To activate Microsoft 365, open Word, Excel, or another included app and sign in with the Microsoft account that owns your subscription—or the work or school account your organization licensed. Follow the Activation Wizard if it appears. Redeem a new product key card only if you have one, and do so once at Microsoft365.com/setup.
Choose the activation route for your license
Most Microsoft 365 activation is tied to an account, not a product key. Microsoft requires a Microsoft account or a work or school account to install and activate Microsoft 365 and Office versions 2013 or later. Use the account that bought the subscription or that your organization assigned a license to. Microsoft’s activation guidance explains the account-based process.
| License situation | Activation route | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Personal Microsoft 365 subscription | Sign in with the Microsoft account used to buy it. | Confirm the subscription is active and associated with that account. |
| Work or school license | Sign in with the account provided by your organization. | Confirm the license is assigned and check your organization’s installation portal or policy. |
| New product key card | Redeem the key once at Microsoft365.com/setup. | Use the intended account and the correct country or region; the card must be new and unused. |
| Office preinstalled on a new PC | Follow the first-run offer or account prompts. | The app may be a trial or require a purchase; an included digital license may be associated with your account after sign-in. |
| One-time Office purchase | Use the account and installation route associated with the purchase. | Its one-computer license and transfer terms differ from a Microsoft 365 subscription. |
Activate Microsoft 365 by signing in
- Open an app. Start Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or another included Microsoft 365 app on the device.
- Sign in with the license account. For a personal subscription, use the account that made the purchase. For a work or school license, use the assigned organization account.
- Complete the prompts. If the Activation Wizard appears, follow its instructions. If the app asks you to buy or start a trial, do not assume the installation already includes a paid license.
- Check the account’s products if activation does not complete. Review the Microsoft account’s Services & subscriptions page or your organization’s Microsoft 365 portal to confirm the product is associated with the account you used.
Redeem a new product key card
A key card can be used for an eligible new purchase or renewal; it is not the routine activation method for an existing subscription. Redeem it only once, using the account that should own the license. A redeemed key is attached to that account and is not a way to share access with someone else. Microsoft’s product-key guidance covers redemption and common errors.
- Go to Microsoft365.com/setup.
- Sign in with the Microsoft account you want associated with the license.
- Enter the new, unused key and complete the redemption prompts. Check that the selected country or region matches the key’s eligibility.
- After redemption, install or open the app and sign in with that same account.
Install on other devices and understand sign-in limits
Microsoft says a Microsoft 365 subscriber can install on all their devices and be signed in on five at once. If more than five devices are signed in, the earliest device may be signed out automatically; sign in again on the device you want to use. These subscription rules are different from a one-time Office purchase, which is for one computer subject to its transfer terms. Microsoft’s device-installation guidance describes the limits.
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For a work or school account, installation choices can depend on the organization’s license and policy. Microsoft’s reviewed installation instructions cover PC and Mac and point mobile users to separate setup steps for iPhone, iPad, and Android. See Microsoft’s installation instructions for platform-specific steps.
Fix common activation and product-key problems
“The products we found in your account can’t be used to activate”
Check whether the account owns a license for the app you are opening and whether the preinstalled apps match the edition you purchased. An older Office installation or an unrelated key can also be involved. Microsoft describes this as a product-association or compatibility issue in relevant cases: Unlicensed product and activation errors in Office.
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“This product key has already been used”
Sign in to the Microsoft account’s Services & subscriptions page and check whether the product is already listed. Keys are redeemed once; do not give a used key to another person as a sharing method. If you have a Microsoft 365 Family subscription, use its sharing flow instead. Microsoft’s key guidance covers this error.
The key is invalid or rejected
- Check for typing errors and verify that the key matches the product and edition you are trying to redeem.
- Confirm that the key’s purchase region matches the country or region selected for redemption.
- If a retail key was not activated at checkout, return to the retailer and ask them to activate it at the point of sale.
The key or subscription duration cannot be extended
Check your Microsoft account’s billing settings. Microsoft documents a limit on extending a subscription duration beyond five years; do not keep retrying a redemption that would exceed it. See Microsoft’s product-key and billing guidance.
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There is no install option for a work or school account
Ask your organization’s Microsoft 365 administrator to confirm that a license has been assigned and that your account is allowed to install the apps. A missing install option or blocked sign-in may reflect the organization’s configuration, not a problem with a product key. Microsoft’s guidance for work or school accounts explains account access.
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