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Resolve Office LTSC 2024 and Publisher 2021 Installation Errors
Question details
An organization wants to deploy Microsoft Publisher LTSC 2021 on computers running Office LTSC Professional Plus 2024 because Publisher is excluded from the 2024 suite.
- Product
- Microsoft Office LTSC 2024, Microsoft Publisher LTSC 2021
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Administrators are attempting to install two different LTSC versions of Office products on the same machine to retain access to Publisher.
- Observed behavior
- Installing both versions together is unsupported by Microsoft, resulting in activation failures, Click-to-Run conflicts, and compatibility errors.
Verify your organization's Microsoft volume licensing agreements and ensure you have administrative privileges to manage deployment configurations using the Office Deployment Tool (ODT).
Deploy Office LTSC 2021 Instead of Office LTSC 2024
The most reliable method to ensure users have access to Publisher is to standardise on Office LTSC 2021, which natively includes the application.
Microsoft does not support installing Office LTSC Professional Plus 2024 alongside Publisher LTSC 2021 due to installer engine and licensing conflicts.
Downgrading to the 2021 LTSC suite resolves activation issues while maintaining a fully supported organizational environment.
Open the Windows Control Panel, navigate to 'Programs and Features', select 'Microsoft Office LTSC Professional Plus 2024', and click 'Uninstall'.
Create a configuration.xml file for Office LTSC 2021 using the Office Customization Tool, ensuring Publisher is set to install.
Run the ODT in the command prompt using 'setup.exe /configure configuration.xml' to deploy the supported suite across the organization's computers.
Retain Office Professional Plus 2019
If your computers are currently running Office 2019, maintaining this version is a viable workaround to avoid installation conflicts.
Avoid Complex Deployments with WPS Office
Struggling with Microsoft Office version conflicts and strict licensing? WPS Office provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative for modern organizational needs without the activation headaches of mixing LTSC versions.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free enterprise or personal installation package.
- 2. Deploy on Workstations: Run the lightweight installer on your computers without worrying about version conflicts or complex configuration files.
- 3. Start Creating: Open WPS Office and immediately begin working with your existing Microsoft Office document formats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Publisher missing from Office LTSC 2024?
Microsoft has announced the retirement of Microsoft Publisher. As part of this transition, it is not included in the Office LTSC 2024 release, and Microsoft encourages users to transition to other tools like Word or third-party design software.
Can I use a standalone version of Publisher with Office 2024?
No. Installing a standalone version of Publisher LTSC 2021 alongside Office LTSC Professional Plus 2024 triggers licensing and Click-to-Run installation engine conflicts, making it officially unsupported.
How can I open old .pub files if I can't install Publisher?
If you cannot install Publisher, you can convert .pub files to PDF format using online conversion tools, or open them in alternative desktop publishing software that supports the format.
