Microsoft Office isn’t Updating? 5 Ways to Force it

Force update Microsoft Office via Command Prompt

5 min. read

Updated onApril 2, 2024

updated onApril 2, 2024

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Key notes

Microsoft occasionally releases updates to Office 365 that contain bug fixes for errors and new features. However, some of our readers couldn’t update their Office app.

Hence, this article will briefly discuss why Microsoft Office isn’t updating and provide five ways to help you fix the error.

Why is Microsoft Office not updating?

How do I force Microsoft Office to update?

Before proceeding with more advanced solutions,restart Office in Safe mode, check andfix your internet connection, and restart your PC.

1. Verify the Group policy settings

Some PCs have working group policy settings that prevent them from performing specific actions. This is usually done to protect a company’s larger network, but it can also prevent you from updating Office.

To fix this, you’ll need to know if you have the permissions and access required to update Office 365. Here is a guide showing you how toenable and open group policy editor.

2. Launch Office as an administrator

3. Perform a quick or online Office repair

If the Office application is corrupt or has corrupt files, it can prevent you from updating the software. Repairing Office 365 is one way to fix the inability to update Office error.

You can also check out our guide on how to fix theunable to repair Office in Windows.

4. Update Office using command line

If you cannot update Office through the usual process, you can run specific commands to force an Office update. Here is a guide on what to do ifWindows update is not working.

5. Reinstall Office

Reinstalling Office removes all old Office 365 data and downloads the latest software version to help you fix the error. Our detailed guide will show you how toinstall Office in Windows 11.

Suppose you can’t update your Office application. In that case, you most likely have a faulty internet connection or don’t have permission to update the software due to group policy restrictions.

Luckily, with the steps in this article, you should be able to force update Office and fix the update error. If you have further questions or suggestions, kindly drop them in the comments section.

And don’t hesitate to take a closer look at our guide on solvingMicrosoft Office updating Office, please wait a moment error.

Microsoft Office isn’t Updating? 5 Ways to Force it#

How do I force Microsoft Office to update?#

1. Verify the Group policy settings#

2. Launch Office as an administrator#

3. Perform a quick or online Office repair#

4. Update Office using command line#

5. Reinstall Office#