Die Office-Produktreihe bietet eine Vielzahl an Möglichkeiten, alltägliche Arbeiten zu erleichtern. Vor der Verwendung muss in der Regel eine Aktivierung der Produkte durchgeführt werden. Leider kann es hierbei unter Umständen zu nicht nachvollziehbaren Problemen kommen, die Anwender, aber auch Administratoren verzweifeln lassen können.
Ein Beispiel hierfür ist die verloren gegangene Aktivierung von Office 2016: Die Installation und Aktivierung von Office 2016 funktioniert zunächst problemlos. Nach einem Neustart des Rechners oder der Installation von Office-Updates kann es vorkommen, dass die Aktivierung nicht mehr aktiv ist. Eine erneute Eingabe des Lizenzschlüssels bringt unter Umständen keine Besserung. In solchen Fällen empfiehlt Microsoft zunächst die Reparatur der Software (diese kann entweder schnell oder online durchgeführt werden). Falls dies nicht hilft, sollte Office mit Hilfe des Easy Fix-Tools vollständig deinstalliert und wieder neuinstalliert werden. Diese beiden Verfahren werden im Artikel „Repair an Office application“ [1] detailliert vorgestellt. Leider kann es vorkommen, dass keine dieser Varianten das Problem zufriedenstellend lösen kann. Der Grund ist folgender: Bei der Aktivierung von Office-Produkten kann es vorkommen, dass der eingegebene Lizenzschlüssel zwar in der Anwendung hinterlegt, aber nicht als aktiviert erkannt wird. In diesem Fall kann Microsofts Tool zum Verwalten der Volumenaktivierung von Office, ospp.vbs (vgl. [2]), verwendet werden, um das Problem zu lösen. Dazu müssen folgende Schritte durchgeführt werden:
Öffnen Sie die Kommandozeile und navigieren Sie in das Installationsverzeichnis Ihrer Office Anwendung - standardmäßig C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16.
Nun führen Sie den Befehl cscript ospp.vbs /dstatus aus. Hiermit werden einige Informationen zu den auf diesem Computer vorhandenen Lizenzen angezeigt. Für Sie ist in erster Linie die Zeile Last 5 Characters of installed product key der fehlerhaften Lizenz wichtig. Bitte notieren Sie sich die 5 letzten Zeichen des Schlüssels.
Führen Sie danach den Befehl cscript ospp.vbs /unpkey:XXXXX aus (wobei XXXXX den letzten 5 Zeichen des Keys entsprechen). Hiermit wird die Lizenz auf dem Computer deaktiviert und von ihm entfernt.
Wenn Sie nun eine Office-Anwendung starten, müssen Sie Office neu mit Ihrem Schlüssel aktivieren. Dies sollte das Problem endgültig lösen.
[1] //support.office.com/en-us/article/repair-an-office-application-7821d4b6-7c1d-4205-aa0e-a6b40c5bb88b?ui=en-US&rs=en-US&ad=US
[2] //docs.microsoft.com/en-us/deployoffice/vlactivation/tools-to-manage-volume-activation-of-office
Activate Microsoft Office on your Dell Device
Note: The MSA account that is used for activation should not be on a Domain.
MS Office Activate in Windows 10 (Official Dell Tech Support)
Duration: 02:33
Closed captions: English only
Note: This video makes use of Windows 10 to walk you through the Activation process. However, the steps in this video are applicable for Office Activation on Windows 11 as well.
Getting started (Prerequisites)
Active Internet Connection
To redeem and activate Microsoft Office that is installed on your computer, you need an active Internet connection. If your computer shows connectivity issues, use the Windows Network Troubleshooter
Windows is Activated
Microsoft Windows 10 or 11 must be activated before you can redeem and activate Microsoft Office 2019, 2021, or 365.
To check the activation status in Windows 10 or 11, select the Start button.
- Select Settings icon.
- Select Update & Security, and then select Activation. This page indicates whether Windows is activated.
If Windows is not activated, click Troubleshoot and follow the prompts.
Microsoft Account
A Microsoft account is required to access and save settings for Microsoft devices and services. This makes it simple to reinstall Office without a product key. If you do not have a Microsoft Account, go to Microsoft's support site
Microsoft Office 2019, 2021 or 365 cannot activate without a valid Microsoft Account. More information about the requirement is available at Microsoft.com
Microsoft Office Product Activation and Product Life-Cycle Policies
180-Day Activation Window
Subscription-based Office 365 and M365 products must be activated within 6 Months (180 days) from the time of Windows activation. The product eligibility will otherwise expire. Contact Microsoft directly for assistance at
Microsoft.com/Support.
Microsoft Office 2016 - End of Service (EOS)
Office 2016 reached end of service (EOS) on 10-13-2020. Dell support is limited to “best effort.”
For additional info see the Microsoft Lifecycle page: Microsoft Office 2016 - Microsoft Lifecycle
Microsoft online content for Office legacy editions: Download and Install or Reinstall Office 2016 or Office 2013 - Microsoft Office
Microsoft Office Version
Did you order Microsoft Office 2019, 2021, or 365 with your computer?
If in doubt, check the order details of your computer.
Microsoft Office Version | How does it show up on my computer configuration or invoice? | Who can I contact for support? |
Microsoft Office 30 Day Trial | Microsoft Office 30 Days Trial | Microsoft Support |
Microsoft Office 2021 | Axx-xxxx Microsoft Office Home and Student 2021 Axx-xxxx Microsoft Office Home and Business 2021 Axx-xxxx Microsoft Office Professional 2021 | Activate Microsoft Office 2019 or 2021 |
Microsoft Office 2019 | Axx-xxxx Microsoft Office Home and Student 2019 Axx-xxxx Microsoft Office Home and Business 2019 Axx-xxxx Microsoft Office Professional 2019 | Activate Microsoft Office 2019 or 2021 |
Microsoft Office 2016 | Axx-xxxx Microsoft Office Home & Business 2016 DFO Axx-xxxx Microsoft Office Home & Student 2016 DFO Axx-xxxx Microsoft Office Professional 2016 DFO Microsoft Office 2016 reached end of service (EOS) on 10-13-2020. Microsoft Office End Of Support - Microsoft Tech Community | Microsoft Support |
Microsoft Office Version | How does it show up on my computer configuration or invoice? | Who can I contact for support? |
Microsoft Office 2019 | AA359054 Microsoft Office Home and Student 2019 AA359053 Microsoft Office Home and Business 2019 AA359055 Microsoft Office Professional 2019 | You can find product key and download link in your Dell Digital Locker Account. Additional information can be found in the Dell Digital Locker Guide. |
If you purchased Microsoft Office through a retailer, contact your retailer for support.
Activate Microsoft Office 2019 or 2021
You received the computer and want to activate Microsoft Office 2019 or 2021 for the first time.
With all prerequisites in place, it is time to activate Office.
From the Windows desktop:
- Click the Start button, and bring up the Windows start menu.
- Click the
Microsoft Word tile (Figure 1).
Figure 1
The Office application presents the “You’ve got Office” screen. The version of Office that is purchased with the computer will be displayed here.
Office takes a few moments to update features and validate the license. Allow Office to finish this step (the
duration varies depending on Internet connection speed and number of updates available for download) (Figure 6 - 9).
Figure 6
Figure 7
Figure 8
Figure 9
Microsoft Office 2019 or 2021 is now activated and ready to use (Figure
10).
Figure 10
Activate Microsoft Office 365
You received the device and want to activate Microsoft Office 365 for the first time.
With all prerequisites in place, it is time to activate Office.
From the Windows desktop:
- Click the Start button, and bring up the Windows start menu.
- Click the Microsoft Word tile (Figure 11).
Figure 11
The Office application presents the “You’ve got Office” screen. The version of Office that is purchased with the computer will be displayed here.
Office takes a few moments to update features and validate the license. Allow Office to finish this
step (the duration varies depending on Internet connection speed and number of updates available for download) (Figure 16 - 19).
Figure 16
Figure 17
Figure 18
Figure 19
Microsoft Office 365 is now activated and ready to use (Figure
20).
Figure 20
Activate Microsoft Office 2019, 2021, or 365 After a Windows Reinstall or Hard Drive Replacement
Note: The MSA account that is used for activation should not be on a Domain.
From the Windows desktop:
- Click the Start button, and bring up the Windows start menu.
- Click the Microsoft Word tile (Figure 21).
Figure 21
Click File -> Account (Figure 22 and 23).
- Click "Sign in."
- Enter the Microsoft Account credentials.
Figure 22
Figure 23
Microsoft Office 2019, 2021, or 365 is now activated (Figure
24).
Figure 24
Troubleshooting
Note: These steps apply to 2019, 2021, and 365.
Missing Office apps (missing on a new device, or after reinstalling Windows)
If you cannot locate Office apps like Word, and Excel open a web browser.
Browse to: Account.Microsoft.com/Services
Sign on with your Microsoft Account.
Select Services & Subscriptions.
Select View Product Key and
Install (Figure 25).
Figure 25
The number of applications that are included with the Microsoft Office suite depends on the edition you purchased with the computer. You can find the list of applications that are included at Compare All Microsoft Office Products
Select Install next to the Office version you purchased with the computer (Figure
26).
Figure 26
Select a Different Microsoft Account
If you like to use a different Microsoft Account, Click on "use different account."
A new screen appears that allows you to enter sign information for an existing account (Figure 27):
- Type MSA Email address.
- Password.
- Click "Sign In."
Figure 27
- Next to the "No account" prompt, select "Create one!"
- Fill out the form with your information, and create a password.
- Select "Next."
If these steps do not resolve the issue, go to the "Contact Microsoft if the issue persists" section.
Contact Microsoft if the Issue Persists
Note: If the steps in the Troubleshooting section do not resolve the issue, use the following steps.
Still have Problems?
If you still cannot download, install or activate Microsoft Office, contact Microsoft directly.
Click the link (Support.Microsoft.com
Then select the "Contact Support link."
Answer the questions below.
"I'm Microsoft's Virtual Agent. I'd love to help you. You can also ask to talk to a person at any time. Please briefly describe your issue below." | I cannot activate Office. |
Did this solve your problem? | No |
Choose from the contact options presented. The options may vary, depending on availability (Figure 28).
Figure 28
If you purchased the computer directly from Dell, you can obtain a copy of the bill with the following steps. If you bought the computer from a third party (for example retailer),
contact the retailer for a copy of the invoice.
This should bring up a printable (.pdf) invoice.
Microsoft Office Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Microsoft Account Requirements
Can I activate a Microsoft Office 2019, 2021, or 365 license without
a Microsoft Account (MSA)?
No. Microsoft requires a Microsoft Account (MSA) and an active Internet connection for successful activation.
I have more than 25 new computers with Microsoft Office 2019, 2021, or 365 preinstalled. How can I track the licenses without creating multiple Microsoft Accounts (MSAs)?
Microsoft Accounts can only register up to 25 licenses per
account
Dell recommends
creating one MSA per computer. This simplifies the license tracking.
- Browse to Account.Microsoft.com/Account.
- Click “Create a Microsoft account.”
- Click “Get a new email address” on the Create account page.
- Use the Service Tag of your Dell computer as the email alias, example:
- Click "Next" and follow the remaining steps.
- Best
Practice Tip:
Use a secure password that is known to your IT or Network Administrators. This simplifies the account recovery process if necessary.
I lost or cannot remember my Microsoft Account (MSA) credentials.
If you cannot access your Microsoft Account, follow the steps in: Help with the
Microsoft Account Recovery Form
Note: The process is fully automated. Dell cannot assist with MSA recovery or licensing transfer to another Microsoft Account.
Contact Microsoft directly at Contact Us - Microsoft Support
Commercial or Enterprise Deployment
Note: Office OEM licensing does not include a traditional 5x5 Product key and does not include reimaging rights. It is critical for IT organizations to accommodate their deployment to stay within compliance and achieve a seamless activation experience for their end users.
My organization limits access to public Internet. Can I activate Office OEM licensing?
No. Office and Windows OEM licensing require that the client computer can reach public Microsoft endpoints to register and activate the product successfully. See Office 365 URLs and IP Address Ranges
If the Office license cannot successfully
activate, Office stays in trial mode for 30 days from the time the user launched any of the Office applications for the first time. The end user sees multiple notifications prior to the expiration date. Most features will be disabled after the trial period ends.
Dell recommends using Volume Licensing with Office Pro Plus
I ordered multiple computers with Microsoft Office 2019, 2021, or 365 preinstalled. Can I activate the all licenses at once?
No. Each computer must be activated individually. The activation must occur on the computer the license was
purchased for.
Can I use or manage the Office product key in a Microsoft Key Management Server (KMS)?
No. Office OEM licensing does not include a traditional 5x5 product key and does not support reimaging rights. The license must be managed through the associated Microsoft Account (MSA).
Where is my 5x5 Product Key?
Office OEM licensing does not include a traditional 5x5 product key. The license is generated by Microsoft
servers when Office is activated for the first time on the computer it was purchased with. Dell has no access to the license or product key and cannot provide 5x5 keys.
Can Dell provide a list of all Microsoft Office 2019, 2021, or 365 license keys that I ordered?
No. Office OEM licensing does not include a traditional 5x5 product key. The product license is generated by Microsoft servers when Office is activated for the first time on the device it was
purchased with. Dell has no access to the license or product key.
Operating System (OS) Reinstall and Re-Imaging
My organization purchased computers with Microsoft Office factory installed. Can I reimage the device with my company’s image and still activate Office OEM version?
No. Microsoft does not allow reimaging rights on OEM installed versions of Office. Only
Office Pro Plus
If you purchased Office with OEM Licensing, you must activate Office with the Dell factory image before reimaging the computer. This step associates the factory enabled
Office license to the Microsoft Account (MSA).
After this step, proceed to reimage.
After the reimaging is completed follow the steps under Activate Microsoft Office 2019 or 2021 and use the same Microsoft Account (MSA) that was used for the activation. The Office application detects the correct license in the MSA and automatically reactivate.
My organization maintains custom images with Office preinstalled. Can I use the OEM
license to activate Office after reimaging with my image?
No. Office OEM licensing requires that the license is activated on the computer before the computer is reimaged.
Microsoft only grants reimaging rights to Office Pro Plus licenses (Volume License). All other Office editions (for example Home and Student, and Home and Business) will fail the product activation after the computer was reimaged.
Can I view my product key
online?
See the Microsoft article on viewing your product key online
System Drive Replacement and System Exchange
I received a replacement drive or a replacement system. How can I get Office back on?
- Sign into your Microsoft Account (MSA): Account.Microsoft.com/Account
- Click "Services and subscription" and scroll down to "Products you've purchased" (Figure
35).
Figure 35
- Click "Copy Key" and then click "Install" (the Office installer will download and reinstall Office on your computer).
- After the installation finishes, open Microsoft Word.
- You are prompted to sign into your Microsoft Account (Figure 36). Use the
same MSA.
Figure 36
- If Office cannot detect the associated license, you are prompted with the screen below (Figure 37).
Figure 37
- Paste the license key into the field on the bottom.
Office Version
I purchased Office 2019 or 2021, but the app splash screen shows "Office 365" (Figure 38) - did I receive the wrong version?
No, you did receive the correct version. Microsoft Office will update the version
after you successfully (re)activated the license (Figure
39).
Figure 38: Before activating Office
Figure 39: After activating Office
You can verify the Office version by:
- Opening an Office app (for example Word or Excel).
- Click "File."
- Click (Office) Account (Figure 40).
Figure 40: Office activation status