If you’re seeing one of the following messages when trying to open the Office installation file:
Windows cannot access the specified device, path, or file. You may not have the appropriate permissions to access the item.
Unable to execute file in the temporary directory. Setup aborted.
Error 5: Access is denied.
You may also not see any error message at all — the installer may simply not open or respond.
This is almost always caused by a third-party antivirus blocking the file from running — even if the file is safe.
Temporarily disable your antivirus software
In most cases, the issue is resolved by:
Turning off your third-party antivirus software completely
Adding an exception for the installer file inside your antivirus settings
Once the antivirus is disabled or the file is allowed, try opening the Office installer again.
This applies even if you don’t see a direct warning from your antivirus — the block may happen silently in the background.
Check if you are using Windows S mode
If your device is running Windows 10 or 11 in S mode, the Office installer will not run. S mode is a restricted version of Windows that only allows apps from the Microsoft Store and blocks executable files like .exe installers.
To continue the installation, you’ll need to switch out of S mode.
Follow the guide here to disable S mode:
Once you’ve exited S mode, return to the installation steps and try again.
Still not working? Try this method
If you have disabled your antivirus and verified that you are out of S mode but it still doesn’t work, try the alternative solution in the video below:
Follow the steps in the video carefully.
Still having issues?
If you’ve tried everything above and the problem persists, please contact our support team so we can assist you further.