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For a new retail copy of Microsoft Office 2016, enter the 25-character product key at www.office.com/setup or Microsoft365.com/setup. The key is normally redeemed once and then linked to the Microsoft account you use during setup.
If the key has already been redeemed, do not enter it again. Install Office from that Microsoft account instead. The correct procedure also depends on whether you have a retail copy, a volume license, a Workplace Discount Program purchase, or Microsoft 365 Business Standard.
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Before entering the Office 2016 product key
Check the product type first. The standard setup process applies to retail editions such as Office Home & Student 2016, Office Home & Business 2016, Office Professional 2016, and individually purchased Office applications.
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|---|---|
| Retail Office 2016 | office.com/setup or Microsoft365.com/setup |
| Office Professional Plus, Visio Professional, or Project Professional from the Workplace Discount Program | Start the relevant Office application and choose the option to enter a key without signing in |
| Volume-license Office | Organization-managed activation; contact your IT department |
| Microsoft 365 Business Standard product key | signup.microsoft.com/get-started/setupkey |
A volume-license key cannot be redeemed through the consumer Office setup page. Likewise, a Microsoft 365 Business Standard key does not use the regular retail Office 2016 redemption path.
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How to enter a new Office 2016 product key
- Open www.office.com/setup or Microsoft365.com/setup in a browser.
- Sign in with the Microsoft account you want to associate with Office 2016. If you do not have one, select the option to create an account.
- Enter the 25-character product key when prompted. Type it without hyphens.
- Complete the on-screen redemption steps.
Some setup pages do not show a product-key box because Microsoft has already detected or entered the key automatically. Continue through the prompts in that situation rather than trying to find another key field.
Save the Microsoft account details used for redemption. The product key becomes associated with that account, and future installation, reinstallation, and activation normally use the account instead of the original key.
Download and install Office 2016 after redemption
- Go to account.microsoft.com.
- Sign in with the Microsoft account used to redeem the key.
- Open Services & subscriptions.
- Find your Office 2016 purchase and select the option to install Office.
- Run the downloaded installer and follow the installation prompts.
After installation, open Word, Excel, or another Office application. In most cases, accepting the license terms by selecting Accept completes activation. If the Microsoft Office Activation Wizard opens, follow its instructions to finish activation.
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The message “This product key has already been used” usually means the key was successfully redeemed earlier. It does not normally mean that the license is invalid.
Do not return to office.com/setup and try to redeem the same key again. Sign in at account.microsoft.com with the Microsoft account originally used for redemption, then choose Services & subscriptions and install Office 2016 from there.
If you are unsure which account was used, check an existing Office installation:
- Open Word, Excel, or another Office application.
- Choose File > Account.
- Look below the product name for Belongs to.
The account shown after Belongs to is the account associated with the installation. Office does not display the full 25-character product key, so this account information is the useful recovery detail.
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Change the product key in an existing Office 2016 installation
If Office 2016 is already installed but the wrong license or key is being used, you can usually change it from an Office application.
- Open Word, Excel, or another Office program.
- Go to File > Account.
- Under Product Information, select Switch License.
- If you are signed in, choose Use a different account.
- Select Enter product key instead.
- Enter the new 25-character Office 2016 key.
- Select Install this product instead.
- Close all Office applications when prompted so the update can finish.
If Switch License is not shown, install the available Office updates and check again. Changing the license starts an update process, and Office applications may need to be closed before the change takes effect.
Replace the key from Command Prompt
Use this method when the graphical Switch License option is unavailable or does not work. Open Command Prompt as administrator. The commands must match the Office and Windows installation path.
32-bit Office on 32-bit Windows, or 64-bit Office on 64-bit Windows
cscript "C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice16OSPP.VBS" /dstatus
cscript "C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice16OSPP.VBS" /unpkey:XXXXX
cscript "C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice16OSPP.VBS" /inpkey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX32-bit Office on 64-bit Windows
cscript "C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficeOffice16OSPP.VBS" /dstatus
cscript "C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficeOffice16OSPP.VBS" /unpkey:XXXXX
cscript "C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficeOffice16OSPP.VBS" /inpkey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXXThe first command, /dstatus, displays information about the installed license, including the last five characters of its key. Replace the XXXXX after /unpkey: with those five characters. Replace the full placeholder after /inpkey: with the new 25-character key.
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After entering the new key, start an Office application and select Next when prompted to activate Office over the internet.
If Command Prompt reports “Input Error: Can not find script file…”, the path does not match the installed Office/Windows bitness. Try the other command using Program Files or Program Files (x86). Using the wrong path does not damage the Office installation.
Common Office 2016 product-key errors
“The product key isn’t valid”
Errors such as INVALID_PRODUCT_KEY or ERR_INVALID_TOKEN usually indicate a mistyped key, a key for another Microsoft product, or a key for a different Office edition. Check characters that are easy to confuse:
- B and 8
- G and 6
- O and 0
- Q and 0
- VV and W
Copy the key carefully from the original card, email, or purchase record. Do not add spaces or hyphens if the redemption page asks for the key without hyphens.
KEY_NOT_ACTIVATED
This means the retailer did not activate the key at the point of sale. Microsoft’s recommended resolution is to return to the store or seller where the key was purchased and request activation.
ERR_MISSING_PARTNUMBER or ERR_PKPN_DETAILS_NOTFOUND
These errors can occur when the key belongs to an Office version or product that is not available through the retail Office setup page. Confirm that the key is actually for a retail Office 2016 product and not a volume license, Workplace Discount Program product, or another Microsoft service.
The Next button is disabled
JavaScript may be disabled in the browser. Enable JavaScript and try again. Microsoft also states that an iPad cannot be used to redeem the key because the required JavaScript support is unavailable there; use a Windows PC, Mac, or another compatible device.
Cookies blocked by the browser can also prevent redemption. Check the browser’s privacy settings and allow cookies for the Microsoft setup site. If the problem continues, try an updated browser.
Country or region error
Office keys can be restricted to the countries or regions listed for them. A key purchased for a different country or region may not redeem successfully. Contact the seller if the purchase location and the key’s intended region do not match.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Other limitations to check
A Microsoft account can have up to 25 one-time purchases of Office 2013, Office 2016, or Office 2019 associated with it. If you have reached that limit, another one-time purchase must be associated with a different Microsoft account. This limit does not apply to Microsoft 365 subscriptions.
Be cautious with keys sold separately from the software, especially unusually cheap keys from unofficial marketplaces. Microsoft identifies stolen, counterfeit, unauthorized, blocked, and improperly resold OEM or program-specific keys as common reasons for activation failure. A key that initially works can still be blocked later if it was obtained improperly.
Office 2016 for Mac support status
Office 2016 for Mac reached end of support on October 13, 2020. The applications can continue to function, but Microsoft no longer provides software updates, security updates, or phone and chat technical support for that release. A new retail key can still follow the web-based redemption process where Microsoft lists it as applicable, but using an unsupported Mac version carries security and compatibility risks.
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Do I enter the Office 2016 key with hyphens?
No. Enter the 25-character key without hyphens when the Microsoft setup page prompts for it.
Where do I enter an Office 2016 key that was already redeemed?
You do not enter it again. Sign in at account.microsoft.com with the Microsoft account used during the original redemption, open Services & subscriptions, and install Office from there.
Can I find the full Office 2016 product key in Word?
No. Open File > Account to see the Microsoft account listed after Belongs to, but Office does not display the full product key.
Why does Office say my product key has already been used?
The key has normally already been redeemed and linked to a Microsoft account. Use that account to install or reinstall Office instead of returning to office.com/setup.
Why is Switch License missing in Office 2016?
Microsoft recommends installing available Office updates first. Then open an Office application and check File > Account again.
Can I use a volume-license key at office.com/setup?
No. Volume-license Office installations use organization-managed activation. Contact the organization’s IT department.
What should I do if the Office key was not activated by the retailer?
For the KEY_NOT_ACTIVATED error, return to the retailer or seller where the key was purchased and ask them to activate it.
The Bottom Line
For a new retail Office 2016 key, use office.com/setup or Microsoft365.com/setup, sign in to the correct Microsoft account, and enter the key without hyphens. Once redeemed, the key is tied to that account—so reinstall from account.microsoft.com > Services & subscriptions rather than trying to redeem the key again. If the product is a volume license, Workplace Discount Program purchase, or Microsoft 365 Business Standard key, use its separate activation route.
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