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How to Prevent Microsoft 365 from Replacing Office LTSC 2021
Question details
The user needs to stop Microsoft 365 Enterprise from automatically downloading and uninstalling their existing Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 Enterprise, Office LTSC 2021
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Using a computer with Office LTSC 2021 pre-installed when an automatic update or organizational deployment triggers.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft 365 Enterprise automatically downloads and deletes or replaces the existing Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021 installation.
Verify the origin of your Office LTSC 2021 license, as it is a volume-licensed product meant for organizations, and ensure you have administrative access to modify system deployment settings.
Review Group Policy and Organization Deployment Settings
Since Microsoft 365 Enterprise is often deployed automatically by organizations, checking your group policies can stop the forced upgrade.
Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021 is an enterprise-level volume-licensed product. If your device is connected to a school or work network (or if a seller pre-configured enterprise policies), the IT administrator may have set up policies that automatically push Microsoft 365 Apps to replace older Office versions.
Press the Windows key, type 'Edit group policy' into the search bar, and hit Enter to open the Local Group Policy Editor.
Go to Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Office > Updates.
Look for any policies related to 'Upgrade Office' or automatic Microsoft 365 deployments. Double-click them and set their status to 'Disabled'.
If you do not have permission to change these settings, you must contact your organization's IT administrator to exclude your machine from the Microsoft 365 deployment group.
Reconfigure Office Using the Office Deployment Tool
Use the official Office Deployment Tool to explicitly define your installation parameters and block Microsoft 365 conflicts.
Avoid License Conflicts with WPS Office
Dealing with volume licensing, Office Deployment Tools, and forced Microsoft 365 upgrades can be highly frustrating. WPS Office provides a lightweight, globally trusted alternative that never forces unwanted subscription upgrades. It offers seamless compatibility with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files—all in a single, intuitive application.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and click 'Download WPS Office Free' to download the installer.
- 2. Install the Software: Run the setup file. The lightweight installation takes only a few moments and will not conflict with any existing software on your PC.
- 3. Open Your Files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing DOCX, XLSX, or PPTX files to continue working seamlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Microsoft 365 automatically uninstall my Office LTSC 2021?
Microsoft 365 Enterprise includes organizational deployment policies that often remove older or conflicting Office versions (like LTSC 2021) to ensure all users in a network are on the same subscription-based platform.
Can I run both Office LTSC 2021 and Microsoft 365 on the same computer?
No. Microsoft generally does not support running volume-licensed Office (like LTSC) and subscription-based Microsoft 365 Apps on the same device. Installing one will usually overwrite or conflict with the other.
How do I know if my Office LTSC 2021 license is legitimate for personal use?
Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021 is exclusively designed for enterprise volume licensing. If you bought a personal PC with this software pre-installed, it may be an unauthorized volume license key applied by the seller. You should contact Microsoft Support to verify your product key.
