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
- Open any Office application (e.g., Word, Excel).
- Click on File > Account.
- 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:
Get-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun\Configuration" | Select-Object -Property VersionToReport
Or from the command prompt:
powershell.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:
cd "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun"
officec2rclient.exe /update user updatetoversion=16.0.17830.20166
Example: Rolling Back to Version 16.0.17726.20160
For version 16.0.17726.20160, run:
cd "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun"
officec2rclient.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
- Open any Office application.
- Go to File > Account.
- Click on Update Options and select Disable Updates.
Using PowerShell
To disable updates via PowerShell:
Set-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
- Open any Office application.
- Go to File > Account.
- Click on Update Options and select Enable Updates.
Using PowerShell
Remove-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:
Stopping the Service
To stop the service:
Disabling the Service
To prevent the service from starting automatically:
sc 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:
sc config ClickToRunSvc start= demand
sc start ClickToRunSvc
Additional PowerShell Commands
Forcing an Online Repair
If you’re experiencing issues, performing an online repair can help:
cd "C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\ClickToRun"
officec2rclient.exe /repair user displaylevel=false
Clearing the Update Cache
To clear the Office update cache:
Remove-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.