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How to Fix Whole-Document Translation Unavailable in Office 2021
Question details
Users are unable to use the whole-document translation feature in Microsoft Office 2021 after updating past version 16.0.16227.20280.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2021
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to translate an entire document using the built-in translation tool in Office 2021.
- Observed behavior
- The system displays a message stating that the translation feature is currently unavailable in builds newer than 16.0.16227.20280.
Before proceeding with a version rollback, ensure you have saved all your open documents and closed all Microsoft Office applications.
Roll Back Office 2021 to a Previous Version
Revert to version 16.0.16227.20280, the last known build where whole-document translation functioned correctly.
Since this issue was introduced in updates following version 16.0.16227.20280, the most reliable temporary workaround is to downgrade your Microsoft Office installation until an official patch is released.
Click the Start menu, type 'cmd', right-click on 'Command Prompt', and select 'Run as administrator'.
Type the command 'cd %programfiles%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun' and press Enter.
Type 'officec2rclient.exe /update user updatetoversion=16.0.16227.20280' and press Enter to begin the downgrade process.
Open Microsoft Word, go to File > Account > Update Options, and click 'Disable Updates' to prevent Office from automatically reinstalling the broken version.
Report the Issue to Microsoft Feedback Portal
Submit a bug report to help Microsoft's engineering team investigate and release a permanent fix.
Use WPS Office as a Reliable Alternative for Document Translation
If you are struggling with the Microsoft Office translation bug, WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative. Enjoy seamless document editing and built-in translation features without the hassle of version rollbacks.
- 1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office from the official website and install it on your computer.
- 2. Open Your Document: Launch WPS Writer and open the Word document you wish to translate.
- 3. Translate the Document: Navigate to the Review tab, select the Translate tool, and choose your desired language for instant whole-document translation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Office 2021 say whole-document translation is unavailable?
This is a known issue in Office 2021 builds newer than version 16.0.16227.20280. It is likely caused by a bug in the application's connection to the Microsoft translation cloud service.
Will rolling back my Office version delete my documents?
No, reverting to a previous version of Microsoft Office only affects the application software files. Your personal files, documents, and system settings will remain completely safe and unchanged.
How do I stop Office 2021 from automatically updating again?
Open any Office application like Word, navigate to File > Account, click on Update Options, and select 'Disable Updates'. This prevents the broken version from automatically reinstalling in the background.
Does Office 2019 have this translation bug?
Based on user reports, this specific whole-document translation bug is isolated to newer builds of Office 2021. Office 2019 versions continue to function normally without displaying this error.
