I cannot get my stand alone version of Microsoft Publisher 2021 and Microsoft 365 downloaded onto my laptop

Download each product from the Microsoft account associated with its license, and ensure Microsoft 365 and Publisher 2021 use the same 32-bit or 64-bit architecture before installing them together.

1. Confirm both licenses are attached to your account

If Publisher 2021 came with a new product key:

1. Open https://www.office.com/setup.
2. Sign in with the Microsoft account you intend to use for both products.
3. Enter the Publisher product key without hyphens.
4. If the key reports that it has already been used, do not enter it again; it is already linked to a Microsoft account. Sign in to the account that originally redeemed it instead. ^1^

2. Download Microsoft 365 first

1. Go to https://m365.cloud.microsoft/apps and sign in with the account containing the Microsoft 365 subscription.
2. Select Apps → Install apps.
3. Select Microsoft 365 apps.
4. Open the downloaded installer and approve the User Account Control prompt.
5. Wait for “You’re all set! Office is installed now.”
6. Open Word and sign in when prompted to activate Microsoft 365. ^2^

If Install apps is missing, the account either does not contain the subscription or, for a work/school plan, has not been assigned a desktop-app license.

3. Download and install Publisher 2021

1. Open the Microsoft account dashboard at https://account.microsoft.com.
2. Sign in with the account associated with Publisher 2021.
3. Open Services & subscriptions or Office apps.
4. Find Publisher 2021 and select Install.
5. Choose the same architecture as Microsoft 365—both must be 32-bit or both 64-bit.
6. Run the installer, then open Publisher and complete activation.

Microsoft documents the account-dashboard download process for Office 2021 products. ^3^

If one installer tells you to remove the other product

Microsoft 365 and Office/Publisher 2021 both use version 16.0 and normally use Click-to-Run, but coexistence also requires matching architecture and compatible installation technology. You cannot combine 32-bit and 64-bit products, or combine the same version using different Click-to-Run/MSI technologies. ^4^

For the specific Publisher 2021/Microsoft 365 conflict:

1. Uninstall Publisher 2021 from Settings → Apps → Installed apps.
2. Install Microsoft 365 first using the Microsoft 365 Home offline image: https://officecdn.microsoft.com/db/492350F6-3A01-4F97-B9C0-C7C6DDF67D60/media/en-US/O365HomePremRetail.img
3. When downloaded, right-click the IMG file and select Mount.
4. Open the new virtual drive in File Explorer.
5. Open the Office folder and run Setup64.exe, or Setup32.exe if Publisher is 32-bit.
6. After Microsoft 365 completes, reinstall Publisher 2021 in the matching bit version.

This installation order is the accepted resolution for the same standalone Publisher 2021 and Microsoft 365 installation conflict. ^5^

Uninstalling applications changes the Office installation, so close every Office program before starting. Do not remove either license from the Microsoft account.

If downloading still fails

Use Microsoft 365’s offline installer:

1. From the Microsoft 365 installation window, choose Offline installer under Choose a version.
2. Download and open O365HomePremRetail.img.
3. Open its virtual drive and the Office folder.
4. Run Setup64.exe or Setup32.exe.
5. Reconnect to the internet and open Word to activate. ^6^

If it still fails, record the complete error message or code and identify whether the failure happens while downloading, launching the installer, installing, or activating. Those details determine the next repair step.

References

1. Where to enter your Office product key | Microsoft Support
2. [Need help?](https://support.microsoft.com/office/lifecycle/officeinstall/download-install-or-reinstall-microsoft-365-or-office-2024-on-a-pc-or-mac)
3. Download and install or reinstall Office 2021, Office 2019, or Office 2016 | Microsoft Support
4. Supported scenarios for installing different versions of Office, Project, and Visio on the same computer
5. Trouble installing a stand alone version of Publisher along with Microsoft 365 - Microsoft Q&A
6. [Office for home](https://support.microsoft.com/office/lifecycle/officeinstall/use-the-office-offline-installer)