Applies ToOffice 2024 Office 2021 Office 2019 Office 2016 Microsoft 365 for home

When you start an Office app on your new Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC and see the message You've got Office, you can activate your new Office product without a product key and add it to your Microsoft account. (For some Office perpetual license products, your Microsoft account is not required.)

Microsoft 365 subscriptions:    If you see that a Microsoft 365 subscription is included on your device, be sure to sign in and start your subscription as soon possible. If you will not start your subscription within 180 days after Windows activated, it will expire. There is no such expiration date for the perpetual license products (such as Office 2024).

Shows the dialog that appears when you open an Office app on a new device that includes an Office license.

Note: If you see a different activation screen when you start an Office app, see Activate Office.

Step 1: Make sure Windows is activated and Internet connection.

Step 2: Start an Office app

Step 3: If your new Office product requires a Microsoft account, you see the You've got Office to prompted to sign in, select Sign in or Create account. (If you already sign in Windows with your Microsoft account, your Microsoft account is shown in the You've got Office, select Next.)

If you see the Confirm your settings, select Next. And the Success! opens to notify that your Office product is linked in your Microsoft account successfully. And then select Get started.

(If your new Office product requires no Microsoft account, the Success! opens as soon as you start an Office app and you can know that the activation of your Office product is completed. And then select Get started.)

Step 4: Follow the remaining prompts to accept the license agreement and privacy settings.

If your device included a ​​​​​subscription for ​Microsoft 365, your subscription will be started.

If you signed in during the steps above your new Office product will be added to your Microsoft account, which you can access anytime on the Services & subscriptions page of your Microsoft account dashboard. To reinstall Office, Just go to this page.

If you activated your Office product without your Microsoft account, you can view your product and reinstall Office from the Microsoft Store app.

Shows the dialog that appears when you open an Office app on a new device that includes an Office license. Shows the screen that appears when you buy a new device that includes a license for Office. This screen indicates that Office found your existing Microsoft account.

What is a Microsoft account?

A Microsoft account is an email address and password that you use with Outlook.com, Hotmail, Microsoft 365, Office, OneDrive, Skype, Xbox, and Windows.

When you create a Microsoft account, you can use any email address as the user name, including addresses from Yahoo! or Gmail. After you associate this account with your Office product, if you ever need to reinstall the apps, you'll use this Microsoft account instead of a product key to install and activate Office.

Learn more about Microsoft accounts

Should I create a new Microsoft account?

If you already sign in to Outlook.com, Hotmail, OneDrive, Skype, Xbox, and Windows, you already have a Microsoft account. Use that account instead of creating a new Microsoft account.

You forgot your Microsoft account username

I'm having trouble signing in to my Microsoft account

Why do I need a Microsoft account?

Your Microsoft account takes the place of a product key and makes it easier to reinstall Office in the future. You must have a Microsoft Account to use Office on your new device.

Note: If your Office product doesn't have an associated Microsoft account, see Reinstall Office from the Microsoft Store app

Where's my product key?

No product key is provided or needed. To reinstall Office or to manage your Microsoft 365 subscription, use your Microsoft account to sign in to the Services & subscriptions page of your Microsoft account dashboard. (Or for some versions, you may need to reinstall Office from the Microsoft Store app.) 

Tip: If you're unable to activate Office, see the Need help? tab above to help you troubleshoot the issue.

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