Does old software become unusable but remains in your system (downloaded desk top Ttax)?

An older tax datafile (2021) cannot be accessed from software that I downloaded in 2022 (we are now 2026).

If I go to my profile I can download the copy of Ttax software for 2021, but the installer says that a copy of the software already exists on my machine and must be removed. I did this and the new 2021 Ttax can be downloaded. But it was already in the machine! Does it go permanently dormant after a certain amount of time?