Uninstall Microsoft Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021, restart Windows, and then install Microsoft 365 using the account associated with your subscription.
1. Remove Office LTSC 2021
- Close Word, Excel, Outlook, and all other Office applications.
- Press the Windows key, type Control Panel, and open it.
- Select Programs > Programs and Features.
- Select Microsoft Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021.
- Select Uninstall and complete the prompts. Office suites normally must be removed as a complete package rather than one application at a time.^1^
- Restart the computer.
Do not delete the Office program folders manually; that can leave installation records behind.
2. If Microsoft 365 still detects Office 2021
Use Microsoft’s uninstall troubleshooter to remove leftover Office components:
- Open the Microsoft Support uninstall page cited below.
- Under Uninstall Microsoft 365, select the button that starts the uninstall troubleshooter.
- If prompted that the site is trying to open Get Help, select Open.
- Choose Office 2021 or the detected Office installation and follow the prompts.
- Restart the computer when requested.
Run the troubleshooter on the affected computer. It requires Windows 10 or later and supports removing Office 2021.^2^
This cleanup step is particularly relevant when Office no longer appears under Programs and Features, but the Microsoft 365 installer still reports that Office 2021 is installed.^3^
3. Install and activate Microsoft 365
- Go to https://m365.cloud.microsoft/apps.
- Sign in with the Microsoft account—or work/school account—associated with the new subscription.
- Select Install apps.
- Select Install or Microsoft 365 apps, depending on the account type.
- Run the downloaded installer and approve the Windows permission prompt.
- Wait for “You’re all set! Office is installed now”, then select Close.
- Open Word from the Start menu, accept the license agreement if prompted, and sign in with the subscription account to activate Microsoft 365.^4^
If Project or Visio is installed separately, do not remove it unless the Microsoft 365 installer specifically identifies it as another conflicting Office product.
References
- Click-to-Run
- Microsoft 365 subscription features aren't available in Office apps | Microsoft Support
- Uninstall microsoft Office 2021 - Microsoft Q&A
- Download, install, or reinstall Microsoft 365 or Office 2024 on a PC or Mac