How to fix
“Microsoft Office encountered an error during setup”
on Windows

I had an Office suite before but I stopped using it for a couple of years. Now I need it again and tried to install the same version (Office 2021) again but I immediately received an error saying "Microsoft Office encountered an error during setup." Is there something I can do here?

When installing Microsoft Office on a Windows system, you might encounter an error message stating, "Microsoft Office encountered an error during setup." This issue can prevent the successful installation of the software, disrupting your workflow.

The error "Microsoft Office encountered an error during setup" can arise for a variety of reasons, such as faulty or incomplete installation files, incompatible software, inadequate system resources, or problems with the Windows registry. Moreover, residues of earlier installs or current Office versions may cause issues during setup.

How to fix the "Microsoft Office encountered an error during setup" error?

To address the "Microsoft Office encountered an error during setup" error, you can try several approaches. Ensuring your system meets the minimum requirements for the Office installation is essential.

Checking for software conflicts by reviewing recently installed programs or updates may also help identify the issue. Running system file checks and registry scans can detect and repair corruption, which may resolve the problem.

For comprehensive maintenance, the [d1] maintenance and repair utility is particularly useful. It can help fix broken registries or DLLs, corrupted system files, BSODs, and more.

Fix 1. Run the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant

The Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant can diagnose and fix many Office setup issues automatically.

• Open your browser and go to the official Microsoft support website.
• Scroll down and click Download under Uninstall and reinstall Office.
• Once downloaded, double-click SetupProd_OffScrub.exe to launch it.
• When prompted, click Install.
• Once installed, launch Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant.
• Select Office & Office Apps and click Next.
• Next, pick I have Office 365 subscription, but I'm having trouble installing it and click Next.
• Click Yes to begin a scan.
• Follow instructions after the scan is finished.

Fix 2. Ensure sufficient disk space

Disk Cleanup can get rid of many residue files, providing enough space on the drive.

• Open the Windows search bar and type Disk Cleanup.
• Press Enter to open the Disk Cleanup utility.
• In the Disk Cleanup window, select the drive where your Windows operating system is installed (usually drive C:) and click OK.
• Click Clean up system files.
• Select the drive again and click OK.
• In the list of files that can be cleaned up, select the largest portions of data, such as Temporary Internet Files, Windows Update, Temporary Files, and others.
• Click OK to begin the cleanup process.

Fix 3. Disable conflicting software

Disabling antivirus or other security software temporarily can help identify if they are causing the setup error.

• Open your antivirus or security software.
• Locate the option to disable the protection.
• Disable the software temporarily.
• Try running the Office setup again.
• If the setup completes successfully, add Office setup files to the exclusion list of your security software.

Fix 4. Remove previous Office versions

Existing or incomplete installations of Office can interfere with new installations.

• Type PowerShell in Windows search.
• Right-click on the result and pick Run as administrator.
• When UAC shows up, click Yes.
• In the new window copy and paste the following command, pressing Enter after:
  Get-AppxPackage -name “Microsoft.Office.Desktop” | Remove-AppxPackage
• Restart your system.
• Download the adequate version of MS Office and install it.

Fix 5. Run SFC and DISM

These tools scan and repair corrupted system files, which can help resolve installation errors by restoring any damaged Windows files.

• Type cmd in Windows search.
• Right-click on Command Prompt and pick Run as administrator.
• User Account Control window will show up - click Yes when prompted.
• Then, copy and paste the following command, pressing Enter after:
  sfc /scannow
• Wait till the scan is finished. If Windows finds system file integrity violations, it will attempt to fix them. After this, use the set of the following commands, pressing Enter each time:
  DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /CheckHealth
  DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /ScanHealth
  DISM /Online /Cleanup-Image /RestoreHealth
• Close down the Command Prompt and restart your device.

Fix 6. Use the Office Uninstall Support Tool

Using the Office Uninstall Support Tool ensures that all remnants of previous Office installations are removed, which can resolve conflicts during a new setup.

• Navigate to the official website for Office removal.
• Under Click-to-Run or MSI, expand Option 2 (or click this link).
• Click the Download button.
• Download the file and launch it.
• Select which version of Office you want to uninstall and proceed with on-screen instructions.

Fix 7. Check Windows Update

Ensuring that your Windows operating system is fully updated can resolve compatibility issues that might be causing the setup error.

• Type Updates in Windows search and press Enter.
• When the new window opens, click Check for updates and wait.
• If there are optional updates available, install them as well.
• After updating, restart your computer.
• Try installing Office again.

Fix 8. Install Office in Clean Boot Mode

Performing a clean boot can eliminate software conflicts that might be causing the setup error.

• Type msconfig in the Windows search box and press Enter.
• Pick the Services tab.
• Mark Hide all Microsoft services and select Disable all.
• Select the Startup tab and click Open Task Manager.
• In the Task Manager, right-click on each of the items and select Disable, then close the Task Manager.
• Go to the Boot tab, mark the Safe Boot option, then click Apply and OK.
• On the System Configuration window, click OK.
• Restart your computer.
• Try installing Office in the clean boot state.

Fix 9. Run the Office Setup as Administrator

Running the Office setup with administrative privileges can resolve permission issues that might be causing the setup error.

• Right-click on the Office setup file.
• Select Run as administrator.
• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.