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How to Fix: Product key doesn’t match installed office version

Fix the error that appears when your Office product key doesn’t match the version currently installed.

Updated yesterday

You may see an error message like this when trying to activate Office:

This product key is for Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2024, which isn’t currently installed.

This usually happens because another Office license — such as Microsoft 365 or an older version of Office — is still active on your system.

Even if you’ve installed the correct version, the older license may still be in effect and block the new activation.


How to check which version is installed

To confirm if this is the issue:

  1. Close the error message (if it’s open), or open Word.

  2. Click on the Account tab (bottom-left corner).

  3. Under Product Information, check which version is shown.

If it says Microsoft 365 or any other version than the one you purchased, then the older license is still active and interfering with the activation.


How to fix it

You’ll need to remove the conflicting license and make sure the correct version is active.

Click here to follow our full guide on how to remove the wrong license and activate the right one.

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