2024 with 365

Question

I call word intending 2024 office and windows tries to run word 365 instead and fails. Same with Excel. How do I fix these?

Error Code: 0x426-0x0

Answer 1

Hi, I'm John! I will help you with this.

Are you able to see your Microsoft Office 2024 under the Services & subscriptions page here: https://account.microsoft.com/services (make sure you’re signed in with the same Microsoft account you used to activate Office)?

If you can see it there, please follow these steps below.

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Before installing, it’s a good idea to uninstall all existing versions of Office to avoid conflicts.

Here’s how:

• Open the Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.
• Look for any version of Microsoft Office or Office apps, right-click, then choose Uninstall. Please uninstall all Office apps.
• Once that’s done, restart your computer just to be safe.

Then, to reinstall Microsoft Office:

• Go to https://account.microsoft.com/services
• Sign in using the same Microsoft account linked to your license.
• Find your Microsoft Office 2024 and click the "Install".
• That will download the installer for the Office apps, just run it and follow the steps.

If anything’s unclear or the "Install" option still doesn’t show, feel free to let me know. I’ll be happy to walk you through it!

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I really hope this information is helpful! Let me know if you have any further questions or concerns.

Regards,

John J.D.

Answer 2

To resolve the issue where Windows is confusing Word 2024 with Word 365, you can try the following steps:

1. Check Default Apps: Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps. Ensure that the default app for opening .docx files is set to Word 2024.
2. Repair Office Installation: If the issue persists, you may need to repair your Office installation. You can do this by going to Settings > Apps > Apps & features, selecting your Office product, and then choosing the Repair option. Opt for Online Repair for a more thorough fix.
3. Uninstall and Reinstall: If repairing doesn't work, consider uninstalling both Office versions (2024 and 365) completely, then reinstalling only the version you want to use.
4. Registry Check: If you're comfortable with it, check the Windows Registry for any entries that might be pointing to the wrong version of Word. Be cautious when editing the registry.
5. Restart Your Computer: After making changes, restart your computer to ensure that all settings are applied correctly.

If you continue to experience issues, you may want to consult Microsoft support for further assistance.

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References:

• how to fix word error - Microsoft Q&A
• we are sorry, but word has run into an error that is preventing it from working correctly. Word will need to be closed as a result. Would you like us to repair now? - Microsoft Q&A