How to activate Microsoft Office for free in Windows 10

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Select your version of Microsoft 365 below to learn how to activate Microsoft 365.

  • Activate Microsoft 365 or a non-subscription version of Office

  • Activate Office that's pre-installed on a new Windows device

  • Activate an Office purchase or offer that's included on a new Windows device

  • Activate Office from Microsoft Workplace Discount Program

  • Activate a brand new Office product key

  • Troubleshoot activation errors

Activate Microsoft 365 or a non-subscription version of Office

How to activate Microsoft Office for free in Windows 10

When you start an Microsoft 365 app that's not activated, you'll be prompted to sign in to Microsoft 365. Be sure to sign in using the Microsoft account, or work or school account, that you used to buy or subscribe to Microsoft 365.

How to activate Microsoft Office for free in Windows 10

Activate Microsoft 365 that's pre-installed on a new Windows device

How to activate Microsoft Office for free in Windows 10

If this screen appears, Microsoft 365 is installed as a Microsoft 365 Family trial

You'll see this screen if you sign in to Microsoft 365 that was pre-installed on a new device but don't have an Microsoft 365 product associated with your account.

To use Microsoft 365 on your new device, you can activate Microsoft 365 as a 1-month trial of Microsoft 365 Family. You can also buy Microsoft 365, add Microsoft 365 to an existing Microsoft 365 subscription, or enter a product key from a new product key card. If you have an older copy of Microsoft 365, you can install that instead.

I thought this device included

Activate an Microsoft 365 purchase or offer that's included on a new Windows device

If this screen appears, Microsoft 365 is installed as a one-year subscription or one-time purchase

A digital product key is transmitted to your PC, so you won't need or receive a printed product key. You activate Microsoft 365 by signing in with a Microsoftaccount. 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.

Activate Office from Microsoft Workplace Discount Program

How to activate Microsoft Office for free in Windows 10

If you bought Office Professional Plus, Visio Professional, or Project Professional through your employer's Microsoft Workplace Discount Program (formerly known as Microsoft Home Use Program) benefit, select I don't want to sign in or create an account (at the bottom of the screen) and enter your product key.

Get your Microsoft Workplace Discount Program product key

Activate a brand new or Microsoft 365 product key

How to activate Microsoft Office for free in Windows 10

Troubleshoot activation errors

If Microsoft 365 can't activate, it eventually becomes unlicensed and all editing features of Microsoft 365 are disabled. Microsoft can become unlicensed for a number of reasons. For example, if your Microsoft 365 subscription expires, you must renew your subscription to restore all features of Microsoft 365. 

If Microsoft 365 was pre-installed on your new PC, you must start an Microsoft 365 Family trial or buy Microsoft 365 to continue using Microsoft 365.

See also 

A subscription notice appears when I open a Microsoft 365 application

You get the Office error "The products we found in your account can't be used to activate "

Troubleshoot activation errors in Office

Need more help?

Can I activate Microsoft Office for free?

You can also activate Office for free if you start a 1-month free trial of Microsoft 365 Family. You can try the activated Office version for one month. If you subscribe to a Microsoft 365 plan, then you can download, install, and use Microsoft Office tools for free.

How to activate Microsoft Office without product key for free?

Step 1: Go to www.office.com/setup or Microsoft365.com/setup. Step 2: Sign in with your Microsoft account, or create one if you don't have one. Be sure to remember this account so that you can install or reinstall Office later, without a product key.

Is there a free version of Microsoft Office for Windows 10?

Microsoft 365 for the web is a free version of Microsoft 365 that you can use in a web browser. All you need is to sign up for a Microsoft account with a new or existing email address. Try the Office for the web apps.