Managing Microsoft Office Versions with OfficeC2RClient

Managing different versions of Microsoft 365 (M365) on Windows is crucial, especially when troubleshooting compatibility issues or performing tasks that require a specific version. This guide will walk you through checking your current M365 build, consulting the Office version history, and using officec2rclient.exe along with PowerShell commands to manage your Office versions efficiently.

Checking Your Current M365 Build

Before making any changes, it's essential to know which version of Microsoft Office you currently have installed.

Using an Office Application

1. Open any Office application (e.g., Word, Excel).
2. Click on File > Account.
3. Under Product Information, look for About Word/Excel/etc. to see the version and build number.

Using PowerShell

You can also check the installed Office version using PowerShell:

1Get-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun\Configuration" | Select-Object -Property VersionToReport

Or from the command prompt:

1powershell.exe -Command "Get-ItemProperty -Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun\Configuration' | Select-Object -Property VersionToReport"

Consulting the Office Version History

To decide which version you might want to roll back to or update, it's helpful to consult the official Office version history:

• Visit the Microsoft Office version history page to view a list of all released builds, along with their release dates and details.

Rolling Back or Updating Microsoft Office Versions

Once you've identified the target version, you can use officec2rclient.exe to roll back or update your Office installation.

Rolling Back to a Specific Version

Example: Rolling Back to Version 16.0.17830.20166

To roll back to version 16.0.17830.20166:

1cd "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun"
2officec2rclient.exe /update user updatetoversion=16.0.17830.20166

Example: Rolling Back to Version 16.0.17726.20160

For version 16.0.17726.20160, run:

1cd "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun"
2officec2rclient.exe /update user updatetoversion=16.0.17726.20160

Important: Before rolling back, disable automatic updates to prevent the system from upgrading after you've downgraded.

Managing Automatic Updates

Disabling Automatic Updates

Using Office Application Settings

1. Open any Office application.
2. Go to File > Account.
3. Click on Update Options and select Disable Updates.

Using PowerShell

To disable updates via PowerShell:

1Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\office\16.0\common\officeupdate" -Name "enableautomaticupdates" -Value 0 -Type DWord

Re-enabling Automatic Updates

Using Office Application Settings

1. Open any Office application.
2. Go to File > Account.
3. Click on Update Options and select Enable Updates.

Using PowerShell

1Remove-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\office\16.0\common\officeupdate" -Name "enableautomaticupdates"

Managing the Click-to-Run Service

The Click-to-Run service handles Office installations and updates. You might need to manage this service when rolling back versions.

Checking the Service Status

To check if the service is running:

1sc query ClickToRunSvc

Stopping the Service

To stop the service:

1sc stop ClickToRunSvc

Disabling the Service

To prevent the service from starting automatically:

1sc config ClickToRunSvc start= disabled

Note: Disabling this service stops future updates. Re-enable it when you're ready to update Office again.

Re-enabling the Service

To re-enable and start the service:

1sc config ClickToRunSvc start= demand
2sc start ClickToRunSvc

Additional PowerShell Commands

Forcing an Online Repair

If you're experiencing issues, performing an online repair can help:

1cd "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun"
2officec2rclient.exe /repair user displaylevel=false

Clearing the Update Cache

To clear the Office update cache:

1Remove-Item -Path "C:\ProgramData\Microsoft\ClickToRun\Download" -Recurse -Force

Best Practices and Tips

• Backup Settings: Before making changes, back up your Office settings, especially if you have custom configurations or macros.
• Monitor Updates: Keep track of your Office versions and update history to manage installations effectively.
• Stay Informed: Regularly check the Office release notes for updates on new features and fixes.