Sign in with Microsoft
Sign in or create an account.
Hello,
Select a different account.
You have multiple accounts
Choose the account you want to sign in with.

If you choose to uninstall Office 2010 either before or after installing Office 2013, Office 2016, or Office 2019, make sure you have the product key for Office 2010 so you can reinstall it, if you want.

Install all Office 2010 updates

Go to Update Office and your computer with Microsoft Update to see how to use Windows Updates to look for Office 2010 updates. This is important, because there was a update released for Office 2010 that made it work better together in side-by-side installations with newer versions of Office.

Updates that should be installed include KB 2553378 and KB 2760631.

Can’t mix 64-bit and 32-bit Office

If you have a 32-bit installation of Office 2010 and try to install a 64-bit version of Office 2013 or later, or if you have a 64-bit installation of Office 2010 and try to install a 32-bit version of Office 2013 or later, you’ll get an error like this one:

Can't install 64-bit over 32-bit Office

To correct this, uninstall Office 2010, install Office 2010 using the same version you want to install for Office 2013, and then install the same version of Office 2013.

To learn more about whether you should install 32-bit or 64-bit, Choose the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Office.

Where to find the applications

If you have Office 2010 installed on a computer and you click Install from your My Account page, Office 2013, Office 2016, or Office 2019 installs without asking you about upgrading. You’ll see both Office groups in All Programs. The group name for Office 2010 is Microsoft Office.

Office 2010 and Office 2013 in the All Programs list

For more help, please see Can't find Office applications in Windows 10, Windows 8, or Windows 7?

File associations

The last application installed controls the file associations. For example, if Office 2019 was installed last, Office 2019 applications will open an Office file by double-clicking it.

The file extensions can’t be associated with Office 2010 if you haven’t installed the latest Office 2010 updates through Windows Update. Without the latest Office 2010 updates, if you right-click a file, and choose Open With, you’ll only see the latest version of Office installed on your machine.

You’ll also only see the Office applications associated with the latest version of Office on your machine listed in Control Panel under Default Programs.

Only one version of Outlook can run at a time

You can have two different versions of Outlook on the same computer, but we don’t recommended it. If you do install two versions of Outlook, you can only run one version at a time. If you have one version of Outlook running, for example, Outlook 2010, and you then try to start Outlook 2013, 2016, or 2019, you’ll get this error:

Sorry, we're having trouble starting Outlook. Only one version of Outlook can run at a time. Check to see if another version of Outlook is running, or try restarting your computer.

Error sharing files from Outlook 2010

If you have both Outlook 2010 and a newer version, such as Outlook 2013, 2016, or 2019, installed and you’re running Outlook 2010 and choose to share a file from one of the newer Office applications choosing:

  • File > Share > Email - Send as Attachment

  • File > Share > Email - Send as PDF

  • File > Share > Email - Send as XPS

You’ll receive this error:

This action is not supported while an older version of Outlook is running.

Then when you click OK, you get an error similar to:

Word couldn't send email because MAPI failure: "Operation not supported".

If you use Outlook 2013, 2016, or 2019, you'll be able to share without getting an error.

If you have Word 2010 running and Outlook 2013, 2016, or 2019 running, and you open a document in Word 2010 and choose File > Save & Send > Send Using E-mail > Send as Attachment, it'll work; that is, a blank email message will open in Outlook 2013, 2016, or 2019 and the document will be attached.

Open files from Office 2010 with Office 2013, 2016, or 2019 on the computer

Open the application version you want, and choose File > Open. There is no way to open some documents with 2010 and some other ones with 2013, 2016, or 2019 because the file associations are controlled by the newest version.

Office 2010 most recently used list are not the same as Office 2013, 2016, or 2019

Newer versions of Office (2013, 2016, or 2019) have a shared most recently used feature that travel with you from device to device when you're signed into your Microsoft Account. But Office 2010 didn't have a shared most recently used list, so each Office 2010 application has its own list and specific to the device its installed on.

Custom shortcuts to Office 2010 applications won’t be updated

Office 2013, 2016, or 2019 doesn’t know about your user-created shortcuts to the older applications and won't update them to point to the newer version.

For example, after you installed Office 2010, you dragged a shortcut for the 2010 version of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to the taskbar. After installing Office 2013, 2016, or 2019, these shortcuts still open the 2010 applications.

Shortcuts to Office applications added to Windows taskbar

If you have a shortcut to Office 2010 that you created and you uninstall Office 2010, the icon will become a generic icon.

Windows taskbar with unassociated icons

and when you click it, you'll get this error:

Can't open this item

It might have been moved, renamed, or deleted. Do you want to remove this item?

For more help, please see Can't find Office applications in Windows 10, Windows 8, or Windows 7?

Change Office 2010

  1. Go to Control Panel.

    • In Windows 10, on the Start screen, type Control Panel, and select Control Panel in the search results.

    • In Windows 8, on the Start screen, type Control Panel, and select Control Panel in the search results.

    • In Windows 7 or Vista, click Start > Control Panel.

  2. Click Programs > Programs and Features.

  3. Click Office 2010 > Change.

  4. Click Add or Remove Features > Continue.

Reinstall Office 2010

  1. Go to Control Panel.

    • In Windows 10, on the Start screen, type Control Panel, and select Control Panel in the search results.

    • In Windows 8, on the Start screen, type Control Panel, and select Control Panel in the search results.

    • In Windows 7 or Vista, click Start > Control Panel.

  2. Click Programs > Programs and Features.

  3. Click Office 2010 > Change.

  4. Click Repair > Continue.

Uninstall Office 2010

If you’ve installed the latest Office 2010 updates through Windows Update, you’ll see this:

  • The newer version of Office (2013, 2016, or 2019) is associated with the file types.

  • If you uninstall the newer version of Office (2013, 2016, or 2019), the file type associations revert back to being associated with Office 2010.

  • If you uninstall Office 2010, the file type associations remain associated with the newer version of Office (2013, 2016, or 2019).

If you have not installed the latest Office 2010 updates through Windows Update, you'll see this:

  • The newer version of Office (2013, 2016, or 2019) is associated with the file types.

  • If you uninstall the newer version of Office (2013, 2016, or 2019), the file type associations won’t be associated with Office 2010.

    To fix this issue, reinstall Office 2010 using Add/Remove Programs in Control Panel.

  • If you uninstall Office 2010, the file type associations remain associated with the newer version of Office (2013, 2016, or 2019).

For complete uninstall steps, please see Uninstall or remove Office 2010.

Need more help?

Want more options?

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.

Find solutions to common problems or get help from a support agent.

Was this information helpful?

What affected your experience?
By pressing submit, your feedback will be used to improve Microsoft products and services. Your IT admin will be able to collect this data. Privacy Statement.

Thank you for your feedback!

×