Share via

MS Office Professional Plus 2021 (retail, not subscription) won't update

Geneviève 20 Reputation points
2025-04-06T17:14:43.4933333+00:00

User's image

I click "Update Now" and wait... and wait... and nothing happens. I cannot find a file online to download even though Version 2503 (Build 18623.20156) is listed here: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-ca/officeupdates/update-history-office-2021 Any suggestions appreciated.

Office Management
Office Management
Office: A suite of Microsoft productivity software that supports common business tasks, including word processing, email, presentations, and data management and analysis.Management: The act or process of organizing, handling, directing or controlling something.
2,358 questions
0 comments
Accepted answer
  1. Emi Zhang-MSFT 30,011 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff
    2025-04-08T01:36:04.4833333+00:00

    It sounds frustrating to wait for an update that doesn't seem to progress. Here are a few steps you can try to resolve this issue:

    1. Check Internet Connection

    Ensure your internet connection is stable. Sometimes, a weak connection can cause updates to stall.

    1. Restart Office Applications

    Close all Office applications and restart your computer. Then, try updating again.

    1. Manual Update

    You can manually download the update from the official Microsoft site. Here is a direct link to download Office 2021 updates: Microsoft Office 2021 Update.

    1. Repair Office Installation
    2. Go to Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.
    3. Select Microsoft Office and click Change.
    4. Choose Repair and follow the prompts.
    5. Check for Conflicting Add-ins

    Sometimes third-party add-ins can interfere with updates. Disable any add-ins and try updating again.

    1. Update via Command Prompt

    You can force an update via Command Prompt:

    1. Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
    2. Type cd %programfiles%\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun and press Enter.
    3. Type officec2rclient.exe /update user and press Enter.

    If these steps don't resolve the issue, it might be helpful to check if there are any specific error messages or logs that can provide more insight. Let me know if you need further assistance!

0 additional answers

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest

Your answer

Answers can be marked as Accepted Answers by the question author, which helps users to know the answer solved the author's problem.