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Which Office Versions Are Included with Microsoft 365 Family? (And How to Uninstall Office 2007)
Question details
The user wants to know which specific desktop applications come with Microsoft 365 Family and needs guidance on managing or removing older, co-existing installations like Office 2007.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 Family
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Upgrading to a new Microsoft 365 Family subscription on a computer that already has an older version of Office installed.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft 365 installs the latest apps but does not automatically uninstall older software like Office 2007, resulting in multiple versions of Word and Excel appearing on the system.
Before removing any older software, ensure your Microsoft 365 Family subscription is active and that the new applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) have been successfully installed and can open on your device.
Verify Installed Versions and Uninstall Office 2007
Microsoft 365 Family includes the latest premium versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and more. Use Windows Settings to manually remove redundant older versions like Office 2007.
When you install Microsoft 365, it places the most current versions of Office apps on your computer. However, it is designed to leave older legacy installations untouched to prevent accidental data loss. This can cause confusion when searching for apps in the Start menu.
To avoid file association conflicts and free up disk space, it is highly recommended to uninstall Office 2007 if you have successfully transitioned to Microsoft 365.
Click the Windows Start menu and type 'Word' or 'Excel'. Review the search results to see if both the Microsoft 365 app and the Office 2007 version are listed.
Press the Windows Key + I on your keyboard to launch Windows Settings. Click on 'Apps', then select 'Apps & features' (or 'Installed apps' in Windows 11).
Scroll through the list of installed applications to locate 'Microsoft Office 2007'. Click on it (or the three-dot menu icon next to it) and select 'Uninstall'. Follow the on-screen prompts to completely remove the software.
Once the uninstallation is complete, restart your computer. Open Word or Excel from the Start menu to verify that only the new Microsoft 365 versions remain.
Try WPS Office: A Free, Lightweight Alternative to Microsoft 365
If managing expensive subscriptions or heavy Microsoft 365 installations is frustrating, WPS Office is a perfect free alternative. It provides everything you need to create and edit documents, spreadsheets, and presentations without the high costs or complicated version conflicts.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button to get the lightweight installer.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded installer file. The installation takes just a few minutes and won't conflict with any existing software.
- 3. Open Your Office Files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files without any formatting loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
What exact applications are included in Microsoft 365 Family?
Microsoft 365 Family includes the latest premium desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. For PC users, it also includes Access and Publisher.
Why didn't Microsoft 365 automatically remove my old Office 2007?
Microsoft 365 is designed to install alongside older versions (like Office 2007, 2010, or 2013) rather than overwriting them. This is a safety measure to ensure users don't accidentally lose legacy add-ins or specific application settings before they are ready to transition.
Can I keep both Office 2007 and Microsoft 365 installed on the same computer?
Yes, you can run both versions simultaneously. However, it is not recommended as it frequently causes file association errors (e.g., clicking a document opens the wrong version of Word) and consumes unnecessary disk space.
How do I make my files always open with Microsoft 365 instead of Office 2007?
Right-click any document, select 'Open with', click 'Choose another app', select the newer version of Word or Excel, check the box that says 'Always use this app to open files', and click OK. Alternatively, uninstalling Office 2007 completely will automatically fix this issue.
