'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Can You Transfer a Microsoft Office Product Key to a New Computer?
Question details
The user wants to know if and how they can transfer a one-time purchase Microsoft Office license to a different computer.
- Product
- Microsoft Office
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Upgrading to a new PC or replacing a broken device and needing to move an existing Office license.
- Observed behavior
- Needing to understand the transfer limitations and the procedure to successfully migrate an Office one-time purchase license to a new machine.
Ensure you have access to the Microsoft account used to originally redeem your Office purchase, as the license is permanently linked to this account rather than a standalone product key.
Transfer a Retail Office License to a New Computer
Follow these steps to safely move your one-time purchase Office license to a new PC or Mac.
Retail versions of Office 2016, 2019, and 2021 can generally be transferred to another computer that you own. However, this is restricted to no more than once every 90 days, except in the case of a hardware failure on the original device.
On your old device, open the Control Panel, navigate to Programs and Features, select your Microsoft Office installation, and click Uninstall. Ensure you do not retain any installed copies on the old machine.
On your new computer, open a web browser and navigate to the Microsoft account dashboard. Log in using the exact credentials you used when you first redeemed your Office product key.
Click on the 'Services & subscriptions' tab at the top of the account dashboard to view all products linked to your Microsoft account.
Locate your Office version in the list and click the 'Install' button. Follow the on-screen prompts to download and set up Office. The software will automatically activate based on your account login.
Try WPS Office for a Hassle-Free Experience
Avoid strict 90-day transfer limits and complex licensing rules. WPS Office is a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office that lets you view, edit, and create documents effortlessly across all your devices.
- 1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installer for your operating system.
- 2. Install and launch: Run the lightweight installer and open WPS Office without worrying about complex product key activations.
- 3. Open your files: Directly open your existing Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files with full format compatibility.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer an OEM (pre-installed) version of Office to a new computer?
No. Office versions that came pre-installed on your computer (OEM licenses) are legally tied to the original hardware and cannot be transferred to a new computer.
What should I do if my old computer is broken and I cannot uninstall Office?
If your old computer has suffered a hardware failure, you can still install Office on your new PC directly from your Microsoft account. If online activation fails due to the system detecting a previous installation, you will need to contact Microsoft Support by phone to explain the hardware failure and request a manual activation.
Can I share my one-time purchase of Office with a family member on a different computer?
No, a one-time purchase such as Office Home & Student is licensed for one user on one device at a time. If you wish to share Office with multiple people simultaneously on different devices, you would need to upgrade to a Microsoft 365 Family subscription.
