Before you buy Office for a new PC, set up a new hire, or reinstall after a repair, it helps to know exactly what’s on your computers now. “Office” can mean Office 2024, Office LTSC 2024, Microsoft 365, or an earlier version, and each one comes in several editions.
Here’s how to find out in about a minute, using the steps Microsoft gives for Windows and Mac.
On a Windows PC
- Open any Office app, such as Word or Excel.
- Select File, then Account. (On the start screen, you may see Account in the left menu straight away. Some versions show it as Help instead.)
- Look under Product Information. You’ll see:
– the product name, such as Office Home & Business 2024, Office LTSC Professional Plus 2024, or Microsoft 365
– in many cases, the version and build number, and the type of installation, such as Click-to-Run - For more detail, select About Word (or About Excel). A window opens showing the full version number and whether Office is 32-bit or 64-bit.
Microsoft’s Office 2024 FAQ points to this Account screen as the way to see which version of Office or Office LTSC you’re running.
On a Mac
- Open any Office app, such as Word.
- In the menu bar, select Word, then About Word.
- The window shows the version number and the license type, for example a one-time purchase or a Microsoft 365 subscription.
How to read what you see
The product name tells you the version and edition
The product name is the most useful thing on the screen. Here’s what the common Office 2024 names mean, based on Microsoft’s Office 2024 FAQ:
| Product name you see | What it is |
|---|---|
| Office Home 2024 | One-time purchase with Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote |
| Office Home & Business 2024 | One-time purchase that adds Outlook, for home or work |
| Office LTSC Professional Plus 2024 | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and Access (Windows only) |
| Office LTSC Standard 2024 | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook, without Access |
| Microsoft 365 (for example, Microsoft 365 Apps for business) | A subscription, not a one-time purchase |
You’ll see similar names for earlier versions, such as Office Home & Business 2021 or Office Professional Plus 2019.
Version numbers look different from the year
Don’t expect the version number to say “2024.” Microsoft’s update history shows two patterns:
- Office LTSC 2024 (volume licensed, such as Office LTSC Professional Plus 2024) shows Version 2408, with a build number that starts with 17932. That number stays the same while security and quality updates arrive.
- Office Home 2024 and Office Home & Business 2024 get a new version number each month, such as Version 2610.
That’s why the product name is more reliable than the version number for telling the two apart.
32-bit or 64-bit
The About window shows whether Office is 32-bit or 64-bit. Office 2024 and Office LTSC 2024 support both on Windows. This matters when you reinstall or add Office: Microsoft says you can’t install 32-bit and 64-bit Office on the same computer, so match what’s already there or uninstall the other one first.
Other ways to check
Your Microsoft account
Office Home 2024 and Home & Business 2024 are linked to the Microsoft account used to redeem them. Microsoft says you install them from the Services & subscriptions section of your Microsoft account page, so that’s also where you’ll see which Office products the account owns. Microsoft allows up to 25 Office Home 2024 or Home & Business 2024 licenses on one Microsoft account, so a business account may list several copies.
Command line, for volume editions
For volume-licensed editions such as Office LTSC Professional Plus 2024, Microsoft’s ospp.vbs script shows license details. Open Command Prompt as administrator and run:
“` cd /d “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16” cscript ospp.vbs /dstatus “`
If you installed 32-bit Office on 64-bit Windows, the folder is under Program Files (x86) instead. Microsoft notes that earlier versions may not include `\root\` in the path, and that ospp.vbs doesn’t work for Microsoft 365 Apps.
What if it says “Unlicensed Product”?
If Product Information shows Unlicensed Product or an activation message, Office isn’t activated on that PC. Microsoft has a help page for Unlicensed Product and activation errors. If you bought Office from us, email our support team with your order number and a screenshot of the Account screen, and we’ll help you sort it out.
Now that you know your version
- Adding a PC and want everything to match? Buy the same edition you already use. For example, if your team runs Office Home & Business 2024, get Office Home & Business 2024 for Windows or Office Home & Business 2024 for Mac.
- Need Access? Access is part of Office 2024 Professional Plus on Windows. It isn’t in Home or Home & Business. Professional Plus installs with Microsoft’s Office Deployment Tool; see our Professional Plus install guide.
- For home or school use only? Office Home 2024 covers Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote.
- Not sure which edition fits? Compare them in Office 2024 Home vs Home & Business vs Professional Plus, or weigh up a subscription in Office 2024 vs Microsoft 365.
- Reinstalling Home or Home & Business 2024? Follow how to install Office 2024 on Windows.
Browse all Office 2024 licenses, or request a quote for several PCs or a Microsoft 365 subscription.
Frequently asked questions
On Windows, open Word or Excel and go to File > Account. The product name and version are under Product Information. On a Mac, open Word and choose Word > About Word, which shows the version number and license type.
On Windows, open an Office app, go to File > Account, and select About Word (or About Excel). The window that opens shows the full version number and whether Office is 32-bit or 64-bit.
Check the product name under File > Account > Product Information. Office 2024 shows a name such as Office Home & Business 2024 or Office LTSC Professional Plus 2024. A subscription shows a Microsoft 365 name.
Microsoft’s update history lists volume-licensed Office LTSC 2024 as Version 2408, with build numbers starting with 17932. Office Home 2024 and Home & Business 2024 move to a new version number each month, so use the product name to identify them.
For volume-licensed editions such as Office LTSC Professional Plus 2024, yes. In an administrator Command Prompt, go to the Office16 folder and run cscript ospp.vbs /dstatus to see the license details. Microsoft says this script doesn’t work for Microsoft 365 Apps.
Sign in to your Microsoft account and open Services & subscriptions. Office Home 2024 and Office Home & Business 2024 appear there once they’ve been redeemed to that account.
Need help?
Not sure what you’re looking at, or buying Office for several computers?
- Business or volume orders: request a quote.
- Questions or help with an order: email support@solveditservices.com (fastest), or call (447) 223-5297.
- More answers are on our FAQ page.