{"id":6985,"date":"2026-09-29T10:16:57","date_gmt":"2026-09-29T08:16:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/computershop.eu\/blog\/?p=6964"},"modified":"2026-09-29T10:54:34","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T08:54:34","slug":"this-microsoft-optional-update-deactivates-office-licenses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/computershop.eu\/blog\/this-microsoft-optional-update-deactivates-office-licenses","title":{"rendered":"This Microsoft optional update deactivates Office licenses"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading Time: <\/span> 3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>\n

Microsoft has suspended the distribution of the KB5002907 update for Microsoft 365 Apps<\/strong>, after users and IT administrators reported activation issues with perpetual installations of Office 2016 and 2019<\/strong>. In some cases, the applications displayed the message \u201cUnlicensed Product\u201d, while other reports indicate situations where the Office installation completely disappeared or required reinstallation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The issue is particularly relevant for users who use Office versions purchased with a perpetual license, as KB5002907 was presented by Microsoft as an optional update intended for Microsoft 365 Apps installations that had not been updated for over 90 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is the Microsoft KB5002907 update and what problems did it create?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The KB5002907<\/strong> update is described by Microsoft as \u201coptional for Microsoft 365 Apps installations<\/strong>\u201d. The update targets PCs with Microsoft 365 Apps running on Current Channel or Monthly Enterprise Channel that have fallen behind on updates for more than 90 days. Its purpose is to restart the update process of the applications and bring them to a more recent version.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The problem that arose in September 2026 is that the update ended up affecting some installations of Office 2016 and Office 2019 with perpetual licenses<\/strong>, meaning versions that do not operate based on a Microsoft 365 subscription.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to reports cited by BleepingComputer<\/a>, users found that Word, Excel, and other Office applications began displaying the message \u201cUnlicensed Product\u201d<\/strong>. In other cases, users reported that Office was completely removed from the system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Microsoft confirms the issue and suspends the update<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

After the reports surfaced, Microsoft confirmed that it is investigating the situation and decided to pause the distribution of KB5002907<\/strong> to prevent affecting other devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The company also updated the documentation associated with KB5002907, noting that it is investigating unexpected results on certain devices running Office 2016 or Office 2019 after installing the update.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It is important to note that Microsoft described KB5002907 as an optional update<\/strong>, not an update that was supposed to be installed automatically on all PCs. Therefore, users who have not yet installed this update should avoid manual installation until Microsoft resolves the issue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What have users reported?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Community reports indicate that the issue does not appear to be isolated to a single computer or organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In a discussion on Reddit<\/a>, several users reported the deactivation of some installations of Office 2016 or 2019<\/strong>. One user mentioned that re-entering the product key allowed for reactivation, while others said that authentication into the Microsoft account or reinstallation of the application was necessary.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An administrator managing IT systems for multiple companies reported that several clients encountered the problem simultaneously and that all affected systems had the commonality of the KB5002907 update. However, these are user reports<\/strong>, not an official technical explanation from Microsoft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Additionally, other discussions indicate situations where the suite was completely uninstalled after the update. Again, these observations come from user experiences and must be distinguished from information officially confirmed by Microsoft.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What should you do if your Office license has been deactivated?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

If Office 2016 or 2019<\/strong> was functioning normally before installing KB5002907 and then the message \u201cunlicensed product<\/strong>\u201d appears, the first step is to check the Windows update history and the installation of the suite.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before taking any action, it is recommended to have on hand:<\/p>\n\n\n\n