To reinstall Microsoft Office, remove the old apps, sign in at office.com, and install again using your license or subscription.
Reinstalling Office fixes broken updates, missing features, and license mix-ups. This guide walks you through clean removal, correct sign-in, and a smooth reinstall on Windows and macOS. You’ll also see what to do with device limits, product keys, and Outlook data so nothing goes missing.
How To Reinstall Microsoft Office On Windows And Mac
Below is a quick map for the most common setups. Pick your row, follow the short path, and then jump to the detailed steps that follow.
| Situation | Fast Path | Where To Start |
|---|---|---|
| Windows 11/10 with Microsoft 365 | Uninstall from Settings, then install from Office.com | Settings > Apps > Installed apps → Remove → Sign in at Office.com |
| Windows with Office 2024/2021 one-time license | Uninstall, then sign in with the account that owns the license and install | Office.com → Sign in → Services & subscriptions → Install |
| Mac with Microsoft 365 or Office 2024/2021 | Remove Office apps, clear license, then install from Office.com | Finder removal → License removal tool (if needed) → Office.com |
| Work or school account | Uninstall, then install from Office portal using work email | Office.com → Sign in with org account → Install apps |
| Hit device limit (“install limit reached”) | Deactivate an old device, then install on this one | Account installs page → Sign out of a device → Install here |
| Repair didn’t help, uninstall stuck | Run the official uninstall helper, reboot, then install | Use the uninstall scenario/tool → Reboot → Office.com |
| Outlook data needs care | Export a local PST if you keep mail on this PC only | Outlook → File → Open & Export → Import/Export |
| Visio/Project stand-alone | Use the same account that owns the add-on app | Office.com → Services & subscriptions → Install Visio/Project |
Prep Steps Before You Remove Anything
Confirm The Right Account
Go to office.com and sign in. Check that you see your plan or one-time license under Services & Subscriptions. If you use a work email, stay with that account for the whole process. Switching accounts mid-way creates activation headaches.
Check Device Limits
Microsoft 365 sets a cap on the number of active installs per user. If you hit a limit, sign out from a device you no longer use, then install here. This takes seconds and avoids a full cleanup on the old machine.
Save Outlook Items Stored Only On This PC
Mail in Exchange, Microsoft 365, Outlook.com, or IMAP syncs back once you sign in again. If you have local archives or POP mail in a PST, export it first so you can bring it back after the reinstall.
Windows: Clean Uninstall And Fresh Reinstall
Step 1: Uninstall Office From Settings
- Open Settings > Apps > Installed apps (or Apps & features).
- Find Microsoft 365 or your Office edition. Click the three dots, choose Uninstall, and follow the prompts.
- When removal finishes, restart the PC. A quick reboot clears locked files and pending tasks.
Step 2: If Removal Fails, Use The Uninstall Helper
If the standard method stalls or leaves parts behind, use the official uninstall scenario/tool from Microsoft. It scrubs old Click-to-Run entries and stuck components, then prompts for a restart. After the reboot, the machine is ready for a clean install.
Step 3: Sign In And Install From Office.com
- In a browser, go to office.com and sign in with the same account that owns your plan or license.
- Choose Install apps and pick Microsoft 365 apps (subscription) or the matching one-time edition shown under Services & Subscriptions.
- Open the downloaded installer and click Install. Stay online until setup finishes.
Step 4: Activate And Check Updates
- Launch Word. If asked, sign in and let activation complete.
- Open File > Account and turn on Update Options > Update Now.
Quick Repair vs. Online Repair (When You Don’t Need A Full Reinstall)
For minor glitches, try Repair from Apps settings. Quick Repair runs fast and keeps your files; Online Repair takes longer and resets files more broadly. If both fail, do the clean uninstall above.
Mac: Remove, Clear License, Reinstall
Step 1: Remove Office Apps
- Quit all Office apps.
- In Finder > Applications, drag Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote to Trash.
- Empty Trash.
Step 2: Clear Old License Files (If Activation Loops)
When a Mac shows the wrong plan or keeps asking for activation, remove old license files using Microsoft’s license removal utility. After the cleanup, sign in again during install to attach the correct license.
Step 3: Install From Office.com
- Go to office.com and sign in with your personal, business, or school account.
- Choose Install apps. Open the package and follow the prompts.
- Start Word and sign in if asked. Check for updates in the AutoUpdate tool.
Reinstall Tips That Save Time
Use The Same Account For Removal And Install
Stick with one account across the steps. If the license belongs to a different email, sign out and switch at Office.com first. This avoids “product notice” banners later.
Deactivate An Old Device Instead Of Wiping It
If you only need to free a seat, use the account installs page to sign out of an older PC or Mac. That turns apps on that device into read-only mode and clears the slot for this machine.
Mind Stand-Alone Apps Like Visio Or Project
These use their own licenses. After you reinstall the main suite, sign in at Office.com and install each add-on from Services & Subscriptions so they activate under the right account.
Outlook Data And Profiles
Most business and personal cloud mail rehydrates once you add the account back. If you keep local archives, re-attach PSTs in Outlook after the reinstall. On Mac, old identities are replaced during a clean install, so bring back only what you need.
Reinstall Paths For Special Cases
Subscription Switched To A New Plan
If your plan changed at work, the safest route is a clean sign-out, a full uninstall, and a fresh install while signed in with the new plan. That ensures the right app set and services light up.
Moving From A Trial To A Paid License
Activate the paid plan on the same Microsoft account first. If apps still show trial banners, run a repair. If the banner stays, reinstall while signed in with the paid account.
Old Perpetual To New Perpetual (Office 2016 → 2024)
Remove the older suite fully. Install the new edition from Office.com while signed in with the account that owns the 2024 license. Mixing old and new files can cause activation loops.
Troubleshooting: Common Errors And Fast Fixes
| Error Or Symptom | Likely Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| “Install limit reached” | Too many active installs on your account | Deactivate one device on the account installs page, then retry |
| Activation keeps looping on Mac | Old license files remain | Run the license removal utility, then sign in and activate again |
| Uninstall stuck or leaves pieces | Locked Click-to-Run or services | Run the official uninstall scenario/tool, reboot, reinstall |
| Apps missing after install | Signed in with an account that lacks those apps | Sign out, sign in with the correct account, reinstall the missing apps |
| Outlook can’t see old mail | Mail only existed in a local PST | Import the PST you exported earlier; add accounts to resync cloud mail |
| Repair didn’t change anything | Corruption beyond Quick Repair scope | Run Online Repair; if no luck, do a clean uninstall and fresh install |
| “Product notice” banner in apps | License mismatch or sign-in under the wrong email | Sign out, sign in with the license owner account; reinstall if needed |
How To Reinstall Microsoft Office If You Hit Device Limits
When you see a limit message during setup, do this on any device with a browser:
- Sign in at office.com with the same account you’ll use on the new device.
- Open your installs page and sign out of a device you no longer use.
- Return to the new device and run the installer again.
This clears the road without touching the old machine. The apps on that machine switch to read-only mode until you sign back in.
Product Keys, Plans, And Activation
One-Time License (Office 2024/2021)
These attach to a Microsoft account. You redeem the key once. After that, you reinstall by signing in with that account. No key entry during setup unless the license was never redeemed.
Microsoft 365 Subscription
Activation rides on your sign-in. Install, sign in, and you’re set. If you switch accounts, apps may go into a reduced mode. Fix that by signing out of Office in the apps and at the installs page, then sign in with the right account.
Step-By-Step Example: Clean Reinstall On Windows
- Prep: Export any local PST from Outlook. Close all Office apps.
- Remove: Settings → Apps → Installed apps → Microsoft 365 → Uninstall. Restart.
- Install: Open a browser, go to Office.com, sign in, choose Install apps, run the setup.
- Activate: Open Word, sign in if asked, and run Update Now.
- Restore: Open Outlook and import your PST if you use local archives.
Step-By-Step Example: Clean Reinstall On Mac
- Prep: Quit all Office apps. Back up any local Outlook data you want to keep.
- Remove: In Applications, move Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote to Trash. Empty Trash.
- License: If activation loops, run the license removal utility, then restart.
- Install: Sign in at Office.com, download the installer, and follow the prompts.
- Activate: Open Word and sign in. Run updates from the AutoUpdate tool.
When A Repair Is Enough
Glitches like a missing ribbon tab or a single app crashing may not call for a full reinstall. On Windows, use the Modify > Repair path from Apps settings. Start with Quick Repair since it’s fast and keeps data. If that fails, try Online Repair. If the issue returns, move to a clean uninstall and reinstall.
Safe Links To Keep Handy
You can install or reinstall straight from Microsoft’s official pages. Use the Microsoft install guide for the right sign-in path and download, and the Windows uninstall guide when you need a full cleanup.
Final Checks Before You Hit Install
- You’re signed in with the email that owns the plan or license.
- You freed a slot if you hit a device cap.
- You backed up any local Outlook data.
- You removed old suites and, on Mac, cleared license files if activation kept looping.
Follow the paths above and you’ll have a fresh, activated Office in minutes, with your files and mail right where you expect them.