To activate Microsoft 365, open a Microsoft 365 app and sign in with the Microsoft account that owns your subscription, or the work or school account assigned a license. Complete the Activation Wizard if it appears. If you have a new product-key card, redeem it once at Microsoft365.com/setup and link it to the account you want to use.
Choose the right activation route
Microsoft 365 activation is tied to an account for most current users. Microsoft says an account is required to install and activate Microsoft 365 and Office 2013 or later. Use the account that purchased the personal subscription or the work or school account provided by your organization. See Microsoft’s account guidance.
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| Situation | Activation route | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Microsoft 365 subscription | Sign in with the Microsoft account used to buy it. | Confirm that the subscription is active and associated with that account. |
| Work or school license | Sign in with the assigned work or school account. | Check license assignment, organization sign-in rules, and the organization’s installation portal. |
| New product-key card | Redeem the key once at Microsoft365.com/setup. | Use the correct region and intended account; confirm the card is new and unused. |
| Office preinstalled on a new PC | Follow the on-screen offer and sign in if an included digital license is offered. | A preinstalled app may be a trial and may require a purchase to keep using it. |
| One-time Office purchase | Use the account associated with the purchase and its installation route. | Its one-computer license and transfer terms differ from a Microsoft 365 subscription. |
A product key is not the normal way to activate an existing subscription. A PC having Word or Excel preinstalled also does not by itself mean you have a paid license.
Activate an existing personal or work subscription
- Connect the device to the internet and open Word, Excel, or another Microsoft 365 app.
- When prompted, choose the sign-in option and enter the Microsoft account that owns the subscription, or your assigned work or school account.
- If the Activation Wizard appears, follow its prompts. Use the same licensed account if asked to sign in again.
- If the app reports that no product is associated with the account, check your purchase record and the account’s Services & subscriptions page. Make sure you did not sign in with a different personal or organizational account.
For organization accounts, Microsoft’s sign-in guidance may help identify the account route. Availability of desktop app installation depends on the organization’s license and policies.
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Redeem a new product key card
- Go to Microsoft365.com/setup and sign in, or create a Microsoft account if needed.
- Enter the new, unused key and follow the redemption prompts. Select the country or region that matches the key’s eligibility.
- After redemption, install or open the apps and sign in with the same account. The key is linked to that account and is not a method for sharing access with someone else.
Redeem a key only once. If it has already been used, check the account’s Services & subscriptions page to see whether the product is attached there. For another person to use a Family subscription, use Microsoft’s sharing feature rather than giving them the redeemed key.
Install on another device and understand sign-in limits
Microsoft says subscribers can install Microsoft 365 on all their devices and be signed in on five at the same time. Family sharing supports up to five other people; each person uses their own account, installations, and up to five simultaneous sign-ins. A one-time Office purchase is for one computer, subject to its transfer terms. See Microsoft’s device and sign-in guidance.
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For a new computer, open an app and sign in with the licensed account. Microsoft’s install guidance covers PC and Mac and links to setup instructions for iPhone, iPad, and Android: download and install Microsoft 365 or Office.
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Fix common activation problems
- “The products we found in your account can’t be used to activate”: Check that the signed-in account owns a license for the app and that the preinstalled apps match the edition you bought. An older Office installation or key can also cause a product-association or compatibility problem; follow Microsoft’s activation-error guidance.
- “This product key has already been used”: Look in the Microsoft account’s Services & subscriptions page for the product. The key is redeemed once; it cannot be passed to another person as a sharing method.
- Key invalid or rejected: Check for typing errors, verify that the key is for the product and edition you intended to redeem, and confirm the redemption region is eligible. Microsoft documents region mismatch as a possible cause.
- Retail key was not activated: Contact the retailer and ask them to activate it at the point of sale.
- Cannot extend a subscription for the expected duration: Check the account’s billing settings. Microsoft documents a limit on extending subscription duration beyond five years.
- No install option or sign-in blocked on a work or school account: Ask the organization’s Microsoft 365 administrator to confirm that a license is assigned and that policy permits the installation. See Microsoft’s license guidance.
- More than five devices are signed in: Microsoft says the earliest device may be signed out automatically. Sign in again on the device you want to use.
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