My Office suite disappeared

Check Settings > Apps > Apps & features first: if Microsoft Office or Microsoft 365 is absent, reinstall it using the account or Microsoft Store method associated with the original license; if it is listed, repair the existing installation.

1. Determine whether Office is still installed

1. Right-click Start and select Apps and Features.
2. Search the list for Microsoft 365, Microsoft Office, or a named Office edition such as Office Home & Student.
3. Also select Start and type Word.

If Word appears in Start search, the installation remains and only its shortcuts may be missing. Open Word, right-click its taskbar icon, and select Pin to taskbar. Repeat for Excel and PowerPoint.^1^

2. If Office is listed, repair it

1. In Apps & features, select the Office product.
2. Select Modify.
3. For a Click-to-Run installation, select Online Repair > Repair. For an MSI installation, select Repair > Continue.
4. Follow the prompts, restart Windows if requested, and search Start for Word.

Online Repair repairs the entire suite, not just one application.^2^

3. If Office is not listed, reinstall it

For Microsoft 365, Office 2024, or another edition already associated with an account:

1. Go to Microsoft 365 Apps.
2. Sign in with the same Microsoft account, work account, or school account originally associated with Office.
3. Select Install apps.
4. Choose Install or Microsoft 365 apps, depending on the account type.
5. Run the downloaded installer and approve the Windows prompt.
6. Wait for “You’re all set! Office is installed now.”
7. Open Start, type Word, launch it, and complete activation if prompted.^3^

A product key normally is not required when the purchased Office license is already associated with the Microsoft account.^4^

If Office was preinstalled and is not in the account

Some preinstalled Office 2021 products were activated without a product key or Microsoft account. For that case:

1. Open Start > Microsoft Store.
2. Select Library > Apps.
3. Turn off Show installed products only.
4. Find the Office product and select its Cloud download button.
5. Complete the installation prompts.^5^

If Office is absent from both the Microsoft account and Microsoft Store library, locate the original purchase email, product-key card, installation media, or contact the PC seller. “Office included” may also have meant a trial rather than a permanent license.

If Windows was recently reset or recovered

A Windows recovery can remove Office. Reinstall it using the recovery ReadMe placed on the desktop or the appropriate installer for the Office version.^6^

Office 2016 and Office 2019 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. They may still be reinstallable with a valid license, but they no longer receive support or security updates.^6^

References

1. My Office 2019 seems to have disappeared! - Microsoft Q&A
2. Repair an Office application | Microsoft Support
3. Download, install, or reinstall Microsoft 365 or Office 2024 on a PC or Mac
4. Using product keys with Microsoft 365 | Microsoft Support
5. Reinstall Office from the Microsoft Store app | Microsoft Support
6. Office is no longer on your PC after you do a Recovery in Windows | Microsoft Support