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How to Replace Preinstalled Microsoft 365 with Office 2021 on Windows 11
Question details
A new Windows 11 computer keeps launching the preinstalled Microsoft 365 trial version instead of the newly purchased Office 2021 version, prompting the user for an activation subscription.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2021
- Device & OS
- Windows 11
- Scenario
- Setting up a newly purchased Office 2021 license on a brand-new Windows 11 PC that already has a Microsoft 365 trial installed.
- Observed behavior
- The system continues to default to Microsoft 365 and fails to associate the Office 2021 license with the user's Microsoft account even after uninstalling the software or resetting the PC.
Ensure you have your 25-character Office 2021 product key ready and know the email address and password for the Microsoft account you wish to permanently associate with this license.
Uninstall Microsoft 365 and Redeem the Office 2021 Key Online
To prevent Windows from defaulting to the trial version, you must completely remove Microsoft 365 from your system before manually redeeming your Office 2021 key to your account.
Uninstalling Office or resetting your PC does not automatically link your purchased key to your account. The product key must be manually redeemed through Microsoft's setup portal.
Navigate to 'Settings' > 'Apps' > 'Installed apps' on your Windows 11 computer. Scroll down to find 'Microsoft 365', click the three dots next to it, and select 'Uninstall'. Once uninstalled, restart your computer.
Open your web browser and navigate to https://setup.office.com/. Sign in using the Microsoft account you want to permanently associate with your Office 2021 purchase.
When prompted, enter your 25-character Office 2021 product key. Follow the on-screen instructions to verify your region and language, then confirm the redemption.
After successful redemption, you will be redirected to your Microsoft account dashboard. Click 'Install Office' to download the setup file. Run the downloaded file and maintain a stable internet connection while the installation completes.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my new Windows 11 laptop keep opening Microsoft 365?
Most new Windows 11 computers are shipped with a preinstalled trial version of Microsoft 365. If you do not completely uninstall this trial, opening any document or Office shortcut will launch the Microsoft 365 prompt instead of your purchased Office 2021 version.
Do I need to enter my product key every time I reinstall Office 2021?
No. Once you redeem the product key at setup.office.com, the Office 2021 license becomes permanently linked to your Microsoft account. For any future installations, you just need to sign in to your Microsoft account to download the software.
I uninstalled Office and reset my PC, but my license isn't showing up. What should I do?
Uninstalling Office or resetting your PC does not automatically associate a new license with your account. You must manually go to setup.office.com, sign in, and enter your 25-character product key to bind the license to your Microsoft account.
