If you try to install Microsoft Office and see the “We can’t install” error, the message usually tells you which programs to uninstall first.
If it does list programs:
Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps (Windows 10/11) and uninstall the listed programs.
Once they’re gone, try installing Office again.
If the error message is empty (no programs listed), it’s often caused by leftover Office files that Windows didn’t remove automatically.
In that case, follow the steps below to manually delete them.
This method can also help with other installation issues where the Office installer doesn’t start.
Step 1 – Open the Registry Editor
Press Windows + R on your keyboard.
Type regedit and press Enter.
If asked by Windows whether to allow changes, click Yes.
The Windows key is the one with the Windows logo, usually between the Ctrl and Alt keys.
Step 2 – Navigate to the Microsoft Registry Folder
In the Registry Editor, look at the left-hand side panel.
Click the small arrow > next to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE to expand it.
Then click the arrow > next to SOFTWARE.
Find and click the arrow > next to Microsoft.
Step 3 – Delete Office-Related Folders
Inside HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft, look for any folders related to Office, for example:
Office
OfficeSoftwareProtectionPlatform
OfficeUpdate
OfficeClickToRun
Right-click each Office-related folder and choose Delete.
Step 4 – Skip the “Common” Folder
If you see a folder named Common inside the Office folder and Windows won’t let you delete it, that’s normal.
Leave it as it is and continue deleting the other Office folders.
Step 5 – Restart and Reinstall
Close the Registry Editor.
Restart your computer.
Run the Office installer again.
Step 6 – Disable Your Antivirus Temporarily
Some antivirus programs block or interfere with the Office installer. Temporarily disable your antivirus software (including Windows Defender's real-time protection), then run the installer again. You can turn protection back on once the installation finishes.
Step 7 – Delete the Office Folder Under WOW6432Node
If you're still experiencing the issue after completing the steps above, a leftover Office key under WOW6432Node in the registry can be the cause:
Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node.
Look for any Office folder/key inside WOW6432Node.
Right-click it and select Delete.
Restart your computer, then try installing again.
💡 This step has fixed the issue for multiple customers when nothing else worked.
Still Not Working? Check Your Windows Username for Special Characters
If your Windows username contains special characters, the Office installer may not be able to read the files it needs. This includes letters with accents or marks, such as å, ä, ö, é, ü or ñ, and letters from other alphabets, such as Cyrillic or Greek. The installation then fails.
How to check:
Open File Explorer, type C:\Users in the address bar and press Enter.
Look at the name of your user folder. If it has any characters other than the basic letters A–Z and numbers 0–9, this is likely the cause.
How to fix it: create a new local user and install from there
Open Settings > Accounts.
Windows 11: go to Other users and click Add account.
Windows 10: go to Family & other users and click Add someone else to this PC.
Click I don't have this person's sign-in information, then Add a user without a Microsoft account.
Enter a username that uses only the basic letters A–Z and/or numbers 0–9, such as OfficeUser. Set a password and click Next.
Back on the users list, click the new account, select Change account type, choose Administrator and click OK.
Sign out of your current account and sign in to the new one.
Run the Office installer again from the new account.
Renaming your existing account won't help, because Windows keeps the original name for your user folder. Creating a new account is the most reliable fix.
💡 Office is installed for the whole computer. Once the installation finishes, you can switch back to your usual account and use Office from there.
If the problem continues after these steps, contact our support team via the chat in the bottom right corner.