How to Install Microsoft Project 2019 with Office Professional Plus 2016
Question details
The user needs to install Microsoft Project 2019 on a Windows computer that currently has Office Professional Plus 2016 or Project 2016 installed without encountering conflicts.
- Product
- Microsoft Project / Microsoft Office
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Adding or upgrading to Microsoft Project 2019 in an existing Microsoft Office 2016 environment.
- Observed behavior
- Installation fails or conflicts arise because older versions of Project are present, or because the installation technologies and bit architectures between the Office suite and Project do not match.
Check your current Microsoft Office installation to confirm whether you are using the 32-bit or 64-bit version, and verify if it uses Click-to-Run or MSI (Windows Installer) technology.
Uninstall Older Versions and Match Installation Technology
Remove Project 2016 entirely and ensure that Project 2019's bit version and installation technology strictly match your existing Office Professional Plus 2016 suite.
Microsoft prevents the simultaneous installation of products using different technologies (like Click-to-Run and MSI) or different bit versions (32-bit and 64-bit) from the same or closely related release years.
Since Microsoft Project 2019 is typically a Click-to-Run application, your Office 2016 installation must also be Click-to-Run to coexist seamlessly.
Open the Windows Control Panel, navigate to 'Programs and Features', locate 'Microsoft Project 2016' in the list of installed software, and click 'Uninstall'. Follow the prompts to completely remove it.
Open an existing application like Microsoft Word 2016. Go to 'File' > 'Account' and click on 'About Word'. Note whether the installation is 32-bit or 64-bit.
Access your Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center or Microsoft account. Download the Project 2019 installation file that matches the exact bit architecture (32-bit or 64-bit) of your Office 2016 suite.
Double-click the downloaded setup file for Microsoft Project 2019. It will install as a standalone application alongside your Office Professional Plus 2016 suite.
Switch to WPS Office to Avoid Complex Installation Conflicts
Struggling with mixed Microsoft Office installation technologies like Click-to-Run versus MSI, or 32-bit versus 64-bit restrictions? WPS Office offers a unified, lightweight alternative that avoids version conflicts entirely while keeping you fully productive.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free, lightweight installer package.
- 2. Install the Suite: Run the setup file. WPS Office installs as a single software without strict legacy version conflicts.
- 3. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Office and instantly open your existing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files with high fidelity.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install MSI Office 2016 alongside Click-to-Run Project 2019?
No, Microsoft generally restricts installing MSI (Windows Installer) and Click-to-Run products of the same or closely related years on the same operating system. To install Project 2019 (which uses Click-to-Run), your Office 2016 installation must also use Click-to-Run.
Do I need the full Office 2019 suite to use Project 2019?
No, Microsoft Project 2019 operates as a standalone application. As long as the bit versions and installation technologies match, you can run it alongside older Office suites like 2016.
Why am I getting a bit-version mismatch error during the Project 2019 installation?
This error appears when you attempt to install the 64-bit version of Project 2019 on a PC that already has 32-bit Office applications installed, or vice versa. You must either use the 32-bit installer for Project 2019 or completely uninstall the 32-bit Office 2016 and reinstall everything in 64-bit.
