Office 2024 installs fail more often because of an old Office copy than because of a bad key. Leftover Office 2016, 2019 or 2021 files, a pre-installed Microsoft 365 trial or an old licence can all block setup or cause activation errors later. This guide shows how to remove old Office completely on Windows and Mac, including the stubborn leftovers, so your new installation starts clean.
| Method | Best for | Removes old licences? |
|---|---|---|
| Control Panel uninstall | Normal removal of one Office version | Not reliably |
| Microsoft uninstall troubleshooter (Get Help) | Damaged or partial installs of older versions | Removes Office files; check licences afterwards |
| Office Deployment Tool (RemoveMSI / Remove) | Removing MSI Office or all Click-to-Run products during an LTSC install | Removes products; check licences afterwards |
ospp.vbs /unpkey |
Clearing old product keys left behind | Yes, one key at a time |
| Manual Mac removal | Office for Mac | Removes app data and containers |
Why do old Office versions block a new Office install?
Old Office versions block a new install because Microsoft does not support two Office products with the same version but different installation technologies, such as Click-to-Run and Windows Installer (MSI), on one PC, nor two Click-to-Run versions with overlapping apps, so setup stops or the new version fails to activate cleanly.
Office 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2024 all share the internal version number 16.0. That shared number is the cause behind many conflicts: the installer sees an existing version 16 product, built with a different technology or on a different update channel, and refuses to continue.
Microsoft's article on Click-to-Run and Windows Installer on the same computer confirms this applies to Office 2024, 2021, 2019 and 2016, as well as standalone Visio and Project. The recommended fix is to uninstall the older version first.
How do you check which Office version and install type you have?
To check your Office version and install type, open Word or Excel, go to File, then Account, and select About, where a Click-to-Run installation shows the words Click-to-Run next to the version and build number, and a Microsoft Store installation shows Microsoft Store, which tells you which removal method fits.
If the About box shows neither phrase, the copy is most likely an older MSI-based version, such as a volume-licensed Office 2016 Professional Plus. Older volume editions of Office 2016 and earlier used MSI, while Microsoft 365 and newer versions use Click-to-Run.
Also look in Control Panel under Programs and Features for more than one Office entry. What we commonly see on new laptops is a pre-installed Microsoft 365 trial alongside an older Office the owner copied over, which is exactly the mix that causes setup errors.
How do you uninstall Office from Control Panel?
To uninstall Office from Control Panel, search for Control Panel from the Start menu, open Programs and then Programs and Features, select the Microsoft Office or Microsoft 365 entry, choose Uninstall and follow the prompts, then repeat for any other Office, Project or Visio entries and restart the PC before installing Office 2024.
- Press the Windows key, type control panel and open it.
- Select Programs > Programs and Features.
- Select your Office product and choose Uninstall.
- Repeat for any separate Visio, Project or language pack entries.
- Restart the computer.
Microsoft notes that you normally cannot uninstall a single app, such as Word, if it is part of an Office suite. Uninstalling removes the programs only, not your documents, workbooks or other files you created.
What if Office will not uninstall normally?
If Office will not uninstall from Control Panel, use Microsoft's uninstall troubleshooter, which opens in the Get Help app from Microsoft's Uninstall Office page, removes Office files and settings, and asks you to restart, but Microsoft currently states that this troubleshooter cannot uninstall Office 2024, so use it for older versions.
- Open Microsoft's Uninstall Microsoft 365 or Office from a PC page on the same PC.
- Select the Uninstall button and choose Open if the browser asks to open Get Help.
- Follow the prompts and restart when asked.
The troubleshooter needs Windows 10 or later. For IT staff, Microsoft also offers a command-line version of Get Help, GetHelpCmd.exe, with an Office scrub scenario that accepts versions including 2024, 2021, 2019 and 2016. Microsoft's command-line Get Help documentation lists the switches.
How do you remove old Office licences with ospp.vbs?
To remove old Office licences, open Command Prompt as administrator, change to the Office16 folder, run cscript ospp.vbs /dstatus to list installed keys, then run cscript ospp.vbs /unpkey followed by the last five characters of each old key, repeating until only the licence you want to keep remains.
- Open Command Prompt as administrator.
- For 64-bit Office, run
cd "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16". For 32-bit Office on 64-bit Windows, usecd "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16". - Run
cscript ospp.vbs /dstatusand note the "Last 5 characters of installed product key" for each old licence. - Run
cscript ospp.vbs /unpkey:XXXXX, replacing XXXXX with those five characters. - Look for the message "Product key uninstall successful" and repeat for each old key.
This step matters because a leftover licence can make Office show the old product name, or an activation message, after you install a new version. Microsoft documents this process in its guide to resetting Office activation state, which also mentions the OLicenseCleanup script for cached account information.
Can the Office Deployment Tool remove old Office automatically?
Yes, when you install Office LTSC 2024 with the Office Deployment Tool, adding the RemoveMSI element to configuration.xml removes older MSI-based Office versions such as Office 2016 during setup, while Click-to-Run versions such as Office 2019 are removed with a separate Remove element, for example Remove All="TRUE".
A minimal removal file looks like this:
<Configuration>
<Remove All="TRUE" />
<Display Level="Full" AcceptEULA="TRUE" />
</Configuration>
Run it with setup /configure remove.xml from an elevated command prompt in the ODT folder. Microsoft notes that All="TRUE" removes all Click-to-Run Office products and languages, including Project and Visio, so only use it if you plan to reinstall everything. The product ID details are in our guide to Office product IDs for the ODT.
How do you completely uninstall Office on a Mac?
To completely uninstall Office on a Mac, open Finder, go to Applications, select the Office apps, move them to the Bin, then remove Microsoft folders from the Containers and Group Containers folders in your user Library, remove any Office icons from the Dock and restart the Mac to finish.
- In Finder > Applications, Command-click Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote, then Control-click and choose Move to Bin.
- Press Command+Shift+G, type
~/Libraryand open the Containers folder. Move Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft OneNote and the other Microsoft items listed by Microsoft to the Bin. - In
~/Library/Group Containers, move UBF8T346G9.ms, UBF8T346G9.Office and UBF8T346G9.OfficeOsfWebHost to the Bin. - Remove Office icons from the Dock and restart.
Microsoft warns that Outlook data is removed with these container folders, so back it up first. Its full Uninstall Office for Mac guide lists every folder.
What should you do after uninstalling old Office?
After uninstalling old Office, restart the PC, confirm no Office entries remain in Programs and Features, check that cscript ospp.vbs /dstatus shows no old keys if the script is still present, and then install Office 2024 using the method that matches your licence type, either the retail installer or the Office Deployment Tool.
The restart is not optional. Office runs background services that hold files open, and installing straight after an uninstall without a restart can cause the new setup to fail or stall.
Then follow our Office 2024 Professional Plus install guide. If you have not yet chosen an edition, the Office 2024 collection lists retail and LTSC options. If activation still fails after a clean install, email support@licencehouse.com with the exact error code and the ospp.vbs output.
Frequently asked questions
Will uninstalling Office delete my documents?
No. Microsoft states that uninstalling Office removes only the applications, not the documents, workbooks or presentations you created. Files saved in Documents, on the desktop or in OneDrive stay where they are. On a Mac, Outlook data stored in the container folders can be removed, so back that up first.
Do I need to uninstall Office 2021 before installing Office 2024?
Yes, in most cases. Microsoft does not support two Click-to-Run Office versions with overlapping apps on the same PC, and Office 2021 and Office 2024 both include Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Uninstall Office 2021, restart, then install Office 2024. Your existing files open normally in the new version.
How do I remove the pre-installed Microsoft 365 on a new laptop?
Open Control Panel, go to Programs and Features, and uninstall each Microsoft 365 entry, including any language versions. Some new PCs list several Microsoft 365 entries in different languages. Restart afterwards, then check File > Account in any remaining Office app to confirm nothing is left before installing your new version.
Can the uninstall troubleshooter remove Office 2024?
Microsoft currently states that its uninstall troubleshooter cannot uninstall Office 2024. Use Control Panel for Office 2024, or the Office Deployment Tool with a Remove element. IT administrators can use the command-line Get Help tool, which lists 2024 as a supported value for its Office scrub scenario.
Why does Office still show the old product after reinstalling?
This usually means an old licence is still stored on the PC. Run cscript ospp.vbs /dstatus from the Office16 folder, find the last five characters of the old key and remove it with /unpkey. If you were signed in with a work or school account, Microsoft's OLicenseCleanup script also clears cached account information.