Which Version of Office Do I Have? 3 Ways to Check

Not sure which version of Microsoft Office is installed on your PC? You're in good company. Whether you're troubleshooting a compatibility issue, wondering if your version is still supported, or just considering an upgrade, finding your Office version takes less than 30 seconds. This guide shows you three reliable ways to check your Office version on Windows, what the version numbers actually mean, and whether it's time to move on.

Method 1: File > Account (Quickest Way)

This is the fastest method and works in any Office app — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, or any other.

1. Open any Office application (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.).
2. Click File in the top-left corner.
3. Click Account (or Office Account in Outlook) in the left-hand sidebar.
4. Look at the Product Information panel on the right.
5. Your version and licence type are displayed here. To see the full build number, click About [App Name].

You will see something like:

Method 2: Windows Settings > Apps

Prefer not to open an Office app? You can check your Office version directly in Windows without launching Word or Excel.

On Windows 11:

1. Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
2. Click Apps > Installed apps.
3. Search for "Microsoft Office" or "Microsoft 365" in the search box.
4. The version number appears next to the product name.

On Windows 10:

1. Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
2. Go to Apps > Apps & features.
3. Scroll to or search for "Microsoft Office".
4. Click on the entry to reveal the version number.

This method is especially useful when Office is not launching correctly or you need to confirm which build is installed before calling IT support.

Method 3: Command Prompt (for IT Pros)

If you manage Office across multiple machines or simply prefer the command line, you can pull the exact Office build number in seconds.

1. Press Windows key + R, type cmd, and press Enter.
2. For 64-bit Office, paste this command and press Enter:

"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\winword.exe" /?

3. For 32-bit Office on 64-bit Windows, use:

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\winword.exe" /?

Alternatively, use PowerShell to get the version of all Office components at once:

Get-ItemProperty HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\* | Where-Object {$_.DisplayName -like "*Microsoft Office*"} | Select DisplayName, DisplayVersion

This returns a clean list of every installed Office product and its exact version string.

Understanding Office Version Numbers

Once you find your version number, the digits can look cryptic. Here is what they mean.

Microsoft uses a major.minor.build.revision format. The key number is the major version:

Important: All modern Office versions — 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, and Microsoft 365 — share the same major version number: 16.0. This is intentional: Microsoft kept the version number consistent across the product family. The build number after the decimal is what distinguishes them.

You can verify the exact build range for any update on the official Microsoft Office update history page.

Is Your Office Version Still Supported?

Knowing your version is only half the picture. The more important question is: is Microsoft still patching it? Unsupported software stops receiving security updates, which puts your business at risk.

If you are running Office 2016 or Office 2019, your software is no longer receiving security updates as of October 2025. That means no patches for newly discovered vulnerabilities — a real risk for any business handling sensitive documents or email.

You can verify Microsoft's official end-of-support dates on the Microsoft Lifecycle page for Office 2019.

Is It Time to Upgrade Your Office Version?

Use this simple decision guide:

Office 2024 vs Microsoft 365: Which Should You Choose?

This is the most common question when upgrading. The key difference:

• Office 2024 (one-time purchase) — Pay once, use forever. No subscription. Gets security updates until October 2029. Best for users who want stable, predictable software with no recurring costs.
• Microsoft 365 (subscription) — Always the newest features, cloud storage included. Paid monthly or annually. Best if you need the cutting edge or have a very mobile workflow.

For most home users and small businesses, Office 2024 is the smarter financial choice. A Microsoft 365 Personal subscription costs roughly €69 per year — that adds up to €345 over five years. A genuine Office 2024 Professional Plus licence from Licendi costs €60.32, once, with full support until 2029.

Why Buy from Licendi?

• 100% legal in the EU — All licences comply with the UsedSoft ruling (Court of Justice of the EU). Genuine Microsoft licences, fully transferable.
• Microsoft Partner — We are an authorised partner, not a grey-market reseller.
• Trustpilot 4.8/5 — Thousands of verified reviews from real customers across Europe.
• Lifetime warranty — If your licence key ever stops working, we replace it at no charge.
• Instant delivery — Your licence key is delivered to your inbox within minutes.

You can also read our full Office 2024 vs Microsoft 365 comparison guide to help make the decision easier.

Frequently Asked Questions

All support end dates sourced from the official Microsoft Product Lifecycle pages. Prices shown are Licendi's current published prices and are subject to change.