Should You Uninstall Office 2013 Before Installing Office 2021?
Question details
The user is asking if it is necessary to uninstall Microsoft Office Professional 2013 before upgrading to and installing the standalone version of Office Professional 2021.
- Product
- Microsoft Office
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Upgrading from an older standalone version of Microsoft Office to a newer release on the same computer.
- Observed behavior
- The user needs to know the correct installation sequence to prevent compatibility issues between different Office versions and licensing editions.
Before making any changes, verify whether your current Office 2013 installation uses MSI (Volume License) or Click-to-Run technology, as this determines if both versions can coexist on your system.
Uninstall Office 2013 First (Recommended for Most Users)
In most scenarios involving retail versions, old and new Office suites cannot run alongside each other. Uninstalling the old version ensures a clean installation of Office 2021.
Retail versions of Office 2013 and Office 2021 typically use Click-to-Run installation technology. Microsoft's compatibility rules prevent two Click-to-Run installations of different standalone Office versions from running simultaneously on the same computer.
To avoid file conflicts and activation errors, it is highly recommended to completely remove Office 2013 before initiating the Office 2021 setup.
Click the Start menu and select the 'Settings' gear icon, then navigate to 'Apps' > 'Apps & features'.
Scroll through your list of installed programs or use the search bar to find 'Microsoft Office Professional 2013'.
Click on the Office 2013 entry, select 'Uninstall', and follow the on-screen prompts provided by the uninstaller wizard.
Once the uninstallation process is complete, restart your PC to ensure all leftover temporary files and registry keys are cleared before installing Office 2021.
Keep Office 2013 (For MSI Volume-Licensed Editions Only)
If your Office 2013 uses an MSI-based volume-licensed installation, it can potentially coexist with the Click-to-Run version of Office 2021.
Upgrade to WPS Office and Avoid Installation Conflicts
Skip the hassle of uninstalling old software or dealing with strict version compatibility errors. WPS Office is a free, lightweight suite that installs in seconds, runs seamlessly alongside any existing programs, and offers a highly familiar interface.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package.
- 2. Run the Setup: Launch the lightweight setup file. It will install within seconds without overwriting or conflicting with your old Office apps.
- 3. Open Your Files: Immediately open, edit, and save your existing .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx documents seamlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose my Word and Excel documents if I uninstall Office 2013?
No. Uninstalling Office 2013 only removes the software application itself. Your personal files, documents, and spreadsheets remain safely stored on your local hard drive or cloud storage.
Can I run Office 2013 and Office 2021 on the same computer simultaneously?
In most scenarios, no. Microsoft prevents retail versions of different standalone Office suites from running together if they both use Click-to-Run technology. They can only coexist if the older version is an MSI-based installation.
Do I need to deactivate my Office 2013 license before uninstalling it?
While not strictly mandatory for removal, it is highly recommended to sign out of your Microsoft account within an Office 2013 application (like Word) to ensure the license is cleanly unlinked from that machine before uninstallation.
What happens to my Outlook emails and contacts if I upgrade to Office 2021?
Your Outlook data files (.pst or .ost) are stored independently from the Office installation files. When you install Office 2021, the new version of Outlook will automatically detect and connect to your existing email profiles and data.
