How to replace Office from Microsoft Store with the Desktop Office version

If you use an Office version installed from Microsoft Store, you might face certain issues with add-ins. Sometimes the updates of Office versions installed from Store are incompatible with third-party tools, especially for deployment and redeployment. Besides, you will have to load the add-in manually, and this is not the most serious restriction you'll face with Office from Store.

The workaround is to install an Office Desktop version instead of the one from Microsoft Store. Here you will find the instructions on how to do this.

How to find out that Office is installed from Store

  1. Start Excel and open a blank workbook.
  2. Click the File tab in the top left corner and select Account from the menu on the left.
  3. If your Office is installed from Store, it will be indicated in the About Excel section after the build number:
    How to find out that your Office is installed from Store.

Uninstall the Microsoft Office application

If you use Windows 10, go to Settings → Apps, find the Microsoft Office application in the list and click on it to uninstall:
Uninstall the Microsoft Office application.
If you use another Windows version, uninstall the application via Control Panel:

  1. Close all Microsoft Excel files.
  2. Go to Start and open Control Panel.
  3. Click on Programs:
    Pick Programs
  4. Pick the Uninstall a program option:
    Uninstall a program
  5. You will see a list of all installed programs. Find the Microsoft Office application you want to uninstall and double-click it. Click Yes in the dialog window.

Download and install the Desktop Office version

  1. Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in to your Microsoft account.
  2. Go to Office 365 Home → Installs and click Install Office:
    Install Office.
  3. Confirm installation by clicking Install:
    Download and install Office 365 Home.
  4. Run the downloaded .exe file and click Yes in the dialog window:
    Allow this app to make changes to your device.
  5. When the installation is complete, make sure that now you will use the Desktop Office version. Go to Excel → File → Account and check the text in the About Excel field, now you should see Click-to-Run there:
    Click-to-Run.

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