There is no universal Command Prompt command that activates every Microsoft Office edition. For supported perpetual and volume-licensed versions, you can use ospp.vbs with a valid key or an organization’s authorized activation service; Microsoft 365 Apps and subscription versions of Project or Visio normally activate when you sign in with the licensed account.
This guide explains how to check the installed license, activate a legitimate retail or MAK key, and trigger an organization’s KMS or Active Directory-based activation. CMD commands do not create a license or bypass Microsoft activation requirements.
Before you start: determine which Office you have
The right activation method depends on the edition installed:
| Office installation | Typical activation method | Use ospp.vbs? |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft 365 Apps | Sign in with the licensed Microsoft or work/school account | No |
| Subscription Project or Visio | Sign in with the account that owns the subscription | No |
| Office LTSC 2024, LTSC 2021, Office 2019, or Office 2016 volume edition | MAK, KMS, or Active Directory-based activation | Yes |
| Some older perpetual installations | Product key or organization-managed activation | Often |
Most consumer copies of Office 2024, Office 2021, and Office 2019 are associated with a Microsoft account. For those installations, signing in is usually more appropriate than entering a key through Command Prompt. Office 2016 and Office 2019 reached end of support on October 14, 2025; they may still activate with a valid license, but using a supported Office release is safer.
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Open an elevated Command Prompt
- Open Start and type Command Prompt.
- Right-click Command Prompt.
- Select Run as administrator.
- Choose Yes if User Account Control asks for permission.
Administrator access may be needed to modify system-level Office licensing information.
Find the Office activation script
For current Click-to-Run volume editions, ospp.vbs is commonly in one of these folders:
64-bit Office: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\ospp.vbs
32-bit Office on 64-bit Windows: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\ospp.vbs
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Check whether the first path exists:
dir “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\ospp.vbs”
If Windows cannot find the file, try:
dir “C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\ospp.vbs”
Then test the paths without root.
Check the installed license
Use the full path that exists on your computer. For 64-bit Office on 64-bit Windows, run:
cscript “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\ospp.vbs” /dstatus
For 32-bit Office on 64-bit Windows, run:
cscript “C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\ospp.vbs” /dstatus
The output shows installed license information, including the license status and the last five characters of the installed product key. It does not reveal the complete key. To display information for all installed Office licenses, use the matching path with /dstatusall, for example:
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cscript “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\ospp.vbs” /dstatusall
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Activate a valid retail or MAK key from CMD
Use this procedure only if the installed Office edition supports ospp.vbs and you own a valid key or have an authorized MAK key from your organization.
1. Install the key
Replace the placeholder with the 25-character key:
cscript “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\ospp.vbs” /inpkey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
For 32-bit Office, use the corresponding path under C:\Program Files (x86).
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2. Trigger activation
Run:
cscript “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\ospp.vbs” /act
A MAK activation requires internet access. It may fail if the connection uses a proxy requiring authentication; telephone activation may be necessary. For 32-bit Office, use its matching script path.
3. Confirm the result
Run /dstatus again, close every Office application, and reopen Word or Excel. You can also verify activation in the app under File > Account. The Product Information section shows the product and activation state.
Replace an incorrect or expired key
First identify the installed key by running /dstatus with the correct script path. Note the last five characters shown in the output. Remove that key with:
cscript “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\ospp.vbs” /unpkey:XXXXX
Replace XXXXX with the actual final five characters. Then install the replacement key using /inpkey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX and run /act. Use the path that matches your installation. Be careful on a shared or managed computer: removing the wrong key can affect another Office product.
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Use CMD for an organization’s KMS activation
KMS is for organizations with an authorized Key Management Service host. It is not a way to activate a personal retail copy, and you should not use a public KMS server.
A correctly configured KMS client normally discovers the host through DNS service records. Check its status using /dstatusall with the correct script path, then trigger activation with:
cscript “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\ospp.vbs” /act
If your administrator supplied a KMS host name and DNS discovery is unavailable, specify it manually:
cscript “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\ospp.vbs” /sethst:kms.example.com
Replace kms.example.com with your organization’s actual host, then run /act. The default KMS port is 1688. If the administrator uses another port, specify it like this:
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cscript “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\ospp.vbs” /setprt:1750
To remove a manually configured host and return to DNS-based discovery, run:
cscript “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\ospp.vbs” /remhst
This also resets the port to 1688. To inspect KMS activation history, use /dhistorykms. To display a description of an error code, use /ddescr:0xC004F042 with the script path.
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Active Directory-based activation is another organization-managed method. It requires a volume-licensed Office edition, a supported Windows device joined to the organization’s Active Directory domain, and activation infrastructure configured through Volume Activation Services on Windows Server. The organization must create and publish the activation object first. Running the client command on an unrelated home computer will not activate Office.
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With the infrastructure configured, trigger client activation using cscript “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\ospp.vbs” /act and the path matching your installation. A successful activation lasts for up to 180 days and renews periodically through Active Directory.
Microsoft 365 Apps: use sign-in instead
ospp.vbs does not activate Microsoft 365 Apps or subscription versions of Project and Visio. Use the supported account-based process:
- Open Word, Excel, or another installed Office app.
- When prompted, sign in with the Microsoft account or work/school account that owns the license.
- If you have an unused product key, visit Office.com/setup or Microsoft365.com/setup.
- Sign in and enter the key without hyphens if the page requests it.
- Return to the Office app and sign in with the same account.
If you already redeemed the key and see “This product key has already been used,” do not keep trying to enter it. Sign in to the Microsoft account that originally redeemed it and install Office from that account.
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For newer perpetual versions, you may be able to change the license inside the app: File > Account > Product Information > Switch License. Choose Use a different account or Enter product key instead, depending on the available options. If Switch License is missing, update Office first.
Shared-computer activation is different
Organizations that deploy Microsoft 365 Apps on shared PCs configure shared-computer activation through the Office Deployment Tool, Group Policy, the registry, or Microsoft support tools—not through ospp.vbs.
The Office Deployment Tool setting is:
<Property Name=”SharedComputerLicensing” Value=”1″ />
The corresponding registry location and value are:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\ClickToRun\Configuration
SharedComputerLicensing = 1
Each licensed user must sign in. Office obtains an activation token from the Office Licensing Service; the token is valid for 30 days and renews when the user signs in and uses Office.
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“Input Error: Can not find script file…”
The path may be wrong for the installed Office architecture or installation type. Try both Program Files and Program Files (x86), test the path with and without root, and confirm that you opened an elevated Command Prompt.
ospp.vbs produces no useful result
This is expected with Microsoft 365 Apps and subscription Project or Visio. Use account sign-in and Microsoft’s Microsoft 365 activation troubleshooting tools instead.
CMD reports success, but Office still requests activation
Close all Word, Excel, Outlook, and other Office processes, then reopen the applications. Office may not refresh its displayed licensing state immediately after script-based activation.
The key is rejected as invalid
A blocked key may be stolen, counterfeit, unauthorized, or obtained through fraudulent resale. Contact the seller for a refund or contact Microsoft Support. Do not download an “activator” or attempt to use a public KMS server.
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Activation works on one PC but not another
A one-time-purchase license may be intended for one computer. Check that the second installation has its own eligible license rather than reusing the first computer’s key.
KMS activation fails
Connect to the organization’s network or VPN and ask the administrator to check DNS service records, the KMS host’s Office configuration, firewall access, the configured port, and the host name.
MAK activation fails behind an authenticated proxy
MAK activation requires internet access and may fail when the connection requires proxy authentication. Telephone activation may be necessary.
Commands that will not activate Office
slmgr.vbs /ato manages Windows activation and related Windows licensing functions; it is not the Office client activation command. Office and Windows licensing are configured separately.
Likewise, /rearm is not a permanent activation command. It resets licensing status or extends a supported activation state; it does not create a license for an unlicensed installation.
Final verification
- Run /dstatus or /dstatusall if your installation supports ospp.vbs.
- Close and reopen all Office applications.
- Open File > Account and review Product Information.
- For Microsoft 365 Apps, verify that the correct account appears under the signed-in user and that the subscription is active.
If activation remains unsuccessful, check whether the Office edition supports the method, whether the key and script path are correct, whether the network or proxy is blocking activation, and whether required organization infrastructure is available.
FAQ
Can I activate Microsoft 365 Apps with CMD?
No. Microsoft 365 Apps normally use account-based activation. Open an Office app and sign in with the Microsoft or work/school account associated with the license.
What does the Office CMD activation command do?
For supported perpetual or volume editions, cscript “path-to-ospp.vbs” /act asks Office to activate an installed, valid license. It does not create a license or bypass product-key requirements.
Why can’t CMD find ospp.vbs?
The script path may not match the Office architecture or installation type. Try both Program Files folders and paths with and without root\Office16.
Is KMS activation suitable for a home computer?
Only if the computer belongs to an organization with an authorized KMS host or Active Directory-based activation infrastructure. KMS is not a legitimate activation method for a personal retail copy.
Can I see my complete Office product key from CMD?
No. /dstatus shows only the last five characters of an installed key.
What should I do if Office says the product key has already been used?
Sign in to the Microsoft account that originally redeemed the key. A redeemed key generally does not need to be entered again.
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Use ospp.vbs only for a supported perpetual or volume-licensed Office installation and a legitimate key or organization activation service. For Microsoft 365 Apps and most consumer Office 2019, 2021, and 2024 installations, sign in through the licensed Microsoft account instead. If CMD activation fails, verify the Office path and edition before troubleshooting the network or key.
References: Microsoft’s Office volume activation tools and Microsoft’s Office activation guidance.
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