Where to enter your Office product key (2024)

FAQs

Where to enter your Office product key? ›

Step 1: Start an Office app, like Word, Project, or Visio, depending on your purchase. Step 2: In the Sign in to set up Office window, select I don't want to sign in or create an account (it's a small link at the bottom of the window). Step 3: Enter your Office product key, without hyphens.

If Office is prompting you for a product key, and you want to buy a product key to activate Office, it's better to uninstall your current version of Office and then buy and install a new version of Office from the Microsoft Store. This way you can be sure that Office will activate successfully.

You activate Microsoft 365 by signing in with a Microsoft account. If we detect your Microsoft account, we'll show it on this screen. After you sign in, your product is added to your Microsoft account, so that you can reinstall it later, or manage your new subscription, without a product key.

A product key is a 25-character code that's used to activate Windows and helps verify that Windows hasn't been used on more PCs than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow.

The product key is preinstalled on your PC, included with the packaging the PC came in, or included on the Certificate of Authenticity (COA) attached to the PC. For more info, contact your hardware manufacturer, and for pictures of authentic product keys and COA labels, see How to tell your hardware is genuine.

"If you're getting a “code not found” message, first be certain you're entering all 25 characters of the code correctly. Note The following letters and numbers never appear in Xbox digital codes: A, E, I, L, O, S, U, 0, 1, and 5. If you still get the same message, you'll need to request a replacement code."

Method 3: Using CMD (Command Prompt)

Step 2: Navigate to the Office installation directory by entering the appropriate command. For example, if Office is installed in the default directory, type: cd C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16 Step 3: Enter the activation command: cscript ospp.

How do I use Microsoft verification code? ›

When you sign in to your Microsoft account, we may ask for additional proof that it's really you. Pick any of the email addresses or phone numbers you have on your account, and we'll send you a verification code. Once you've received the code, enter it wherever you are trying to sign in.

Stored in software on your PC: When you (or your PC manufacturer) installs Windows, Windows stores its product key in the registry. You can extract this product key, and — often — enter it when reinstalling Windows on your PC.

If you purchased a physical copy of Office, the product key should be on a card inside the box or on a sticker on the DVD case. If you purchased Office through the Microsoft Store, you can find your product key in the confirmation email or by signing in to your Microsoft account and viewing your order history.