Installing Microsoft Project

Installing Microsoft Project means installing a desktop edition such as Standard, Professional, or a subscription Project desktop client. Project Online is retired; Project Server is a separately deployed server product, and Planner is accessed through Microsoft 365, the web, or Teams—not this installer.^{2 3} Compare editions and versions before choosing the relevant installation path.

Before you start

Project is available as either a one-time-purchase desktop edition or a subscription Project desktop license. A subscription installation requires an assigned license. “Project Online Professional” and “Project Online Premium” are older subscription names. For a one-time purchase, have the product key and the Microsoft account associated with it ready.

The exact operating-system and hardware requirements and installation behavior depend on the edition, release, license type, and whether the organization uses managed deployment. Check the requirements for your edition before downloading.

Install a one-time-purchase edition

These steps apply to supported perpetual desktop editions such as Project 2024. Project 2016, 2019, and 2021 are legacy or near-retirement releases, so do not treat every listed year as equally current:

Go to microsoft365.com and sign in with the Microsoft account associated with the purchase.
If this is the first installation, redeem the product key at microsoft365.com/setup. Redeeming the key links the account to the Project app.
From the Microsoft 365 home page, choose Install and more. If you have several products, open Services & subscriptions and locate Project.
Choose Install. Use Other options if you need a different language or the 32-bit/64-bit choice offered for your release.
When the download finishes, choose Run, Setup, or Save File, depending on the browser, and approve the User Account Control prompt if Windows displays it.
When setup completes, open Start and search for Project.

Install a subscription edition

The Project Online Desktop Client is a separately installed subscription desktop application downloaded to the PC and licensed through a work or school subscription. It is not the retired Project Online hosted service, and installing the desktop client does not require an active Project Online environment. The account must have an assigned subscription Project desktop license.

Go to microsoft365.com and sign in with the work or school account that has the Project license.
Choose Install and more > Install Microsoft 365 apps. In some tenants, the same controls are available from the organization’s Microsoft 365 software page.
Under View apps & devices, select Project. Choose the language and bit version, then select Install.
Run the downloaded setup and follow the prompts. Open Project from the Windows Start menu when installation finishes.

If Project is missing from Apps & devices, the account probably does not have an assigned license. Ask the Microsoft 365 administrator to assign the appropriate Project subscription before trying again.¹ Once Project is installed, use Creating a Project in Microsoft Project to start a plan.

Special purchase paths

Workplace Discount Program purchases may use a product key after installation. Volume-license deployments can use an organization-managed installation method, and third-party purchases may require the seller’s key-redemption process. In each case, the account or license must match the edition being installed.

What does not use this installer?

Project Online was a hosted service with Project Web App and retired on September 30, 2026. Project for the web has also transitioned into Planner. Planner is accessed through Microsoft 365, the web, or Teams rather than through the desktop Project installer.^{2 3}

The desktop installation paths above are separate from those retired hosted-service workflows. This article contains the edition-specific sign-in and download paths for installing Microsoft Project.

These installation steps apply to Microsoft Project desktop on Windows. Mac users who need to work with MPP plans can use Project Plan 365 for Mac as an alternative for opening, editing, and saving them.