**Microsoft** has put a stop to the deployment of its **KB5002907** update after numerous users reported that it either deactivated or entirely removed their perpetual **Office 2016** and **Office 2019** installations. ### The Purpose of KB5002907 Dubbed "Optional update for out-of-date **Microsoft 365 Apps** installations," **KB5002907** was designed to assist users in bringing their **Microsoft 365 Apps** installations up to date if they were more than 90 days behind. According to the **KB5002907** release notes, this optional update was specifically for **Windows** PCs running **Microsoft 365 Apps** on the Current Channel or Monthly Enterprise Channel. The goal was to help these applications resume updating and transition to a current build for their assigned update channel. **Microsoft** clarified that **KB5002907** was an optional update offered via **Windows Update** and was not intended for automatic installation. ### Unexpected Consequences for Perpetual Licenses Shortly after the update's release, reports began to surface detailing unexpected issues. **Christian Van Hautte**, who manages an MSP in Belgium, informed BleepingComputer that several of his clients suddenly found their perpetual **Office** installations marked as an "Unlicensed Product." **Van Hautte** noted that five unrelated customers contacted his company within a mere ten minutes on September 24, with dozens of PCs affected across their organizations. He confirmed that the impacted installations were exclusively **Office 2016** and **Office 2019 Home & Business** (perpetual/one-time purchase licenses). He stated, "The common factor is **KB5002907**, an update released around September 23 and described as targeting 'outdated **Microsoft 365 Apps** installations' — but it is clearly also landing on perpetual (non-subscription) Office installs and breaking their license state." **Van Hautte** found that re-entering the original **Office** product key successfully restored activation on the affected systems. ### Automatic Installation and Deeper Issues Despite being listed as optional, **Van Hautte** warned that the update appeared to install automatically on his customers' devices. Further investigation by **Van Hautte** revealed that **KB5002907** seems to remove and reinstall, or migrate, the existing **Office** installation as part of its update process. This process encountered critical failures on systems with mixed-architecture **Office** components, such as a 32-bit **Office 2016** or **2019** installation alongside a 64-bit **Microsoft Access Runtime**. **Microsoft Office** setup does not permit the coexistence of 32-bit and 64-bit **Office** products, leading to the removal of the existing **Office** suite without successful reinstallation, leaving devices without **Office** entirely. **Microsoft** has not yet confirmed whether mixed-bitness installations are the root cause of this particular behavior. ### Widespread User Reports Concurrent with **Van Hautte**'s findings, similar reports began appearing online from other administrators and users. A **Reddit** user reported multiple **Office 2019** installations becoming deactivated, with product key re-entry resolving the issue for some. The user later updated their post, noting that the problem extended beyond **Office 2019** and sometimes required signing into a **Microsoft** account to select the license. Another administrator on **Reddit** shared that several unrelated clients contacted them after **Office** had been completely uninstalled. Comments echoed these experiences, with one user stating, "My **Office 2019** and dad's **Office 2016** installs both got nuked overnight... both are 100% legit keys purchased long ago." Similar complaints also surfaced in the **Microsoft** forums, with multiple individuals reporting identical problems post-update installation. ### Microsoft Responds and Pauses Rollout Upon being contacted by BleepingComputer regarding these reports, **Microsoft** confirmed that it had paused the update to investigate the matter. A **Microsoft** spokesperson stated, "We are aware of these reports and have paused the update while we investigate. Additional customer guidance will be communicated via appropriate channels." The **KB5002907** support bulletin has also been updated to acknowledge the issues. **Microsoft** now states, "Microsoft is investigating reports of unexpected results on some devices running **Office 2016** or **Office 2019** after this update is installed. To prevent additional devices from being affected, we have paused the rollout of this update." **Microsoft** has confirmed two distinct problems affecting **Office** installations: * **Unlicensed Office:** In some instances, **Office** may appear unlicensed. **Microsoft** advises customers to reactivate their purchased product. * **Office Removal:** In what **Microsoft** describes as "rare cases," **Office** may be entirely removed. Users in this situation are instructed to download and reinstall their purchased copy of **Office 2016** or **Office 2019**.