If Microsoft Office is showing the wrong version (such as Microsoft 365 instead of Office Professional Plus 2024), or you're receiving a message that your product key doesn't match the installed version, an older Office license is usually still active on your computer.
Removing the old license and activating Office again will usually resolve the issue.
Common Symptoms
This guide can help if you experience any of the following:
Office shows Microsoft 365 instead of the version you purchased.
Office shows Office 2021 after installing Office 2024.
Office shows the wrong edition (such as Standard instead of Professional Plus).
You receive an error such as:
This product key is for Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2024, which isn't currently installed.
Your product key is rejected even though it's valid.
Before You Begin
Before starting, make sure you have:
✅ Your Microsoft Office product key
✅ Administrator access to your Windows PC
✅ All Microsoft Office applications closed
Step 1 – Close All Office Applications
Close every Microsoft Office application, including:
Word
Excel
Outlook
PowerPoint
OneNote
Teams (if installed)
Any other Office apps
Step 2 – Open the Office Licenses Folder
Open File Explorer.
Navigate to:
C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Office\Licenses
Note: If you don't see the ProgramData folder, enable Hidden items from the View (or Show) menu in File Explorer.
Step 3 – Delete the Existing License Files
Select all files inside the Licenses folder.
Delete them.
Do not delete the folder itself—only the files inside it.
These files only store your current Office activation information. Deleting them will not uninstall Microsoft Office or remove your documents.
Step 4 – Open Word Again
Open Microsoft Word.
Office may display one of these prompts:
Sign in
Enter a product key
Activate Office
If asked to sign in first, choose:
I want to enter a product key instead (if available).
Step 5 – Enter Your Product Key
Enter your 25-character Office product key.
Example:
XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
Select Next and complete the activation.
Step 6 – Verify the Correct Version
After activation:
Open Word.
Select Account.
Under Product Information, confirm that the correct Office edition is displayed.
For example:
✅ Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2024
instead of
❌ Microsoft 365
or
❌ Office Professional Plus 2021
If You're Still Seeing the Wrong Version
If Office is still showing the incorrect version after deleting the license files, it's likely that another Office installation is still present on your computer.
Open:
Settings → Apps → Installed Apps
Look for multiple Office products, such as:
Microsoft 365
Office 2021
Office 2019
Office 2016
If you find an older or unwanted version, uninstall it.
Restart your computer.
Then install and activate the Office version you purchased again.
If You Previously Used Microsoft 365
If your computer previously had Microsoft 365 installed, its license can sometimes remain active even after installing another Office version.
Removing the Microsoft 365 license files using the steps above usually resolves this issue.
Still Need Help?
If the issue continues, please contact our support team and include:
Your order number
A screenshot of the complete error message
A screenshot of Word → Account → Product Information
A screenshot of Settings → Apps → Installed Apps showing all installed Office products
This will help us identify the issue more quickly.