Microsoft finally explains how to fix Office 2024 licensing issue

If you’ve upgraded to Office 2024 but your Microsoft account still insists you’re using an older version, you’re not alone.

A long-standing licensing glitch has been confusing users who hold multiple Office licenses under the same Microsoft account. Now, after months of vague fixes, Microsoft has finally published a full step-by-step guide.

This issue affects users with Office 2024 licenses linked to their Microsoft account, especially those who previously had Office 2021 or similar editions. Even after updating, the older version kept showing in the Office app’s backstage view. Microsoft’s earlier advice to install the latest version didn’t always work.

Now there’s a more specific workaround. You’ll need to manually remove an old license folder from your system and relaunch the apps. Here’s how:

For Microsoft account–based Office 2024 installs

1. Close all open Office apps.
2. Go to %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Office\Licenses.
3. Delete the folder named “5”.
4. Reopen any Office app.
5. Sign in with your Microsoft account and select Office 2024.
6. Confirm that Office 2024 now appears under Product Information.

For pre-installed Office 2024 on corporate PCs

1. Close all Office apps.
2. Navigate to %LocalAppData%\Microsoft\Office\Licenses.
3. Delete the folder named “5”.
4. Open any Office app and follow prompts to use Office 2024.
5. Confirm the correct version appears under Product Information.