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How to Reinstall and Back Up Office Professional Plus 2021
Question details
The user needs to know how to back up the installation files, reinstall, and transfer Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2021 to a new or formatted computer.
- Product
- Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2021
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Reinstalling or transferring an Office 2021 perpetual license to a new device.
- Observed behavior
- Needs clear instructions on obtaining the installation media, handling the product key, and managing the one-PC license limit, especially if the old PC has failed.
Before proceeding, ensure you have your original 25-character product key and access to the email account or vendor portal where you originally purchased the license.
Transfer and Reinstall Office Professional Plus 2021 on a New PC
Follow these steps to legally transfer your perpetual 1-PC license to a new computer.
Office Professional Plus 2021 is a perpetual license restricted to one PC. To comply with transfer rules, you must remove the software from the original machine before attempting to activate it on a new one.
Open the Control Panel on your old computer, navigate to 'Programs and Features', locate Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2021 in the list, and click 'Uninstall'.
Contact your license vendor or log in to your portal to download the official setup.exe installation file. Pro Plus licenses often require vendor-supplied links.
Transfer the downloaded setup.exe file to your new computer, run the executable, and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.
Open any Office application such as Word. When prompted, enter your original 25-character product key to authenticate and activate the software.
Back Up Your Office 2021 Setup File and Product Key
Since Office Pro Plus 2021 relies on vendor-supplied links, backing up your media is crucial for future reinstalls.
Try WPS Office: A Hassle-Free Alternative
If you are struggling with strict license transfers, activation limits, or lost product keys, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and free alternative to Microsoft Office without complicated perpetual licensing restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install Office Professional Plus 2021 on multiple computers simultaneously?
No, Office Professional Plus 2021 is a perpetual license valid for only one PC at a time. To use it on a different machine, you must first uninstall it from the original computer.
What if I bought my key from a third-party seller and lost the download link?
Because Pro Plus licenses are often not tied to a personal Microsoft account, you must contact the original third-party seller to obtain a new official installation link.
Will Microsoft Support help me activate if I cannot uninstall Office from a broken PC?
Yes. If your computer experiences a critical hardware failure making uninstallation impossible, contact Microsoft Support. They can verify your eligibility and manually release the license so you can activate it on a new PC.
