Switching from MS Office 2021 to MS Office 2024 on an iMac

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aja1980 Author

Level 1

16 points

Switching from MS Office 2021 to MS Office 2024 on an iMac

Hi all

I've had MS Office Home and Student 2021 installed and working on my 2021 IMac , now running Sonoma, since new. For reasons I won't bore you with now I decided to upgrade today to MS Office Home and Business 2024.

I bought the licence, got the passkey, removed Office 2021 from the iMac, and installed Office 2024 as per all the instructions. Now I have a weird result.

MS Teams, which I didn't have before, has installed as the 2024 version. Ditto MS Outlook, which I never used.

But Word, Excel and Powerpoint have all installed and reverted to the 2021 versions.

I'm trying to get MS to respond, but nothing so far. Thought I'd try here in case someone has had something similar. Both versions are showing as valid in my MS account online. I don't want to delete 2021 from my account as I have a laptop I want to use it on.

Anyone come across this before? Thanks

iMac 24″, macOS 14.6

Posted on Feb 21, 2025 07:01 AM

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Answer 1

VikingOSX

Level 10

122,136 points

Feb 21, 2025 07:24 AM in response to aja1980

I would follow Microsoft's removal instructions (if you used something else), and then get Microsoft's License Removal tool so you can kick that Office 2021 license out of your Mac. Empty your Trash and reboot.

Now, reinstall Office 2024 Home and Business. At the installer dialog, you may choose a custom installation so you can deselect Teamworks and Outlook from being installed. Then enter your 2024 license if it is not done automatically by Microsoft checking your MS account entry on their server.

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Answer 2

Feb 21, 2025 07:42 AM in response to aja1980

aja1980 wrote:

Thanks for the quick response VikingOSX. I used CleanMyMac to uninstall the 2021 version. It usually does a good job on most things but I'll try the MS instructions, and I haven't come across the License Removal Tool before.

I'll try your advice and see what happens.

Uninstall CleanMyMac and all other third party apps that claim to clean, protect, manage, etc. The MacOS does a good job of managing your computer.

For Microsoft Office issues you could try the Microsoft Office Help Community.

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Answer 3

aja1980 Author

Level 1

16 points

Feb 21, 2025 07:33 AM in response to VikingOSX

Thanks for the quick response VikingOSX. I used CleanMyMac to uninstall the 2021 version. It usually does a good job on most things but I'll try the MS instructions, and I haven't come across the License Removal Tool before.

I'll try your advice and see what happens.

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Answer 4

aja1980 Author

Level 1

16 points

Feb 21, 2025 08:06 AM in response to VikingOSX

So, thanks again VikingOSX. All sorted. I had to adapt the MS Removal Instructions slightly as I had more file names than the ones they suggested, but I took a chance and removed anything Office related and it's all worked. I didn't get the chance to choose apps at installation, but once they were downloaded I opened Excel and it asked me to sign in and gave me the choice of the two licenses, so I'm all sorted.

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Answer 5

VikingOSX

Level 10

122,136 points

Feb 21, 2025 11:34 AM in response to aja1980

Good that you got it sorted.

I know my Office 2021 Home and Business allowed me to customize the installation from the installer dialog. Perhaps MS has changed that with 2024.

I will never use CleanMyMac. There have been years of posts in these communities by those who are sorry they did use it. The recommendation is to entirely remove it.

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