KB5002907 Update: Office 2016/2019 License Problem

The optional KB5002907 update for Microsoft 365 Apps left Office 2016 and 2019 unlicensed or removed on some PCs. Microsoft has paused the rollout; here is what to do, step by step.

The optional KB5002907 update for Microsoft 365 Apps, delivered through Windows Update, has been causing unexpected trouble since 24–25 September 2026. The update was only meant to get long-stalled Microsoft 365 installations updating again. Yet user reports from around the world show that on some PCs, Office 2016 and Office 2019 suddenly appeared unlicensed, and on others they were removed altogether. Microsoft has confirmed it is investigating and has paused the rollout.

What is the KB5002907 update?

According to Microsoft's support page, KB5002907 is an optional update. It is only offered to Windows PCs running Microsoft 365 Apps that are more than 90 days out of date and use Current Channel or Monthly Enterprise Channel. Its purpose is to help Office apps that have stopped updating resume updates and move to a current build for their channel.

Microsoft highlights several key points:

It is not a Windows operating system update. It is an update for Microsoft 365 Apps distributed through Windows Update.
It does not install automatically. It appears among the optional updates for other Microsoft products, and users decide whether to install it.
It applies to Windows 11 (23H2 to 26H1), Windows 10 22H2 and Windows Server 2019, 2022 and 2025.
It makes no changes on managed devices where Office updates are controlled via Group Policy or Cloud Update.

What happened and who is affected?

Although the update was expected to target Microsoft 365 subscriptions only, the problems surfaced on perpetual-license Office 2016 and Office 2019 installations. Reports from The Register, Borncity and Microsoft Q&A indicate that many of those affected run Office Home and Business 2016/2019 or Home & Student.

On German-language systems, the update reportedly appeared in Windows Update as "Click-to-Run-Updateunterstützung" (Click-to-Run update support), and Office 2019 disappeared from the system after it was installed.

As a reminder, support for Office 2016 and Office 2019 ended on 14 October 2025, so these products no longer receive security updates either.

Reported symptoms

The main symptoms described by users and IT administrators are:

Word, Excel and other Office apps fail to open or display an unlicensed product warning
Repeated prompts for the product key, warnings about reduced functionality and yellow banners counting down the "days left"
On some systems, Office icons silently removed from the taskbar
In rare cases, Office completely removed from the PC, requiring a reinstall

According to the reports, re-entering the product key restores activation in most cases. For organizations managing dozens or hundreds of devices, however, this means a significant workload, and users who cannot find their product key are left in a difficult position.

What does Microsoft say?

In a note added to the top of the KB5002907 support page, Microsoft states:

It is investigating reports of unexpected results on some devices running Office 2016 or Office 2019 after the update is installed.
The update was intended to address devices that were not receiving Microsoft 365 Apps updates. However, as part of the repair action applied by the update, some devices were left without functioning versions of Microsoft 365 Apps or Office.
To prevent additional devices from being affected, it has paused the rollout of the update.
If the product appears unlicensed, users should reactivate the product they purchased.
In rare cases the product may have been removed; in that case users should reinstall it.

As of the time of writing (26 September 2026, 09:45 Istanbul time / 06:45 UTC), the rollout remains paused, and Microsoft has not published a permanent fix or a procedure for removing the update. The official guidance is limited to reactivating and, if necessary, reinstalling Office.

What should you do now?

For home and small-business users

If you have not installed the update, wait. The rollout is paused, but if KB5002907 is still pending on your device, do not install it until Microsoft provides new guidance.
Check your status. Go to Settings > Windows Update > Update history and see whether KB5002907 has been installed.
If Office appears unlicensed, reactivate it. Sign in with the Microsoft account you used to buy Office or re-enter your product key, following Microsoft's "Activate Office" guide.
If the icons are gone, first check whether Office is still installed. Some users report that Office remained in place and reactivation was all that was needed.
If Office was removed, reinstall it. Use Microsoft's guide to downloading and reinstalling Office 2016/2019 and reinstall from the Microsoft account the product is linked to.

For IT administrators

Build an inventory. Identify devices with perpetual Office 2016/2019 licenses and check whether KB5002907 was installed on them.
Prepare your license records. Make product keys and the Microsoft accounts linked to the licenses accessible before users start calling.
Review update approvals. If you use WSUS, Intune or a similar tool and this update appears in your list, do not approve it until Microsoft issues new guidance. According to Microsoft, the update makes no changes to Office installations managed via Group Policy or Cloud Update.
Monitor Microsoft's page. Any fix or further guidance is expected to be published on the KB5002907 support page.
Plan your migration. Moving unsupported Office 2016/2019 installations to a current, supported version reduces both surprises like this one and security risk.

How Doğa Network can help

Doğa Network can identify affected Office installations, plan bulk reactivation and reinstallation, review your update management policies (WSUS/Intune) and prepare a roadmap for a secure migration away from unsupported Office versions. Call us on +90 850 888 3642 or email hi@doga.network.

KB5002907 Update Breaks Office 2016 and 2019 Licenses on Some PCs