Fix Office & Project 2024 Opening Issue with This Registry Tweak

Facing Launch Issues with Office 2024 and Project 2024 Side-by-Side?

If you’ve recently installed Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus and Microsoft Project 2024 Professional on the same PC and discovered they won’t open together, you’re not alone. Users across forums, IT support desks, and even Microsoft’s community boards are reporting compatibility issues—specifically, double-clicking on one app causes the other to crash or not open at all.

This blog post walks you through the registry fix that Microsoft forgot to include in their official documentation. We’ll also discuss why this issue happens, how to fix it safely, and how to prevent it in the future.

Why Office 2024 and Project 2024 Conflict

Common Causes of the Conflict

When both Office and Project are installed:

  • They may share the same licensing service (especially if not volume-licensed).

  • The Click-to-Run configuration overlaps in the Windows Registry.

  • Shared DLL files or version mismatches prevent proper coexistence.

This often leads to scenarios where Office apps won’t open after Project is installed, or vice versa.

The Registry Fix Microsoft Forgot

Important: Backup Your Registry First

Before making changes, create a system restore point and backup your registry:

  1. Press Win + R, type regedit, and hit Enter.

  2. In the Registry Editor, click File > Export to save a backup.

Step-by-Step Registry Fix

  1. Open the Registry Editor (regedit).

Navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun\Configuration

  1. Locate the key:

    • SharedComputerLicensing (If not present, create a DWORD (32-bit) value).

    • Set the value to 1.

Next, navigate to:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\InstallRoot

  1.  (Replace 16.0 with 24.0 if that’s the version tag used for Office 2024.)

  2. Modify (or add) a String Value:

    • Name: Path

    • Value: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16

  3. Close the registry and restart your system.

This tells Windows to recognize Office and Project as separate but compatible programs.

Download Verified Licenses Together

Avoid installation conflicts by choosing bundled versions. Check this verified offer:
Microsoft Office 2024 Professional Plus + Microsoft Project 2024 Professional License for 3 Devices

Additional Troubleshooting Tips

1. Use Office Repair Tool

  • Go to Control Panel > Programs > Office 2024 > Change > Quick Repair

2. Uninstall and Reinstall Correctly

  • Uninstall both Office and Project

  • Reinstall Office first, then Project

3. Use Different Installation Methods

  • Use Click-to-Run for one and MSI Installer for the other (if available)

Make Office and Project 2024 Work Seamlessly

With the right registry tweaks and proper installation order, you can easily resolve the Office and Project 2024 conflict. Avoid hours of frustration and system reboots by following this guide.

For more such troubleshooting tips, software comparisons, and exclusive license deals, visit Winandofficews.

FAQ

Q1. Why is Microsoft Project 2024 not launching after Office 2024 is installed?

This usually happens due to shared configuration files or licensing conflicts. The registry fix above solves this issue in most cases.

Q2. Can I run different Office and Project versions together?

Yes, but it’s recommended they’re the same version year. If not, ensure they’re installed using different methods (e.g., one via Click-to-Run, one via MSI).

Q3. Is modifying the registry safe?

Yes—if done carefully. Always back up before making changes, and follow only trusted sources like Microsoft Support or How-To Geek.

Leave a Reply