How to Fix Local Word and Excel Not Working After Accidentally Deleting Microsoft 365

When users report the specific issue: I accidently deleted microsoft 365-en-us. now my local word and excel dont work. The photo is how the word files appear. Word only seems to have Word Pad. under the category of Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | Other | Other , the core problem lies in missing software and broken file associations

Understanding Why Your Documents Default to WordPad

The package "microsoft 365-en-us" contains the core executables for Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. Deleting it removes the applications, but your personal local files remain perfectly safe on your hard drive. Because Microsoft Word is missing, Windows automatically assigns the next available text reader—WordPad—to display your documents. To resolve this, the entire suite must be reinstalled from your digital account

Step-by-Step Fix: Reinstalling Microsoft 365

Work through the following Local Word and Excel Not Working After Accidentally Deleting Microsoft 365 sequence in Excel, beginning from Excel workspace.

1. Open your web browser and navigate to the official Microsoft portal: https://account.microsoft.com/services
2. Sign in using the exact Microsoft Account email and password associated with your active Office subscription or purchase
3. Scroll to the Services & subscriptions pane and locate your active Microsoft 365 product
4. Click the blue Install button (or Install premium Office apps ) next to your subscription details
5. Run the downloaded OfficeSetup.exe file. Follow the on-screen installation wizard and wait for the background download to complete
6. Restart your computer. Expected Result: Your local Word and Excel icons should automatically restore, and double-clicking them will open the correct applications instead of WordPad

Alternative Fix: Manually Restoring File Associations

• Right-click on any affected .docx file on your local desktop or folder.
• Hover over Open with in the context menu and select Choose another app .
• Scroll through the list and select Word .
• Check the box at the bottom that says Always use this app to open .docx files .
• Click OK . Repeat this process for .xlsx files, selecting Excel instead.

How to Verify the Excel Result

Use this outcome as the acceptance test: Restart your computer. Expected Result: Your local Word and Excel icons should automatically restore, and double-clicking them will open the correct applications instead of WordPad Keep the original state unchanged if the result cannot be confirmed.

WPS Office: A Free Microsoft Office Alternative for Local Word and Excel Not Working After Accidentally

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For local work related to Local Word and Excel Not Working After Accidentally Deleting Microsoft 365, WPS Office is a free Microsoft Office-compatible alternative. It cannot repair a proprietary Excel service, add-in, account, or Windows/macOS installation state, so use the verified Microsoft procedure above for the original fault.

For compatible local content used before or after “Local Word and Excel Not Working After Accidentally Deleting Microsoft 365,” WPS Spreadsheets covers XLSX and CSV files, formulas, charts, filters, and pivot-table work. Its AI tools can explain formulas, organize data, and summarize worksheet content. This gives you a free, lightweight workspace for compatible files without implying that WPS can alter Microsoft-only cloud, license, tenant, or account controls.

Excel FAQs About Local Word and Excel Not Working After Accidentally Deleting Microsoft 365

Can I restore the deleted "microsoft 365-en-us" from my Recycle Bin?

No. Software uninstallations remove registry keys and core system files that bypass the standard Recycle Bin. You must perform a clean reinstallation by logging into account.microsoft.com/services and downloading the official installer.

Are my local Word and Excel documents permanently lost?

No, your personal data is entirely safe. Deleting the application only removes the program used to read the files, which is why they appear as blank pages or default to WordPad. Once you install a compatible suite, the files will open normally.

What should I do if I forgot the Microsoft account linked to my Office suite?

If you cannot access the account to reinstall Microsoft 365, you cannot reactivate your paid software. In the interim, you can download a free, highly compatible alternative like WPS Office to view and edit your critical .docx and .xlsx files immediately without an account block.

Why do my files still open in WordPad after reinstalling Microsoft 365?

Your Windows registry has not updated the default file handler. Right-click the document, click "Open with", select "Choose another app", pick Microsoft Word, and explicitly check "Always use this app to open .docx files" to lock the preference.