Microsoft halts KB5002907 rollout after perpetual Office licenses break
Microsoft stopped distributing the KB5002907 Microsoft 365 update after users reported that perpetual Office 2016 and 2019 installations became deactivated or were removed. An MSP said multiple customers saw 'Unlicensed Product' errors, and re-entering the original product key restored activation. The optional update reportedly installed automatically and may reinstall or migrate Office, causing failures on systems with mixed 32-bit and 64-bit components.
KB5002907 was meant for Microsoft 365 Apps installs over 90 days behind on Current or Monthly Enterprise Channel, but reports tied it to broken perpetual Office 2016 and 2019 licenses. A Belgian MSP saw five separate clients affected within about ten minutes on September 24, covering dozens of PCs; restoring the original product key reportedly fixed activation.
Although labeled optional, the update allegedly installed by itself. It may remove, reinstall, or migrate Office, and mixed 32-bit/64-bit components can cause setup failure, leaving systems without Office. Microsoft said it halted rollout pending review.
Organizations relying on one-time Office purchases may face sudden activation loss or missing apps, disrupting work and support queues. Small IT teams could spend hours re-entering keys or reinstalling software, while mixed-architecture setups may be especially vulnerable. If similar automatic updates reach more devices, trust in update quality and license management may suffer. Microsoft's pause may limit spread, but affected users still need clear recovery guidance.