When installing Microsoft Office, you may sometimes see an error message saying “We can’t install”. In many cases, the message will tell you which programs need to be removed before the installation can continue.
However, in some situations, the error window does not show any programs at all. This can be confusing, because Windows is telling you that something must be removed, but it does not explain what.
This issue is usually caused by leftover Office files or old Office registry entries that were not removed correctly during a previous uninstall.
Before You Start #
If the error message lists specific programs, uninstall those first:
- Open Settings.
- Go to Apps.
- Select Installed apps or Apps & features, depending on your Windows version.
- Find the programs mentioned in the Office error message.
- Uninstall them.
- Restart your computer and try installing Office again.
If the error message is empty and does not list any programs, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Open the Registry Editor #
- Press Windows + R on your keyboard.
- Type:
regedit - Press Enter.
- If Windows asks for permission, click Yes.
The Windows key is usually located between Ctrl and Alt and has the Windows logo on it.
Step 2: Go to the Microsoft registry folder #
In the Registry Editor, use the menu on the left side.
Open the folders in this order:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE > SOFTWARE > Microsoft
You can expand each folder by clicking the small arrow next to it.
Step 3: Remove old Office registry folders #
Inside the Microsoft folder, look for folders related to older Office installations.
Examples of folders that may be related to Office include:
OfficeOfficeSoftwareProtectionPlatformOfficeUpdateOfficeClickToRun
Right-click each Office-related folder and choose Delete.
Only delete folders that clearly belong to Microsoft Office.
Step 4: Do not worry if the “Common” folder cannot be deleted #
In some cases, you may see a folder named Common inside the Office folder. If Windows does not allow you to delete this folder, you can leave it as it is. This is normal and does not usually prevent you from continuing with the installation.
Continue removing the other Office-related folders that Windows allows you to delete.
Step 5: Restart the computer #
After removing the old Office registry entries:
- Close the Registry Editor.
- Restart your computer.
- Run the Office installer again.
The installation should now be able to continue if the problem was caused by leftover Office registry entries.