Uninstall & Reinstall Issues

How to Fix Office 2024 and Office 2021 Licenses Both Showing in Word

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user installed Office 2024 over an existing Office 2021 installation, but Word continues to display both licenses even after a standard uninstallation and reinstallation.

Product: Microsoft Word
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Upgrading Microsoft Office versions by installing Office 2024 over Office 2021.
Observed behavior: Both the Office 2024 and Office 2021 licenses are displayed simultaneously within the Word account interface, and standard removal processes fail to clear the older license.

Before you start

Before proceeding, ensure you have your official Microsoft account credentials and the product key for your Office 2024 license ready, as you may need to sign back in.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Microsoft Office Uninstall Support Tool

Use Microsoft's official cleanup tool to completely scrub the old Office 2021 license keys from your system registry.

A standard uninstallation from the Windows Control Panel often leaves product keys and license files in the registry. To completely remove the older license, you must use Microsoft's dedicated Support and Recovery Assistant.

Download the tool

Download the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant (SaRA) from the official Microsoft support website.

Run the uninstaller

Launch the downloaded tool, select 'Office', and follow the prompts to completely wipe all existing Office installations and cached licenses from your device.

Reinstall Office 2024

Restart your computer to apply the registry changes, then log into your Microsoft account to perform a clean installation of Office 2024.

Complete Cleanup: This method ensures that hidden volume licenses and registry keys are entirely removed, preventing dual-license display issues.

Solution 2

Verify Shortcut Targets for Coexisting Versions

If both Office versions are installed side-by-side, verify that you are launching the correct application.

Solution 3

Check for Unauthorized Volume Licenses

Determine if the lingering Office 2021 license is a volume license that requires specific command-line removal.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office to Avoid License Conflicts

Tired of dealing with overlapping Microsoft Office licenses, volume key errors, and complex uninstall processes? WPS Office is a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative that offers Word, Excel, and PowerPoint functionalities in one app without confusing license tiers.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office installer.
2. Install the application: Run the lightweight installer to quickly set up the all-in-one suite on your computer.
3. Open your documents: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing Word documents seamlessly without formatting loss.

Free to use without worrying about complex overlapping license keysHighly compatible with all major Microsoft Office formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx)Lightweight installation that doesn't bloat your system registryAll-in-one suite for document, spreadsheet, and presentation management

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do multiple Office licenses show up in Word at the same time?

This happens when an older version of Office isn't completely removed from the system registry before a newer version is installed. The software reads leftover product keys and displays both.

Will uninstalling Office from the Control Panel remove the old license?

Not always. Standard uninstallation via the Windows Control Panel often leaves license keys intact in the registry, which is why Microsoft provides a dedicated cleanup tool for complete removal.

Can Office 2021 and Office 2024 coexist on the same computer?

Yes, they can technically coexist, but it often leads to default app conflicts, duplicate shortcuts, and confusing dual-license displays in the Account menu. It is generally recommended to keep only one version installed.

Installation & Activation