How can I use Microsoft Office without activation key?

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If your purchase of Office or Microsoft 365 came with a product key, you enter your product key on one of the websites listed below for your product. After you enter your key, you can download and install Office, or you can renew your Microsoft 365 subscription.

Tip: Get tech expertise with Business Assist. Connect with our small business advisors for help making Microsoft 365 products work for you and everyone in your business. Learn more.

Having problems with your product key?

Example of an Office or Microsoft 365 product key:

XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

How can I use Microsoft Office without activation key?

Microsoft 365, Office 2021, Office 2019, Office 2016, and Office 2013 (PC and Mac)

Note: Support has ended for Office 2016 for Mac. Learn more

To redeem a new purchase

Step 1: Go to www.office.com/setup or Microsoft365.com/setup.

Step 2: Sign in with your Microsoft account, or create one if you don't have one. Be sure to remember this account so that you can install or reinstall Office later, without a product key.

Important: If you're renewing your Microsoft 365 subscription, enter the Microsoft account that's associated with your subscription. I can't remember my Microsoft account.

Step 3: Enter your product key, without hyphens, if prompted. If you don't see the option to enter your product key, it was entered for you automatically.

Step 4: Follow the prompts to finish the redemption process.

To install or reinstall Office

If you see the error This product key has already been used when you enter your product key on www.office.com/setup or Microsoft365.com/setup, this means your product key has already been redeemed and is no longer needed.

Instead, use your Microsoft account to sign in to account.microsoft.com and install your Office product.

How can I use Microsoft Office without activation key?

Microsoft Workplace Discount Program

These steps apply only to Office Professional Plus, Visio Professional, or Project Professional.

Step 1: Start an Office app, like Word, Project, or Visio, depending on your purchase.

Step 2: In the Sign in to set up Office window, select I don't want to sign in or create an account (it's a small link at the bottom of the window).

Step 3: Enter your Office product key, without hyphens. If you don't have your key, see get your Workplace Discount Program product key.

How can I use Microsoft Office without activation key?

Microsoft Store

Step 1: Go to www.microsoftstore.com and sign in (upper right-hand corner) with the Microsoft account that you used to buy Office.

Step 2: After you sign in, select your name in the upper right-hand corner, and then select Order History.

Step 3: Locate the Office one-time purchase or individual Office app, and then select Install Office to view your product key (this doesn't actually install Office).

Step 4: Select Install Office again in the window where the product key appears.

Step 5: On the Hi. Let's get started page, follow the prompts to sign in again and associate your product with your Microsoft account.

How can I use Microsoft Office without activation key?

Microsoft 365 Business Standard

Step 1: Go to https://microsoft365.com/setupbusiness

Step 2: Enter Office product key without hyphens, and then select Next.

Step 3: Follow the prompts to finish the redemption and setup process.

Having problems with your product key?

I can't find my product key

For help with finding your product key, select your version of Office below:

  • Office product keys

  • Microsoft Workplace Discount Program product keys

  • Office 2010 product keys

  • Office 2007 product keys

  • Office for Mac 2011 product keys

My product key isn't working

If your Office product key doesn’t work, or has stopped working, you should contact the seller and request a refund. If you bought a product key separate from the software, it’s very possible the product key was stolen or otherwise fraudulently obtained, and subsequently blocked for use. Unfortunately, there are many dishonest sellers who offer stolen, abused, or otherwise unauthorized Microsoft product keys for sale. Sometimes these product keys are printed on counterfeit labels or cards with a download link to Microsoft software, and sometimes they’re distributed with software media that is unauthorized for resale, such as promotional media, original equipment manufacturer reinstallation media, or other Microsoft program-specific media.

Contact support

If you still need help with your product key, visit our Microsoft support page for help.

Need more help?

How to activate Microsoft Office without product key free?

Step 1: Go to www.office.com/setup or Microsoft365.com/setup. Step 2: Sign in with your Microsoft account, or create one if you don't have one. Be sure to remember this account so that you can install or reinstall Office later, without a product key.

Can I use Microsoft Office without activation?

To fully use Office, you must activate Office. If you do not activate the product after you install it, the Office programs can be started only in reduced-functionality mode.

How can I get Office activated for free?

You can also activate Office for free if you start a 1-month free trial of Microsoft 365 Family. You can try the activated Office version for one month. If you subscribe to a Microsoft 365 plan, then you can download, install, and use Microsoft Office tools for free.

What happens if I don't activate my Microsoft Office?

If Microsoft 365 can't activate, it eventually becomes unlicensed and all editing features of Microsoft 365 are disabled. Microsoft can become unlicensed for a number of reasons. For example, if your Microsoft 365 subscription expires, you must renew your subscription to restore all features of Microsoft 365.