Is Office Home 2024 installed if Excel and Word still indicate I'm using Home and Student 2021?

Constance Falk 0 Reputation points
2026-11-06T23:03:43.68+00:00

In installed Office Home 2024 today but when I go into Word or Excel to check my version, it still says Home and Student 2021, which is no longer supported. How can I verify the new software is installed correctly?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Install, redeem, activate | For home | Windows
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  1. AI answer

    2026-11-06T23:04:28.8066667+00:00

    Office 2024 can be installed while Word and Excel incorrectly display Office 2021 when the same Microsoft account owns both licenses; first update Office, then refresh its local license data if the old name remains. ^1^

    1. Confirm that Office Home 2024 belongs to your account

    1. Open the Microsoft account Services & subscriptions page: https://account.microsoft.com/services
    2. Sign in with the account used to purchase or redeem Office 2024.
    3. Confirm that Office Home 2024 appears.

    If it is listed, the account has the 2024 entitlement. Most Office 2024 installations activate by signing in with the Microsoft account linked to the license rather than by entering a product key. ^2^

    2. Install the latest Office update

    Microsoft identifies the earlier-version label as a known Office 2024 issue and specifies updating Office as the first resolution. ^1^

    1. Open Word or Excel and create or open a document.
    2. Select File > Account.
    3. Under Product Information, select Update Options > Update Now.
      • If necessary, select Enable Updates first.
    4. Wait for the update to finish, close every Office application, and reopen Word. ^3^
    5. Return to File > Account and check Product Information.

    The expected result is Office Home 2024 with an activated status.

    3. If it still displays 2021, refresh the license data

    This removes cached licensing information, so ensure the Microsoft account credentials are available before proceeding.

    1. Close all Office applications.
    2. Press Windows key + R.
    3. Enter: 
         %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Office\Licenses
    4. Delete the folder named 5 inside that location.
    5. Start Word or Excel.
    6. Sign in with the Microsoft account associated with Office Home 2024.
    7. If Office presents a list of available products, select Office 2024.
    8. Check File > Account > Product Information again. These are Microsoft’s documented steps when updating alone does not correct the displayed product. ^1^

    To see additional installation details, select About Excel or About Word. That dialog shows the complete version/build, installation type, and 32-bit or 64-bit architecture. ^4^

    If Office Home 2024 is not listed online

    The installation cannot be verified against that account. Check any other Microsoft account that may have been used to purchase or redeem it. If Office Home 2024 appears under another account, sign into Office with that account.

    If it is listed but the update and license refresh do not work, uninstall all Office versions from Settings > Apps > Installed apps, restart Windows, and reinstall by selecting Install beside Office Home 2024 on the Services & subscriptions page. This removes the applications, not existing Word documents or Excel workbooks. ^5^

    The displayed “2021” label alone does not prove that the 2024 installation failed. Also, if the support concern refers specifically to Office LTSC 2021, its documented end-of-support date is October 13, 2026. ^6^

    References

    1. Office 2024 may appear as an earlier version of Office in the app backstage | Microsoft Support
    2. Change your Office product key | Microsoft Support
    3. How to update Microsoft 365 or Office for Windows
    4. [Windows](https://support.microsoft.com/office/lifecycle/lc-account/about-office-what-version-of-office-am-i-using)
    5. How can I install Home Office 2024 with my Microsoft Account with your directions. - Microsoft Q&A
    6. Office LTSC 2021 reaching end of support on October 13, 2026
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. Estrella721 47,660 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-11-06T23:39:17.3366667+00:00

    To be sure, sign in to your Microsoft account here: https://account.microsoft.com/services. Can you see Office Home 2024 listed there?

    If yes, open Word and go to File > Account. Is the same Microsoft account signed in there? If so, click the Switch License button and check whether you can select Office Home 2024.

    If the issue persists, you can use the Office Uninstall Support Tool (Uninstall Troubleshooter) to completely remove Microsoft Office from your device and then reinstall it:

    https://aka.ms/SaRA-officeUninstallFromPC

    Once you open the link, click Get Help. When the tool launches, select Yes, then click Next. Choose the option to uninstall Microsoft 365 and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process.

    To reinstall Office:

    Go to https://account.microsoft.com/services

    Sign in with the Microsoft account associated with your Office license.

    Locate Microsoft Office and click Install.

    Run the downloaded installer and follow the on-screen instructions.

    Once installed, open an Office app such as Word or Excel and sign in with the Microsoft account associated with your purchase to activate Office.

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