Office 2021 install stops at "we're getting things ready"

Question

It did this for 16 hours, and after restart did it again.

It will not load the software.

Answer 1

Your description indicates that the Office installer has crashed. Try stopping it, for example via Task Manager. Restart your computer.

If you see any traces of the broken installation, such as an entry for Microsoft 365 or Office in Installed Apps, you may have to perform a manual uninstall. For more, have a look at https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/manually-uninstall-office-4e2904ea-25c8-4544-99ee-17696bb3027b .

You may want to run the System File Checker before you attempt to install Office again. See https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/using-system-file-checker-in-windows-365e0031-36b1-6031-f804-8fd86e0ef4ca .

Answer 2

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

May I know what troubleshooting steps have you already taken?

Have you tried manual repair instead? If you haven't tried it yet, please follow the steps below.

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If you haven't tried anything yet please start by:

First, please check if your Microsoft 365 is active or if your Office license is listed. You can do this by signing in at https://account.microsoft.com/services if the subscription is active or if your Office license is listed, try these steps:

Repair Office apps:

• Press Windows + R, type appwiz.cpl and press Enter.
• Find Microsoft 365 or Office in the list, select it, then choose Change > Quick Repair.
• If that doesn’t help, run the repair again but select Online Repair instead.

Check for updates:

• Open any Office app (if it opens even briefly), go to File > Account > Update Options > Update Now.
• Restart your device after repair and try opening the apps again.

If the apps still don’t open, please let me know if you’re using Microsoft 365 or a one-time purchase version (like Office 2021), so I can guide you with the next specific steps.

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Let me know how it goes or if you have any further questions or concerns.

Click "Add comment" to let me know.

Regards,

John J.D.

Answer 3

The installation is stuck and not completing, so use the standard Office install troubleshooting steps for Windows PCs:

1. Restart the device and try the install again
   • Save work, close all apps, restart Windows, then start the Office 2021 install again from the account or installer source.
   • This is the first recommended step when Office setup hangs or fails.
2. If the install still hangs, fully remove Office using the uninstall troubleshooter
   • Download and run the Office uninstall troubleshooter from the Uninstall button in the article (aka.ms/SaRA-officeUninstallFromPC).
   • When prompted, allow it to open Get Help, follow all prompts, and restart the PC when asked.
   • This removes partial or corrupted Office installations that can cause “we’re getting things ready” to never finish.
3. Reinstall Office 2021
   • After restart, reinstall Office 2021 using the steps for the correct product version from the “Download, install or reinstall” article linked in the troubleshooter:
     • For example: Office 2021: use the steps under “Download, install or reinstall Office 2021, Office 2019 or Office 2016”.
4. If there are still problems installing
   • Follow the general “Troubleshoot installing Office” guidance: restart the PC again and, if needed, rerun the uninstall troubleshooter and reinstall.

These steps address installs that hang, take an extremely long time, or never progress beyond the initial “getting things ready” phase by clearing the broken install and performing a clean reinstall.

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References:

• Office is taking long to install
• Troubleshoot installing Office
• Error code 30015-1011 (1392) and 30015-4 (1392) when installing Office