microsoft office key | Use product keys with Office 365, Office 2016 or Office 2013

Use product keys with Office 365, Office 2016 or Office 2013




Applies to: Excel 2016 Word 2016 Outlook 2016 PowerPoint 2016 More ...
Your Microsoft account will replace the Office product key for many tasks, such as activating and reinstalling Office. See the following sections to find out if you need an Office product key and, if you have one, what you can do with the key.

Office asks me for a product key

Office was included with my new PC PC with Windows 10, but I can not find a product key

Do I need a product key to reinstall Office?

Can I see the product key in Office?

Can I see the product key online?

My product keys do not match

Can I change the product key?

I have a new product key. Where do I have to add it?

Can I buy a product key?

I bought a product key card, but it does not contain any key

I lost the product key or it is damaged

The Office product key does not work

Contact technical support regarding the product key

Office asks me for a product key
If Office asks you for a product key to activate Office, in many cases you can use your Microsoft account instead. This is the account you used to buy or subscribe to Office. We can help you if you forgot your Microsoft account or password.

If you see this screen in Office, select You can also Log in with an active account.

The dialog box where the product key is written is displayed.
If you see this screen (or a similar screen) in Office, select Sign in.

Displays a message that states that the Office installation was deactivated.
Note: If you purchased a new, unused Office 365 product key card to renew an Office 365 subscription or to purchase a trial version, you can use that product key if Office asks you to do so. You can also specify the product key at www.office.com/setup.

There are some exceptions in which you must perform other actions than just logging in.

If you purchased a DVD or USB drive with your company's Home Use Program (HUP), you will need the product key to install Office on a PC. To search for the product key online, see Find the HUP product key.

If you use a volume license version of Office Professional Plus at work, you will need to contact the administrator to obtain a product key.

If you see a yellow or red banner in an Office application that says EXPIRED SUBSCRIPTION, you must renew your Office 365 subscription to continue using it. For help, see Renewing Office 365 for home users.

If Office is installed on your new device and you see a yellow or red banner in an Office application that indicates PRODUCT NOTICE: Most features of <app> have been disabled because it has not been activated, you must start a new version of Office 365 Home test or acquire it. For help, see Test, buy or activate Office preinstalled on a new computer.

If you purchased Office Professional Plus online, see Can I buy a product key? or, if the product key does not work, see The Office product key does not work.

Office was included with my new PC PC with Windows 10, but I can not find a product key
If you see a Start screen with options to try, buy or activate Office, this means that Office is installed on your new computer as a 1-month trial version of Office 365 Home. You will not receive a product key from the computer manufacturer, except if you paid for an Office product key card. Instead, you can start a Home Office 365 test or buy Office. For help, see Test, buy or activate Office preinstalled on a new computer.

A screenshot showing the trial, purchase, or activation options that appear by default on a PC that comes with Office pre-installed.
If you have paid for an Office product to be included on your new computer with Windows 10, a digital product key will be transmitted to the PC when you activate Windows 10. You will not receive a printed product key. Instead, you will see a message similar to the following when you start Word 2016 (or any other Office application). For help with this screen, see Activate an Office purchase or a free offer on a new computer.