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Should You Uninstall Office LTSC Before Activating Microsoft 365?
Question details
The user needs to know whether Office LTSC should be uninstalled before installing Microsoft 365 and if existing Excel formulas will be affected by the upgrade.
- Product
- Microsoft Office
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Upgrading from an Office LTSC version (such as Excel 2021) to a Microsoft 365 subscription.
- Observed behavior
- To ensure a smooth transition, the user wants to avoid activation conflicts and verify file backward compatibility.
Before uninstalling Office LTSC, ensure all your documents are saved and closed, and verify that you have your Microsoft 365 account credentials ready for activation.
Uninstall Office LTSC and Install Microsoft 365
Removing the older LTSC version is highly recommended as it prevents software overlap and activation conflicts when setting up Microsoft 365.
Keeping multiple versions of Microsoft Office on the same machine can cause the system to struggle with file associations and license activations. A clean installation is the safest method to guarantee that Microsoft 365 runs perfectly.
Navigate to the Control Panel and select 'Programs and Features', or open Windows Settings and click on 'Apps'.
Scroll through the list of installed applications to locate your Microsoft Office LTSC installation. Click on it and select 'Uninstall', then follow the on-screen prompts to completely remove the software.
Reboot your machine to ensure all previous Office background services and registry files are fully cleared from the system.
Go to the official Microsoft website, sign in with your licensed Microsoft account, download the Microsoft 365 installer, and run it to install the suite.
Launch Microsoft Excel or Word. When prompted, sign in with your Microsoft 365 credentials to activate the software.
Switch to WPS Office for a Hassle-Free Experience
If you want to avoid complicated uninstallations, activation conflicts, and expensive subscriptions, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a robust, lightweight, and free alternative with excellent compatibility.
- 1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded file and follow the quick setup instructions.
- 3. Open your files: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and seamlessly open your existing Excel workbooks with all formulas intact.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose my personal Excel files when I uninstall Office LTSC?
No, uninstalling Office LTSC only removes the application software. Your personal documents, spreadsheets, and folders will remain safely stored on your local drive.
Can I keep Office LTSC and Microsoft 365 installed at the same time?
While technically possible in some specific configurations, it is strongly discouraged. Running both versions simultaneously frequently causes severe activation conflicts and file association errors.
Do I need to update my Excel 2021 formulas for Microsoft 365?
No updates are necessary. Microsoft 365 is designed to be fully backward-compatible, meaning all formulas and functions created in Excel 2021 or Office LTSC will work normally.
