Activation Problems

Fix Office 2024 LTSC Still Showing Office 2021 LTSC After Install

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user installed Office 2024 LTSC using the Office Deployment Tool after removing Office 2021 LTSC, but the Account page continues to display the Office 2021 LTSC Professional Plus license.

Product: Microsoft Office 2024 LTSC
Device & OS: Windows 11
Scenario: Installing Office 2024 LTSC via the Office Deployment Tool (ODT) after uninstalling a previous Office 2021 LTSC version.
Observed behavior: The Office Account page incorrectly shows the legacy Office 2021 LTSC license and product name instead of the newly installed Office 2024 LTSC.

Before you start

Ensure you have your valid Office 2024 LTSC product key ready and that all Microsoft Office applications are completely closed before modifying any licensing files.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear Leftover Office 2021 Licensing Files

This is the most direct solution. Leftover licensing files from the previous installation can cause Office to display the old version name.

When Office is uninstalled, some cached licensing data may remain on your system. Manually deleting these files forces Office to re-evaluate its current license status.

Close all Office applications

Make sure Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and any other Office applications are completely closed so the license files are not in use.

Navigate to the Licenses folder

Open File Explorer and navigate to the directory: C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\Office\Licenses. You may need to enable 'Hidden items' in the View tab to see the ProgramData folder.

Delete legacy files

Select all files within the Licenses folder and delete them. This removes the cached Office 2021 LTSC data.

Restart and activate

Open Microsoft Word. You will be prompted to activate the software. Enter your valid Office 2024 LTSC product key to complete the setup.

Check Account Page: After successful activation, go to File > Account to verify that Office 2024 LTSC is now correctly displayed.

Solution 2

Use the Office Activation Reset Procedure (ospp.vbs)

Use this method if manually deleting the license folder does not resolve the issue, as it thoroughly removes hidden license tokens and registry keys.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Does Office 2021 LTSC automatically upgrade to Office 2024 LTSC?

No. Office 2021 LTSC and Office 2024 LTSC are separate products. Having a 2021 license will not grant you an automatic upgrade; Office 2024 must be purchased and activated separately with its own product key.

What updates will I receive if my Account page still shows Office 2021 LTSC?

If your installation is incorrectly recognizing the 2021 license, you may only receive the security updates applicable to Office 2021 LTSC. It is important to clear the old license and activate Office 2024 to ensure you receive the correct updates and features.

Can I have both Office 2021 LTSC and Office 2024 LTSC installed at the same time?

It is highly recommended to completely uninstall Office 2021 LTSC before installing Office 2024 LTSC. Having multiple versions installed simultaneously often leads to licensing conflicts, registry errors, and the exact display issues described above.

Installation & Activation