'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Can Microsoft Project 2019 Run with Office 2021? Compatibility Guide
Question details
The user needs to confirm if perpetual licenses of Microsoft Project 2019 can be installed and run alongside a newly upgraded Microsoft Office 2021.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2021, Microsoft Project 2019
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- An organization is upgrading their main productivity suite from Office 2019 to Office 2021 but wishes to retain and run their existing perpetual licenses for Project 2019.
- Observed behavior
- The user is seeking official confirmation on compatibility and deployment support for installing both software versions on the same machine.
Verify your current installation technology for Project 2019. Both Office 2021 and Project 2019 must use the identical installation method (typically Click-to-Run) to prevent deployment conflicts.
Install using Click-to-Run Technology
Ensure both applications utilize the Click-to-Run installation technology, as Microsoft allows version 16.0 products to coexist if their installation methods match.
Microsoft Office 2021 and Project 2019 both operate on the version 16.0 architecture. Because they share this underlying version number, they are compatible and can be installed together. However, Microsoft strictly requires that both products use the same installation technology.
Open your current version of Project 2019, navigate to File > Account, and look for 'Click-to-Run' listed under the About section to confirm your installation type.
If Project 2019 or older Office components were installed using the Windows Installer (MSI) method, you must uninstall them completely from your system before proceeding.
Download and install Office 2021 and Project 2019 using the official Click-to-Run installers provided in your Microsoft 365 admin center.
Upgrade Your Office Suite with WPS Office
Avoid complex compatibility issues and installation conflicts by switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, unified suite for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and PDF tasks without worrying about matching deployment technologies like Click-to-Run or MSI.
- 1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button for your operating system.
- 2. Install the suite: Run the downloaded installer file and follow the simple on-screen prompts to complete the unified installation.
- 3. Open your documents: Launch WPS Office and seamlessly open your existing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files with full format compatibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I mix MSI and Click-to-Run installations?
No. Microsoft does not support mixing Click-to-Run and Windows Installer (MSI) technologies for products that share the same internal version, such as version 16.0 used by both Office 2021 and Project 2019.
Are Office 2021 and Project 2019 the same version internally?
Yes, both Microsoft Office 2021 and Microsoft Project 2019 are built on the version 16.0 architecture, which allows them to coexist on the same computer if the installation conditions are met.
Where can I get support if Project 2019 fails to install with Office 2021?
If you experience deployment errors during a legitimate installation, you should contact Microsoft Business online support through your Microsoft 365 admin center.
Will keeping Project 2019 affect my Office 2021 upgrade?
As long as both applications utilize the Click-to-Run installation technology, keeping your perpetual license for Project 2019 will not interfere with upgrading your main suite to Office 2021.
