2026 Guide: How to Download and Install Microsoft Office 2021

Requirements Before Downloading Microsoft Office 2021

Before downloading Microsoft Office 2021, make sure you have the following ready:

• Purchase of Microsoft Office 2021
• A Microsoft account
• A PC
• An internet connection

If you purchase the online code version of Office 2021, the product key will be sent via email immediately, making it very convenient. You can create a Microsoft account for free, which is required to install Office 2021. Make sure to set up your account beforehand.

Steps to Download Microsoft Office 2021

Assuming you have already purchased Office 2021, here are the detailed steps to download it.

Step 1: Sign in to your Microsoft account

• Go to https://www.microsoft365.com/setup and click the "Get Started" button.
• Enter your email or phone number and complete the password verification to sign in.

Step 2: Enter your Office product key

Enter your product key carefully on the screen provided.

Step 3: Install from My Account

• After entering your product key, open your account, click the dot menu at the top left, and select "Other Apps."
• Click "Install Office" to start downloading the Office setup file.

Step 4: Complete the download and installation of Office 2021

Once the setup file is downloaded, double-click it on your desktop to start the installation. Follow the on-screen instructions after double-clicking the setup file. Office 2021 will automatically download and install on your PC.

What to Do If You Cannot Download Microsoft Office 2021

Here are some troubleshooting tips if Office 2021 fails to download.

Check your internet connection

Slow or unstable internet can prevent the download. Office 2021 files are several GB in size, so a slow connection may fail.

Make sure your internet is working properly. Restarting your router or PC often resolves connection issues.

Clear browser cache

Problems accessing the Microsoft website can cause download failures. Clear your browser cache and restart the browser. If necessary, also clear cookies for the site.

Temporarily disable antivirus software

Antivirus software can block the download by falsely detecting safe files as threats. Temporarily pausing it may allow the download to proceed.

Remember to re-enable your antivirus once Office 2021 is installed to stay protected.

Use Microsoft Office installation troubleshooter

Microsoft provides a troubleshooting tool to fix installation issues. You can access it on the "Troubleshoot installing Office" page.

How to Recover Office Files When They Get Lost?

If Office 2021 malfunctions and your Excel, Word, or PowerPoint files are lost, you can recover them using recovery software. We recommend Tenorshare 4DDiG, which supports a wide range of file types and is user-friendly.

• Launch Tenorshare 4DDiG, select the hard drive or partition where your deleted Office files were stored, and start a scan.

  

• As the scan runs, use the "File Type" filter or the "Search" function to quickly locate the files you need.

  

• Wait for a few minutes, your lost files will appear. You can preview them before recovery by double-clicking Excel, Word, or PowerPoint files.

  

• Next, choose the Office files you want to restore and select a destination to save them. Consider saving them to a cloud drive like OneDrive or Google Drive for added security.

  

FAQs

Why is my Office 2021 installation not progressing?

Installation issues may be caused by insufficient disk space, antivirus interference, or remnants of a previous Office installation.

Ensure enough space, temporarily pause antivirus software, and remove older Office versions before installing Office 2021.

What if I don't have a product key for Office 2021?

Product key location depends on how you purchased Office. Physical versions include a card in the box, while online purchases are emailed the key.

If you cannot find it, contact Microsoft Support with your purchase receipt.

What's the difference between Office 2021 and 2024?

As of January 2026, the latest version is Office 2024. Office 2021 is the previous version. The main apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) are similar, but Office 2024 is optimized for the latest OS. Note that Office 2021 support ends on October 13, 2026.

Conclusion

Downloading Office 2021 is simple—enter your product key on the official site, download the setup file, and run it to install automatically.

If download issues occur, check your internet connection and antivirus settings as discussed above. If you lose Word or Excel files, use a recovery tool like Tenorshare 4DDiG.