'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Recover Pre-installed Office 2021 on a Dell Laptop
Question details
The user needs to recover and reinstall the original Office 2021 license that came with their Dell laptop after replacing it temporarily with a university Microsoft 365 subscription.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2021
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Reverting to a pre-installed, one-time purchase Office license after a temporary Microsoft 365 subscription ends.
- Observed behavior
- The Microsoft 365 subscription has expired, leaving the user without active Office applications, and they want to restore the originally included Office 2021 without repurchasing.
Ensure you have the exact Microsoft account credentials that you used when initially setting up your Dell laptop, as the original Office license is likely digitally linked to it.
Reinstall Office 2021 from Your Microsoft Account
If your Dell-provided Office 2021 was linked to your Microsoft account during the initial device setup, you can reinstall it directly from your account's subscription dashboard.
Before reinstalling your older Office version, it is critical to completely remove the expired Microsoft 365 installation to prevent activation conflicts.
Open Windows Settings, navigate to 'Apps', select 'Installed apps', find 'Microsoft 365' in the list, and click 'Uninstall'.
Open a web browser, navigate to account.microsoft.com, and sign in with the Microsoft account originally used on the Dell laptop.
Click on the 'Services & subscriptions' tab in the top navigation menu to view all products associated with your account.
Look for 'Office 2021' in your list of purchased products. Click 'Install' or 'Manage' next to it, and follow the on-screen prompts to download and set up the software.
Recover License via Dell Digital Delivery
If the Office 2021 license is not listed in your Microsoft account, it may be an OEM entitlement tied specifically to your device that requires Dell's software retrieval tools.
Try WPS Office if You Cannot Recover Your Office 2021 License
If you are unable to retrieve your Dell-provided Office 2021 license or your Microsoft 365 subscription has permanently expired, WPS Office is an excellent free, lightweight, and easy-to-use alternative. It offers a familiar interface and seamless document handling without requiring a paid subscription.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installer for your Windows PC.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the setup file and follow the straightforward on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
- 3. Open Existing Documents: Launch WPS Office and instantly open your old Microsoft 365 or Office 2021 files without losing any formatting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to uninstall Microsoft 365 before installing Office 2021?
Yes. Leaving Microsoft 365 installed can cause activation and compatibility conflicts. You should completely uninstall it via Windows 'Apps & features' before downloading and installing your Office 2021 lifetime license.
What if Office 2021 is missing from my Microsoft 'Services & subscriptions' page?
This usually means you are logged into the wrong Microsoft account, or the software was never properly linked during the initial laptop setup. You may need to use Dell Digital Delivery or contact Dell Support to retrieve the OEM entitlement.
Will my lifetime Office 2021 license activate automatically if I just cancel Microsoft 365?
No, it will not downgrade automatically. Microsoft 365 and Office 2021 are separate installations. You must remove the subscription-based software and explicitly reinstall the Office 2021 version from your Microsoft account.
