How to Fix Microsoft 365 License Detection and Reverting to Office 2016
Question details
Users are experiencing an issue where Microsoft 365 desktop applications fail to detect an active Family subscription and mistakenly reinstall or revert to Office Professional 2016.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 / Office 2016
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to install or use Microsoft 365 desktop apps with an active Family subscription after a previous version was installed.
- Observed behavior
- The installation fails to recognize the Microsoft 365 license and instead reverts to or installs as Office Professional 2016.
Ensure you have your Microsoft account login credentials handy and take a moment to back up any customized personal templates or Outlook data files before beginning the removal process.
Completely Remove Conflicting Licenses and Reinstall Microsoft 365
Use the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA) to clear out conflicting Office 2016 license data before performing a clean installation.
Simply uninstalling Office 2016 from the Control Panel often leaves behind residual registry keys and licensing tokens. These remnants confuse the Microsoft 365 installer, causing it to revert to the older Professional 2016 license.
Download the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA) tool from the official Microsoft support website and launch the application.
Select 'Office' from the main menu and follow the on-screen prompts to completely remove all traces of Office Professional 2016 and any previous Microsoft 365 installations.
Reboot your computer to ensure all leftover registry keys and licensing files are fully cleared from the system memory.
Log into your Microsoft account online, navigate to the 'Services and Subscriptions' page, verify the correct Microsoft 365 product is selected, and click 'Install'.
Switch to WPS Office to Avoid Complex Licensing Headaches
If Microsoft 365 licensing bugs and conflicting installations are disrupting your workflow, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible, all-in-one suite that is lightweight, easy to install, and entirely free of complex background licensing conflicts.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package.
- 2. Install the Application: Run the downloaded executable file and follow the straightforward on-screen prompts to complete the installation.
- 3. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files without formatting loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Microsoft 365 keep reverting to Office 2016?
This usually happens when leftover license tokens or registry keys from a previous Office Professional 2016 installation are still present on your computer, causing the system to misidentify your active subscription.
Will using the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant delete my personal files?
No, the tool only removes Office application files, registry entries, and licensing data. Your personal documents will remain intact, though it is always best practice to back up personal templates and Outlook PST files beforehand.
Where can I verify my active Microsoft 365 subscription?
You can verify your active subscriptions by logging into your Microsoft account on the web and navigating to the 'Services and Subscriptions' dashboard.
