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Microsoft's latest Windows Office update accidentally invalidates licenses and removes the apps from affected users PCs. A manual fix has been shared. Earlier this week, Microsoft shared details on a major feature update to Excel wherein the application will finally support multiple values in a single cell. This would be something users had been wanting for a long time; it also probably helped pacify their rage after a bug stopped copy-pasting function from operating properly after an Excel update under KB5002914 and Microsoft had to publish KB5002665 update to fix the issue.
However, it looks like the company can't catch a break as a new Office update released this week has yet again led to major problems for many users. Following the update users began complaining that their valid licenses were being removed by the new update that is being delivered via the Windows Update. In some of their cases, the update was removing Office apps entirely from affected PCs. It affects Office 2021, 2019, and 2016 products.
Coincidentally, Microsoft did confirm it is retiring Office applications but that was for its lightweight, free companion apps, not the actual apps themselves.
Microsoft has now confirmed the issue and has paused the update from further rolling out. It writes: "Microsoft is investigating reports of unexpected results on some devices running Office 2016 or Office 2019 after this update is installed. This update was intended to address issues with devices not receiving updates to Microsoft 365 Apps. As part of the repair action applied by this update, some devices were left without functioning versions of Microsoft 365 Apps or Office. To prevent additional devices from being affected, we have paused the rollout of this update."
If you are affected, Microsoft says you will need to re-activate your Office license, and if the applications got removed completely, then will have to manually reinstall. The only positive thing about this update is that it was optional, so if you chose to skip it, you won't be affected in any way.