how to find 2024 office on my Mac

Jessica Booker 0 Reputation points
2026-10-29T13:55:26.78+00:00

I was using office 2021 for Mac under one email address. I then bought directly from Microsoft the 2024 office and installed under a new email address but same Mac computer. I had removed (uninstalled) all 2021 office products from Mac. Then reinstalled 2024 but my previous 2021 keeps showing up as the license being used. Have tried this several times with 2021 repeated being the default license. Even tried to use license removal tool but after downloading I can't find in my downloads to finish the removal process.

I do not use 365.

I suspect it has to do with 2024 being under a different email than 2021. Can you transfer my 2024 from my new email to show up on my old email. Both have Microsoft accounts? Will this correct the problem?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | MacOS
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  1. EmilyS726 278.3K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-10-29T15:46:47.4866667+00:00

    Hello

    Please uninstall your Office apps. To uninstall, you move all Office apps, like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams to trash bin.

    Then please use the instruction here: https://support.microsoft.com/office/how-to-remove-office-license-files-on-a-mac-b032c0f6-a431-4dad-83a9-6b727c03b193 Download and run the license removal tool to clear the cached old license.

    Then download and install the latest version: https://res.public.onecdn.static.microsoft/mro1cdnstorage/C1297A47-86C4-4C1F-97FA-950631F94777/MacAutoupdate/Microsoft_365_and_Office_16.114.26102720_BusinessPro_Installer.pkg

    Make sure you then sign into the account that rightfully carries the 2024 license.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-10-29T13:55:45.3066667+00:00

    On Mac, uninstalling the apps is often not enough. Older Office license files can remain and cause Office 2021 to keep being selected even after Office 2024 is installed.

    Use this path:

    1. Check which license Office is currently using.
      • In an Office app, check the version/license information as described in What version of Office am I using?
    2. Remove the old license files from the Mac.
      • Download the license removal tool.
      • Open the .pkg file from the Downloads folder.
      • If macOS shows unidentified developer, hold Control and click the file, then choose Open.
      • Select Continue and complete the setup wizard.
      • Select Install to remove the licenses. A local Mac admin password may be required.
      • After it finishes, select Close.
    3. Open any Office app and sign in with the account that has the Office 2024 purchase.
      • If prompted to choose a license, select the newer license.
    4. Restart the Mac after activation.
    5. If Office still does not activate correctly, remove the Office apps and reinstall them.
      • In Finder > Applications, locate Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
      • Control-click each app and choose Move to Trash.
      • Reinstall Office using the installer for Office for Mac, then activate with the account associated with the perpetual one-time license.

    Important details for this scenario:

    • Microsoft states that when upgrading on Mac, older Office licenses may still need to be removed even if the older version was already uninstalled.
    • If an account has both a Microsoft 365 for Mac license and a one-time purchase associated with it, Office can prompt for which license to use.
    • The Mac App Store Office apps are not compatible with Office 2019 licenses, and Word/Excel/PowerPoint from the Mac App Store require a Microsoft 365 subscription to activate.

    The request to transfer Office 2024 from one Microsoft account to another is not covered here.

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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