The issues you encounter when trying to install Microsoft 365, or Office 2021, 2019, or 2016 and how you fix them depends on whether your product is part of an Office for home or Office for business plan.

In addition, with Office for business plans only admins responsible for managing Microsoft 365 in their organization can do certain tasks. Therefore, admins should view the issues and solutions listed under both the Office for business and Microsoft 365 Admin tabs.

Tip:Ā Get tech expertise with Business Assist. Connect with our small business advisors for help making Microsoft 365 products work for you and everyone in your business.Ā Learn more.

Not sure what plan you have?

Tip:Ā If you purchased Office through a company benefit, see Microsoft 365 through the Microsoft Workplace Discount Program.Ā Microsoft 365

Microsoft 365 for home

If your Microsoft 365Ā product is one of the following, you have aĀ Microsoft 365Ā for home product. This can be aĀ subscription, or a one-time purchase of Microsoft 365Ā Office, or individual Microsoft 365Ā application. These products are usually associated with a personal Microsoft account.

Microsoft 365Ā subscriptions: The following products include the fully installed Microsoft 365 applications.

Ā Ā Microsoft 365 Family Ā Ā Microsoft 365 Personal

Office 2021, Office 2019, orĀ Ā Office 2016 versions available as one-time purchases: The following products include the fully installed Office applications.

Ā Ā Office Home & Student Ā Ā Office Home & Business Ā Ā Office Professional

Stand-alone Office 2021, Office 2019, orĀ Office 2016 apps available as one-time purchases

Ā Ā Word Ā Ā Excel Ā Ā PowerPoint Ā Ā OneNote* Ā Ā Outlook Ā Ā Access Ā Ā Publisher Ā Ā Project Ā Ā Visio

Tip:Ā *The desktop version of OneNote is only available in Microsoft 365, Office 2021, and Office 2016 versions. InĀ Office 2019, OneNote for Windows 10 is the default OneNote experience. See the FAQ.

Microsoft 365 for business

If your Microsoft 365Ā product is one of the following, you have aĀ Microsoft 365Ā for business product. These products are usually associated with a work or school account, and your Microsoft 365 license (if your subscription has one) came from the organization where you work or go to school.Ā Ā 

Microsoft 365Ā Subscriptions: The following products include the fully installedĀ Microsoft 365 applications.

Ā Ā Microsoft 365 Apps for business Ā Ā Microsoft 365 Business Standard

Ā Ā Office 365 A5

Ā Ā Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise Ā Ā Office 365 Enterprise E3 Ā Ā Office 365 Enterprise E4 Ā Ā Office 365 Enterprise E5

Ā Ā Microsoft 365 Business Standard (Nonprofit) Ā Ā Office 365 Nonprofit E3 Ā Ā Office 365 Nonprofit E5

Ā Ā Office 365 U.S. Government Community G3 Ā Ā Office 365 U.S. Government Community G5

Ā Ā Project Online Professional Ā Ā Project Online Premium

Visio Online Plan 2

Microsoft 365Ā Subscriptions without fully installed Office applications:

Tip:Ā With these Microsoft 365 subscriptions, there are no desktop applications to download and install, but in most cases, you can still access and use online versions of Office apps in your web browser. SeeĀ Free Office on the web.

Ā Ā Microsoft 365 Business Basic Ā Ā Office 365 Enterprise E1 Ā Ā Office 365 A1 Ā Ā Microsoft 365 Business Basic (Nonprofit) Ā Ā Office 365 Nonprofit E1 Ā Ā Office 365 U.S. Government G1 Ā Ā Project Online Essentials Ā Ā Visio Online Plan 1

Volume license versions of Office LTSC 2021, Office 2019, orĀ Office 2016

Ā Ā Office Professional Plus

Select the tab for your plan:

Guided support can provide digital solutions for Office problems

Try guided support

How do I download and install Office?

If you're looking for the steps to download and install the latest version of Office such as Microsoft 365, Office 2021, Office 2019, or Office 2016, see Install Office on your PC or Mac.

How do I reinstall Office?

If you're reinstalling Office on a different computer than the one where you originally installed Office, note the following:

  • For Office 365 subscriptions: You can install Office on all your devices and sign in to Office on five devices at the same time.

  • For a one-time purchase of Office such as Office Home & Business, Office Home & Student, or Office Professional: You can install Office on only 1 PC or Mac. However, you may transfer Office 2021, 2019, or 2016Ā to another computer that belongs to you if you experience a hardware failure or you buy a new computer. For more information, see the Microsoft License Terms for your product, or see this blog post, Office now transferable.

When you're ready to reinstall Office, sign in at https://www.office.com/signin with the same Microsoft account you originally associated with your Office product when you first installed it. You can also find installation steps here:

For the latest version of Office, see Install Office on your PC or Mac.

Problems while trying to install Office

If you encountered a problem while installing Office on a PC, try restarting your computer and then attempting to install Office again. If that didn't help, use this easy fix tool to uninstall Office completely. After your uninstall is complete, try reinstalling Office.

Uninstall Office using easy fix

  1. Select the button below to download and install the Office uninstall support tool.

    Download

  2. Follow the steps below to download the uninstall support tool according to your browser.

    Tip:Ā The tool may take a few minutes to download and install. After completing the installation, the Uninstall Office products window will open.

    Edge or Chrome

    • In the lower-lower left or upper-right corner, right-click SetupProd_OffScrub.exe > Open.

      Where to find and open the Support Assitant download file in a Chrome web browser

    Edge (older) or Internet Explorer

    • At the bottom of the browser window, select Run to launch the SetupProd_OffScrub.exe.

      Where to find and open the Support Assitant download file in the Edge or Internet Explorer web browser

    Firefox

    • In the pop-up window, select Save FileĀ and then from the upper-right browser window, select the downloads arrow > SetupProd_OffScrub.exe.

      Where to find and open the Support Assitant download file in a Chrome web browser
  3. Select the version you want to uninstall, and then select Next.

  4. Follow through the remaining screens and when prompted, restart your computer.

    After you restart your computer, the uninstall tool automatically re-opens to complete the final step of the uninstall process. Follow the remaining prompts.

  5. Select the steps for the version of Office you want to install or reinstall. Close the uninstall tool.

    Microsoft 365 | Office 2021 |Ā Office 2019 | Office 2016

If Office still won't install, check that your computer meets the system requirements to install Office. For example, you can't install Office on computers running Windows XP or Windows Vista.

If you're still unable to install Office following the steps in Download and install or reinstall Office try using the offline installer.

The Microsoft 365 offline installer may help bypass potential proxy, firewall, antivirus, or Internet connection issues that might occur during an Microsoft 365 installation.

For steps to install an offline version of Microsoft 365, see Use the Office offline installer and select the correct tab for your version of Office.

Computers running Windows Vista or Windows XP don't meet system requirements to install Office

You can't install Office 2016 on computers running Windows Vista or Windows XP as these operating systems don't meet the system requirements for Office. Attempting to install Office on a computer running an unsupported operating system will result in an error. (If you're interested in learning more about the latest version of Windows, see Windows 11 specifications for details.)

If your computer can't install the full desktop version of Office because your computer doesn't meet the system requirements, you can try using Office Online in your computer's browser. See the Browsers section on the system requirements page.

Can I install Office on a Chromebook?

You can't install the desktop PC or Mac versions of Office on your Chromebook, but depending on your Chromebook you may be able to install the Office mobile apps. See Install Microsoft Office on a Chromebook.

You don't want to install all the Office applications

When you install Office 2016, all the applications that came with your particular Office product areĀ installed at the same time. You canā€™t custom select which Office applications you want to install or not install, nor you can't delete individual applications after your installation is complete. However, you can delete shortcuts to applications you donā€™t plan to use.

Tip:Ā If you discover you need an application that didn't come with your Office product, you have the option to purchase a stand-alone application. For example, you may decide you need Access or Outlook, but those applications weren't included in your product. To purchase a stand-alone application, go to https://products.office.com/ and do a search for the app you want to buy.

You want to install Office on a drive other than the C: drive

You can only install Office on the system drive where your operating system is installed. Thatā€™s usually your C: drive.

Install the 64-bit version of Office instead of the 32-bit version

You may get an error if you try to install the 64-bit version of Office and you currently have the 32-bit version installed (or vice versa).

Therefore, if you previously installed the 32-bit version of Office on your PC, but decide you now want the 64-bit version, or vice versa, you'll have to uninstall the bit version you don't want and then reinstall the bit version you do want instead. Use this easy fix to uninstall Office.

  1. Select the button below to downloadĀ the Office uninstall support tool.

    Download

  2. Follow the steps to open the download according to your browser, and when you're prompted in the Application Install window, select Install, and then I agree for the Microsoft Services Agreement.

    Tip:Ā The tool may take a few minutes to download and install. After completing the installation, the Uninstall Office products window will open.

    Edge or Chrome

    • In the lower-lower left corner right-click SetupProd_OffScrub.exe > Open.

      Where to find and open the Support Assitant download file in a Chrome web browser

    Edge (older)

    • At the bottom of the browser window, select Run to launch the SetupProd_OffScrub.exe.

      Where to find and open the Support Assitant download file in the Edge or Internet Explorer web browser

    Firefox

    • In the pop-up window, select Save FileĀ and then from the upper-right browser window, select the downloads arrow > SetupProd_OffScrub.exe.

      Where to find and open the Support Assitant download file in a Chrome web browser
  3. From the Uninstall Office products window, select the version of Office you want to uninstall, and then select Next.

  4. Follow the prompts on the remaining screens and when prompted, restart your computer.

    After you restart your computer, the uninstall tool automatically re-opens to complete the final step of the uninstall process. Follow the remaining prompts.

If you're looking for the steps to install the 64-bit version of Office, see the section, Step 1: Sign in to download Office.

If you're not sure how to decide between 64-bit or 32-bit, see Choose the 64-bit or 32-bit version of Office 2016.

Install Office through Microsoft HUP

If your organization subscribes to the Home Use Program (HUP) find information about how to buy and install Office at, Install or reinstall Office through Microsoft HUP.

I'm a student. How do I install Office?

If you're a student or teacher, and you don't see an option to install Office through your institution, you may be eligible for Office 365 Education, which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. All you need to get started is a valid school email address. For more information, see Get Office 365 for free.

Known issues with Office and Windows 10

See Known issues with Office and Windows 10.

Unsupported operating system error

You see the following error message after selecting the Install button from office.com/myaccount:

Unsupported Operating System error indicates you can't install Office on your current device

This error can occur if:

  • You're on a PC and you're trying to install the Mac version of a one-time purchase of Office, such as Office Home & Student; or you're trying to install the PC version of Office on a Mac.

    For solutions to this, see Unsupported operating system error when installing Office.

  • You're trying to install Office on a mobile device, such as an iPad or iPhone, or a Chromebook.

    The Install button available after signing in at office.com downloads the version of Office designed to run on a PC or Mac. To install Office on a mobile device see Set up Office apps and email on a mobile device.

    To install Office on a Chromebook, see Install Office on a Chromebook

  • You're trying to install the desktop version of Office on an unsupported operating system such as Windows XP or Vista.

    Check the system requirements for Office to see what operating systems are supported.

Office is taking very long to install

If Office is taking a long time to install you may be on a slow connection. See Office is taking long to install or Office hangs at 90% for possible solutions.

You get a KERNEL32.dll error when trying to install Office and other system requirement issues

If you're trying to install Office on a computer running Windows XP or Windows Vista, you may get an error that says the dynamic library KERNEL 32.dll can't be located. This occurs because newer versions of Office aren't supported on these versions of Windows. For more information, see Why canā€™t I install Office 365, or Office 2019, 2016, or on Windows XP or Windows Vista?

Check that your computer meets the minimum system requirements to install Office. See System requirements for Office for a list of additional requirements.

If you're not sure which operating system you have, see Which Windows operating system am I running? or Find the OS X version and build number on your Mac.

If your computer can't install the full desktop version of Office because it doesn't meet the system requirements, you can try using Office Online in your computer's browser.

Install button doesn't install Office

If the Install button is grayed out, your Office 365 subscription might have expired. See Renew Office 365 for home.

For other solutions, see Install button doesn't install Office.

I get a "Stop, you should wait to install Office 2016" error

This error can occur if you haven't updated to the latest version or you have a standalone 2013 app which is already included in the newer Office 2016 suite of apps. See Error: Stop, you should wait to install Office 2016. Weā€™ll have to remove the following if you continue for steps on how to resolve.

Error messages when installing Office

You might get an error that has a number and maybe some descriptive text. Although the messages are hard to understand, there are often solutions. Try these links if you get these errors.

Not every error is listed here. If there's a Learn More link on the error message, select that. If there's no link, let us know what error you got and where you were in the install process when you received it. Leave us a comment at the bottom of this page to let us know more about your issue.

Upgrade or update Office issues

If you have an Office 365 subscription you already have the latest version of Office or the most up-to-date channel your Office 365 administrator has set. For non-subscription products such as Office Home & Business, you have the option to subscribe to Office 365 or purchase the latest version. For more information see:

Upgrade or switch Office 365 plans

It's possible to switch between Office 365 Home, Personal, or University, or to switch from an Office 365 home plan to a business plan. For more information on how to do this, see:

How do I install Office updates?

Keeping Office up-to-date ensures that you have the latest security updates and fixes. For information about installing updates, see Install Office updates.

Where to sign in to Office 365 or My Office Account

Microsoft has more than one kind of Office 365 service and each service has its own sign-in page. Where you sign in from your web browser depends on which service you're using. See Sign in to Office or Office 365.

You forgot the account you associated with Office

In most cases, if you have an Office product listed under Office for home you need a Microsoft account to sign in to install Office or manage your Office 365 subscription. If you don't remember what Microsoft account you associated Office with, see I can't remember the Microsoft account I use with Office.

Share your Office 365 Home subscription

See How to share your Office 365 Home subscription with up to four people.

Cancel a subscription

If you want to cancel your subscription, see Cancel or turn off recurring billing for a Microsoft subscription.

For trial subscriptions, see Cancel your free trial of Office 365 Home

Troubleshoot activation failures

If you have an Office 365 plan, to keep it active, you have to sign in at least once every 30 days. If your subscription hasn't expired, Office will reactivate the subscription the next time you log in.

Also see:

Help with Office product keys

See Help with your Office product key

Deactivate an install

You can activate Office on up to five computers. If you've used up your five installs and want to install Office on another computer, you have to deactivate an installation. Deactivation doesn't remove Office from the computer, but you can't use Office on that computer until you activate it. See Deactivate an Office 365 install.

Where to install Office on a Mac

If you're looking for where to install Office on a Mac, see Install Office on your PC or Mac.

Download and installation issues on a Mac

For download and installation issues on a Mac, see What to try if you can't install Office for Mac.

I can't find the apps on my Mac

When you install Office for Mac, the app icons aren't automatically added to the dock. To add to the dock, drag the app icon from the Launchpad or the Applications folder. See Add the Office for Mac app icon to the dock.

Uninstall Office for Mac

See:

Activate Office on a Mac

To activate Office on a Mac, see Activate Office for Mac

Mac activation issues

To troubleshoot Mac activation issues, see the "Activation" tab on What to try if you can't install or activate Office for Mac.

Install updates on a Mac

Microsoft AutoUpdate makes sure your copy of Office will always be up-to-date with the latest security fixes and improvements. To install or check for updates on your Mac, see Check for Office for Mac updates automatically

To check what the latest update is, see Update history for Office for Mac.

Install Office apps and set up email on a mobile device (iOS, Android, or Windows phone or tablet)

The Office apps for Android, iOS (iPhone or iPad), or Windows mobile devices are available to download from the app store for your device. For details on how to download Office apps and set them up, select your device from below:

You can't set up email on your mobile device

For help with troubleshooting email setup on your phone or tablet, see Troubleshoot email setup on mobile.

You can't edit documents using Office apps on your mobile device

In most cases you can do basic editing on most of these devices, however if you have a qualifying Office 365 subscription, you get access to the apps' extra features. If you discover you can't make edits to certain documents, see What you can do in the Office apps on an Android, iOS, or Windows mobile device with an Office 365 subscription.

You can't find the Office applications after installing Office

If you can't find the Office applications after installing Office, or you're not sure your install worked, see Can't find Office applications in Windows 10, Windows 8, or Windows 7?

Office "stopped working" message appears when you start an application

You might see an "<application> stopped working" error when you try to start one of these Office applications: Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher, or Visio. Older versions of add-ins might cause this type of problem.

To resolve, first make sure you installed the latest Office update.

If the application still isn't working, try the options in, Why do I get a "stopped working" message when I start my Office application?

What version of Office am I using?

See What version of Office am I using?

Contact support

If you're still having trouble installing Office, see Contact Office Support.

Leave us a comment

We value your feedback. Please let us know if you found any of these solutions helpful by leaving us a comment below. If it didn't, tell us more about your issue, including any error messages your received and where you were in the install process when you received it. We'll use that information to help investigate your issue further.

Try this first

Tip:Ā To help with issues you might encounter when installing Office, download and run the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant tool.

Recovery tool didn't help? Select from below:

Account or sign in issues

I can't sign in I forgot my password

Activation or unlicensed product

Troubleshoot activation failures Deactivate an install

How do I download and install or reinstall Office?

If you're looking for the steps to download and install the latest version of Office, see Install Office on your PC or Mac.

I have a subscription for Project or Visio. How do I download and install them?

Project and Visio aren't currently supported on a Mac.

To install Project Online Professional or Project Online Premium on your PC, see the section Download and install Project.

To install Visio Pro for Office 365 on your PC, see Download and install Visio Pro for Office 365.

You don't want to install all the Office applications

When you install Office 365, all the applications that came with your particular Office product is installed at the same time. You canā€™t custom select which Office applications you want to install or not install, nor you can't delete individual applications after your installation is complete. However, you can delete shortcuts to applications you donā€™t plan to use.

Tip:Ā If you discover you need an application that didn't come with your Office product, you have the option to purchase a stand-alone application. For example, you may decide you need Access or Outlook, but those applications weren't included in your product. To purchase a stand-alone application, go to https://products.office.com/ and do a search for the stand-alone app you want to buy.

You want to install Office on a drive other than the C: drive

You can only install Office on the system drive where your operating system is installed. Thatā€™s usually your C: drive.

Install the 64-bit version of Office instead of the 32-bit version

If you previously installed the 32-bit version of Office on your PC, but decide you now want the 64-bit version, you'll have to uninstall 32-bit and then reinstall the 64-bit version of Office. To uninstall the 32-bit version use this easy fix to uninstall Office.

  1. Select the button below to downloadĀ the Office uninstall support tool.

    Download

  2. Follow the steps to open the download according to your browser, and when you're prompted in the Application Install window, select Install, and then I agree for the Microsoft Services Agreement.

    Tip:Ā The tool may take a few minutes to download and install. After completing the installation, the Uninstall Office products window will open.

    Edge or Chrome

    • In the lower-lower left corner right-click SetupProd_OffScrub.exe > Open.

      Where to find and open the Support Assitant download file in a Chrome web browser

    Edge (older)

    • At the bottom of the browser window, select Run to launch the SetupProd_OffScrub.exe.

      Where to find and open the Support Assitant download file in the Edge or Internet Explorer web browser

    Firefox

    • In the pop-up window, select Save FileĀ and then from the upper-right browser window, select the downloads arrow > SetupProd_OffScrub.exe.

      Where to find and open the Support Assitant download file in a Chrome web browser
  3. From the Uninstall Office products window, select the version of Office you want to uninstall, and then select Next.

  4. Follow the prompts on the remaining screens and when prompted, restart your computer.

    After you restart your computer, the uninstall tool automatically re-opens to complete the final step of the uninstall process. Follow the remaining prompts.

If you're looking for the steps to install the 64-bit version of Office, see the section, Step 1: Sign in to download Office.

If you're not sure how to decide between 64-bit or 32-bit, see Choose the 64-bit or 32-bit version of Office 2016.

Can I install Office on a Chromebook?

You can't install the desktop PC or Mac versions of Office on your Chromebook, but depending on your Chromebook you may be able to install the Office mobile apps. See Install Microsoft Office on a Chromebook.

Problems while trying to install Office

If you encountered a problem while installing Office on a PC, try restarting your computer and then attempting to install Office again. If that didn't help, use this easy fix tool to uninstall Office completely. After your uninstall is complete, try reinstalling Office.

Uninstall Office using easy fix

  1. Select the button below to download and install the Office uninstall support tool.

    Download

  2. Follow the steps below to download the uninstall support tool according to your browser.

    Tip:Ā The tool may take a few minutes to download and install. After completing the installation, the Uninstall Office products window will open.

    Edge or Chrome

    • In the lower-lower left or upper-right corner, right-click SetupProd_OffScrub.exe > Open.

      Where to find and open the Support Assitant download file in a Chrome web browser

    Edge (older) or Internet Explorer

    • At the bottom of the browser window, select Run to launch the SetupProd_OffScrub.exe.

      Where to find and open the Support Assitant download file in the Edge or Internet Explorer web browser

    Firefox

    • In the pop-up window, select Save FileĀ and then from the upper-right browser window, select the downloads arrow > SetupProd_OffScrub.exe.

      Where to find and open the Support Assitant download file in a Chrome web browser
  3. Select the version you want to uninstall, and then select Next.

  4. Follow through the remaining screens and when prompted, restart your computer.

    After you restart your computer, the uninstall tool automatically re-opens to complete the final step of the uninstall process. Follow the remaining prompts.

  5. Select the steps for the version of Office you want to install or reinstall. Close the uninstall tool.

    Microsoft 365 | Office 2021 |Ā Office 2019 | Office 2016

If Office still won't install, check that your computer meets the system requirements to install Office. For example, you can't install Office on computers running Windows XP or Windows Vista.

If you're still unable to install Office following the steps in Download and install or reinstall Office try using the offline installer.

The Microsoft 365 offline installer may help bypass potential proxy, firewall, antivirus, or Internet connection issues that might occur during an Microsoft 365 installation.

For steps to install an offline version of Microsoft 365, see Use the Office offline installer and select the correct tab for your version of Office.

You can't install Access

If you can't find Access on your computer even though its included with your Office 365 subscription, try the following in the order listed.

Note:Ā Access can only be installed on computers running Windows 7 or later. You can't install Access on a Mac.

Update Office

  1. Open an Office application, such as Word or Excel and create a new document.

  2. From the ribbon, select File > Account.

  3. Under the Product Information section, select Update Options > Update Now.

  4. When the update is complete, click Start and look for Access in your list of apps.

Reinstall Office

Follow the steps in Install Office on your PC or Mac. If you need to install the 64-bit version, select the PC step-by-step tab and expand the section, "Install or reinstall an Office for business product."

If you have problems installing Office, you may need to uninstall it first and then reinstall it. See the section above, For problems while installing Office

You don't see an option to install Office, check if you have a license

  1. If you're not already signed in, go to http://admin.microsoft.com and sign in with your work or school account.

    Note:Ā If you're unable to sign in with your work or school account, you may be signing in to the wrong Office 365 service, see Where to sign in to Office 365.

  2. From the browser header, go to Settings Settings: update your profile, install software and connect it to the cloud > My app settings > Office 365.

    Office 365 Settings pane
  3. On the My account page, select Subscriptions.

    Office 365 Subscriptions page

    Youā€™ll see the services that you're licensed to use, such as the latest desktop version of Office, SharePoint Online or OneDrive for Business, and Exchange Online. If you don't see The latest desktop version of Office in the list (or Project or Visio if your organization has a plan that includes those applications) your admin probably hasn't assigned an Office license to you. If you're an admin, see Assign licenses to users in Office 365 for business. For more information, see What Office 365 business product or license do I have?

    If you have a license, then you're ready to Install Office on your PC or Mac, (or Project Online Desktop Client or Visio Pro for Office 365).

Not all Office 365 subscription plans come with the fully installed Office applications. See the bottom of the Office for business column for a list of plans that don't include the Office desktop client. If your organization has one of these Microsoft 365 plans, the Office 365 admin can switch to a different Office 365 plan or subscription or buy another Office 365 for business subscription for users in an organization who require the full version of Office.

If you're an admin and you aren't sure what plan you have, follow the steps in What Office 365 for business subscription do I have? For a comparison of plans, see compare small business plans or compare enterprise plans.

You're a student or teacher and don't see an option to install Office

If you're a student or teacher and don't see an option to install Office, you may be eligible for Office 365 Education, which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote. All you need to get started is a valid school email address. For more information, see Get Office 365 for free.

Be sure to check the System requirements for Office. For example, you can't install Office on computers running Windows Vista or Windows XP, or on devices that aren't running a supported Windows or Mac operating system. However, you may still be able to use Office Online in your computer's browser.

Computers running Windows Vista or Windows XP don't meet system requirements to install Office

You can't install Office 2016 on computers running Windows Vista or Windows XP as these operating systems don't meet the system requirements for Office. Attempting to install Office on a computer running an unsupported operating system will result in an error. (If you're interested in learning more about the latest version of Windows, see Windows 11 specifications for details.)

If your computer can't install the full desktop version of Office because your computer doesn't meet the system requirements, you can try using Office Online in your computer's browser. See the Browsers section on the system requirements page.

Office install hangs or is stuck at 90%

If Office is taking a long time to install you may be on a slow connection or you another install or update may be happening in the background. See Office is taking long to install or Office hangs at 90% for possible solutions.

Known issues with Office and Windows 10

See Known issues with Office and Windows 10.

Install button doesn't install Office

If the Install button is grayed out, your Office 365 subscription might have expired. Select your subscription from the list in Renew Office 365 for business to see the steps for how to renew it.

For other solutions, see Install button doesn't install Office.

You get a KERNEL32.dll error when trying to install Office and other system requirement issues

Check that your computer meets the minimum system requirements to install Office. See System requirements for Office for a list of additional requirements.

If you're trying to install Office on a computer running Windows XP or Windows Vista, you may get an error that says the dynamic library KERNEL 32.dll can't be located. This occurs because newer versions of Office aren't supported on these versions of Windows. For more information, see Why canā€™t I install Office 2013 or Office 2016 on Windows XP or Windows Vista?

If you're not sure which operating system you have, see Which Windows operating system am I running? or Find the OS X version and build number on your Mac.

If your computer can't install the full desktop version of Office because it doesn't meet the system requirements, you can try using Office Online in your computer's browser.

I get a "Stop, you should wait to install Office 2016" error

If you connect to an Exchange 2007 mailbox (which reached End of Life on April 11, 2017), you might want to stay on Office 2013 until you upgrade from Exchange 2007. See the following:

Error messages when installing Office

You might get an error that has a number and maybe some descriptive text. Although the messages are hard to understand, there are often solutions. Try these links if you get these errors.

Not every error is listed here. If there's a Learn More link on the error message, select that. If there's no link, let us know what error you got and where you were in the install process when you received it. Leave us a comment at the bottom of this page to let us know more about your issue.

Upgrade to Office 2016

If you're on an Microsoft 365 subscription, you will see an upgrade notification in the menu bar of your Microsoft 365 applications or you can update your version manually by signing in to Microsoft 365. See Upgrade to Office 2016 using Office 365 for business.

How do I install Office updates?

Office up-to-date ensures that you have the latest security updates and fixes. If your admin has given you permission to install updates, see Install Office updates.

You're having trouble signing in

Tip:Ā You can download and run the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant to perform automated tests and recovery actions that help identify and fix sign in problems.

Microsoft has more than one kind of Office 365 service and each service has its own sign-in page. Where you sign in depends on which service you're using.

Sign in with your work or school account at https://www.office.com/signin. This is the account that you created or someone in your organization created on your behalf.

If you use Office 365 operated by 21Vianet in China, sign in with your work or school username and password at:

If you use Office 365 Germany, sign in with your work or school username and password at:

For more information about accounts, see Where to sign in to Office 365 or What is my user ID and why do I need it for Office 365 for business?

You forgot your password

If you've forgotten the password for the work or school account you use with Office 365, you can reset it at, https://passwordreset.microsoftonline.com/ or contact your organization's administrator.

Activation or unlicensed product issues

If you have an Office 365 plan, to keep it active, you have to sign in at least once every 30 days. If your subscription hasn't expired, Office will reactivate the subscription the next time you log in.

Troubleshoot activation failures

As an Office 365 for business user, you can download Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant to help you fix activation issues.

  1. Select the download button and install the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant.

    Download

  2. Follow the steps below to download the support tool according to your browser.

    Tip:Ā The tool may take a few minutes to download and install. After completing the installation, the Application Install window will open.

    Edge or Chrome

    • In the lower-lower left corner right-click SetupProd_Act.exe > Open.

      Where to find and open the Support Assitant download file in a Chrome web browser

    Edge (older) or Internet Explorer

    • At the bottom of the browser window, select Run to launch the SetupProd_Act.exe.

      Where to find and open the Support Assitant download file in the Edge or Internet Explorer web browser

    Firefox

    • In the pop-up window, select Save Fileand then from the upper-right browser window, select the downloads arrow > SetupProd_Act.exe.

      Where to find and open the Support Assitant download file in a Chrome web browser
  3. When the Application Install window appears, you will be asked if you want to install this application. Select Install to continue.

  4. Follow through the remaining screens to complete the installation.

If that tool doesnā€™t resolve your issue or you recently switched plans and now get an unlicensed product error or can't use your Office applications, see Unlicensed Product and activation errors in Office.

If activation failures began after you upgraded to Windows 10, see Office error code 0x8004FC12 when activating Office.

Deactivate an install

You can activate Office on up to five computers. If you've used up your five installs and want to install Office on another computer, you have to deactivate an installation. Deactivation doesn't remove Office from the computer, but you can't use Office on that computer until you activate it.

If you're an Office 365 user, do the following to deactivate an installation.

  1. Go to https://admin.microsoft.com/Account/#home. If prompted, sign in with your work or school account.

  2. From the Install status tile, select Manage installs.

  3. Under Install status, select Deactivate to deactivate the Office installations you no longer use.

For more information, see Deactivate Office 365 if you see a "limit reached" error.

Where do I install Office for Mac?

If you're looking for steps describing how to install Office on a Mac, see Install Office on your PC or Mac. Office recognizes what operating system you're using so make sure you're on your Mac when you click Install to begin the install procedure.

Download and installation issues on a Mac

For download and installation issues on a Mac, see What to try if you can't install Office for Mac.

I can't find the apps on my Mac

When you install Office for Mac, the app icons aren't automatically added to the dock. To add to the dock, drag the app icon from the Launchpad or the Applications folder. See Add the Office for Mac app icon to the dock.

Uninstall Office for Mac

See Uninstall Office for Mac for instructions on uninstalling the Office apps.

Mac activation issues

To troubleshoot Mac activation issues, see the "Activation" section in What to try if you can't install or activate Office for Mac.

Install updates on a Mac

If your admin has given you permission to install updates, the Microsoft AutoUpdate makes sure your copy of Office will always be up-to-date with the latest security fixes and improvements. To install or check for updates on your Mac, see Check for Office for Mac updates automatically.

Install Office apps and set up email on a mobile device (iOS, Android, or Windows phone or tablet)

The Office apps for Android, iOS (iPhone or iPad), or Windows mobile devices are available to download from the app store for your device. For details on how to download Office apps and set them up, select your device from below:

You can't set up email on your mobile device

For help with troubleshooting email setup on your phone or tablet, see Troubleshoot email setup on mobile.

You can't edit documents using Office apps on your mobile device

In most cases you can do basic editing on most of these devices, however if you have a qualifying Office 365 subscription, you get access to the apps' extra features. If you discover you can't make edits to certain documents, see What you can do in the Office apps on an Android, iOS, or Windows mobile device with an Office 365 subscription.

You can't find the Office applications after installing Office

See Can't find Office applications in Windows 10, Windows 8, or Windows 7?

You recently switched Office 365 plans and now get messages you can't use Office

When you install Office it's automatically linked to your Office 365 plan. This means if you or the users in your organization see Account Notice or Unlicensed product errors in Office, they need to install the version of Office that comes with the new Office 365 plan, and then uninstall the version that came with the previous plan. Use this easy fix tool to uninstall Office and then follow the steps to reinstall Office.

  1. Select the button below to download and install the Office uninstall support tool.

    Download

  2. Follow the steps below to download the uninstall support tool according to your browser.

    Tip:Ā The tool may take a few minutes to download and install. After completing the installation, the Uninstall Office products window will open.

    Edge or Chrome

    • In the lower-lower left or upper-right corner, right-click SetupProd_OffScrub.exe > Open.

      Where to find and open the Support Assitant download file in a Chrome web browser

    Edge (older) or Internet Explorer

    • At the bottom of the browser window, select Run to launch the SetupProd_OffScrub.exe.

      Where to find and open the Support Assitant download file in the Edge or Internet Explorer web browser

    Firefox

    • In the pop-up window, select Save FileĀ and then from the upper-right browser window, select the downloads arrow > SetupProd_OffScrub.exe.

      Where to find and open the Support Assitant download file in a Chrome web browser
  3. Select the version you want to uninstall, and then select Next.

  4. Follow through the remaining screens and when prompted, restart your computer.

    After you restart your computer, the uninstall tool automatically re-opens to complete the final step of the uninstall process. Follow the remaining prompts.

  5. Select the steps for the version of Office you want to install or reinstall. Close the uninstall tool.

    Microsoft 365 | Office 2021 |Ā Office 2019 | Office 2016

Office "stopped working" message appears when you start an application

You might see an "<application> stopped working" error when you try to start Office applications: Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher, or Visio. Older versions of add-ins might cause this type of problem.

To resolve, first make sure you installed the latest Office update.

If the application still isn't working, try the options in, Why do I get a "stopped working" message when I start my Office application?

You don't know what Office 365 product or license you have

  1. If you're not already signed in, go to http://admin.microsoft.com and sign in with your work or school account.

    If you use Office 365 operated by 21Vianet in China, sign in with your work or school username and password at https://login.partner.microsoftonline.cn.

    If you use Office 365 Germany, sign in with your work or school username and password at https://portal.office.de.

  2. From the browser header, go to Settings Settings: update your profile, install software and connect it to the cloud > My app settings > Office 365.

    Office 365 Settings pane
  3. On the My account page, select Subscriptions.

    Office 365 Subscriptions page

    There youā€™ll see the services that you're licensed to use, such as the latest desktop version of Office, SharePoint Online or OneDrive for Business, and Exchange Online. If you don't see The latest desktop version of Office in the list, your admin probably hasn't assigned an Office license to you.

    If you're an admin, see Assign licenses to users in Office 365 for business.

    For more information, see What Office 365 business product or license do I have?

Troubleshoot help for Outlook, Skype for Business, OneDrive for Business, or SharePoint

The content of this article is specific to Office installation issues. Try these articles if you're looking for troubleshooting help for these Office 365 services:

Contact us

If you're still having trouble installing Office, contact your Office 365 admin. If your admin can't find a solution for you after using the information on the Office 365 admin tab, he or she can contact support on your behalf. You can also try the Community forums.

Leave us a comment

We value your feedback. Please let us know if you found any of these solutions helpful by leaving us a comment below. If it didn't, tell us more about your issue, including any error messages your received and where you were in the install process when you received it. We'll use that information to help investigate your issue further.

Try this first

To help with issues you may encounter when installing Office, download the Support and Recovery Assistant for Office 365 tool.

Recovery tool didn't help? Select from below:

Admins should also see the Office for business tab for more general Office installation issues.

I'm an Office 365 admin and don't have an option to install Office, Project, or Visio

When you first sign up for Office 365 for business and you try to install Office (or Project or Visio if you also have a subscription for those apps) you might see a message that says you can't install Office because you don't have a license. This could happen because of a delay between your initial sign in and Office 365 for business setting up your environment. Try signing out of Office 365 and then signing back in.

It could also happen because you haven't assigned a license to yourself or your users. Do the following to check your licenses.

Check that you have a license

  1. If you're not already signed in, go to http://admin.microsoft.com and sign in with your work or school account.

    Note:Ā If you're unable to sign in with your work or school account, you may be signing in to the wrong Office 365 service, see Where to sign in to Office 365.

  2. From the browser header, go to Settings Settings: update your profile, install software and connect it to the cloud > My app settings > Office 365.

    Office 365 Settings pane
  3. On the My account page, select Subscriptions.

    Office 365 Subscriptions page

    Youā€™ll see the services that you're licensed to use, such as the latest desktop version of Office, Project, Visio, SharePoint Online or OneDrive for Business, and Exchange Online. If you don't see The latest desktop version of Office in the list (or Project or Visio if you bought plans with those applications), see Assign licenses to users in Office 365 for business.

Not all Office 365 subscription plans come with the fully installed Office applications. See the bottom of the Office for business column for a list of those plans that don't include an installed version of Office. If your organization has one of these Microsoft 365 plans, as the admin, you can switch to a different Office 365 plan or subscription, or in addition to the subscription you already have, buy another Office 365 for business subscription for those users who require the full version of Office.

If you're not sure what plan you have, follow the steps in What Office 365 for business subscription do I have? For a comparison of plans, see Office for business.

I recently switched Office 365 plans and now get messages I can't use Office

If you or the users in your organization see Account Notice or Unlicensed product errors in Office, they need to install the version of Office that comes with the new Office 365 plan, and then uninstall the version that came with the previous plan. Learn how in ā€œAccount Noticeā€ appears in Office after switching Office 365 plans.

Office is taking very long to install

If you or your users find Office is taking a very long time to install, try installing using an offline installation. See Use the Office 2016 offline installer and select the Office for business tab. These steps show you how to download the installer file which you can then use to install Office offline on a PC at your convenience.

How do I install the latest version of Office on more than five computers?

You can activate Office on up to five computers per user. If a user needs to install Office on a sixth computer, you have to deactivate an installation. Deactivation doesn't remove Office from the computer, but you can't use Office on that computer until you activate it. See Deactivate Office 365 if you see a "limit reached" error.

How do I get the rest of my organization set up with Office 365 for business?

To help you set up your organization, see Set up Office 365 for business ā€“ Admin Help.

Upgrade users in my organization to the latest version of Office

If individuals in your organization are using an older version of Office, we recommend you upgrade to the latest version. See Upgrade users to the latest Office client.

How do I deploy Office to multiple computers in my organization?

If youā€™re an IT Pro and you want to deploy Office in your organization, use the Office Deployment Tool to download the Office software to your local network. You then deploy Office by using the software deployment method you typically use.

You can also choose to have users sign into the Office 365 portal with their work or school account and follow the steps in Install Office on your PC or Mac to install Office themselves.

How do I manage licenses for people in my organization?

Users need licenses to install Office and to use Outlook, SharePoint Online, Lync Online, and other services. As the Office 365 for business admin, you're responsible for Managing user software in Office 365. You assign licenses to new users when creating new accounts, or add licenses to existing users, see Assign licenses to users in Office 365 for business. To remove licenses from users, see Remove licenses from usersĀ in Office 365 for business.

If you need more licenses, see Buy licenses for your Office 365 for business subscription. To remove a license from your subscription, see Remove licenses from your Office 365 for business subscription.

Activate volume license editions of Office

There are two types of activation methods for volume editions of Microsoft Office: Multiple Activation Key (MAK) and Key Management Service (KMS). For help activating these editions, see Activate volume editions of Office.

View status of your services

As an Office 365 admin, you can check Office 365 service health.

Troubleshooting help for Outlook, Skype for Business, or OneDrive for Business

This article is for Office installation issues. The links below are specific to admins looking for troubleshooting help with these Office 365 services. For more general (not admin specific) help in these areas, see the Additional help section on the Office for Business tab of this topic.

Contact support

If you're still having issues, admins can Contact Office 365 for business support.

Leave us a comment

We value your feedback. Please let us know if you found any of these solutions helpful by clicking Yes or No next to Was this information helpful, below, and leaving us a comment. If you are still having problems, tell us more about your issue, including any error messages your received and where you were in the install process when you received them.

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