'%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)
How to Activate Microsoft 365 Family for Another Windows User
Question details
A second user sharing a Windows computer is prompted to activate Microsoft 365, despite being part of the family group.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 Family
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Two family members are sharing a single Windows computer using separate Windows user profiles, and the second user is unable to access Microsoft Office apps without an activation prompt.
- Observed behavior
- The first user can use Office normally, but when the second user opens Office applications on their Windows profile, they are asked to activate Microsoft 365 even though they are listed as a family member.
Ensure you have the login credentials for the primary Microsoft account that owns the Microsoft 365 Family subscription, and that the second user has their own distinct Microsoft account ready.
Share and Accept the Microsoft 365 Subscription Link
The subscription owner must manually share the subscription with the second user via the Microsoft Services page, and the second user must accept it on their own profile.
Microsoft 365 requires each Windows user profile to authenticate with a licensed Microsoft account. Simply being listed as a family member does not automatically activate Office on a separate Windows user account. You must explicitly share the subscription link.
Open a web browser and sign in to the Microsoft account 'Services & subscriptions' page using the primary owner's account credentials.
Locate your Microsoft 365 Family subscription in the list of services and click on the 'Manage' button.
Click on 'Share subscription'. Choose to either send an email invitation to the second user's Microsoft account or create a sharing link to copy and paste.
Log out of the primary owner's Windows profile and log into the Windows profile of the second user on the shared computer.
Open the invitation email or paste the shared link into a web browser. Sign in using the second user's Microsoft account and click 'Accept' to link the shared subscription to their account.
Open any installed Microsoft Office application, such as Word or Excel, and sign in with the second user's Microsoft account to complete the activation.
Remove Preinstalled Microsoft 365 Trials
Uninstall any pre-existing trial versions of Microsoft 365 on the second user's profile that might be overriding the shared family subscription.
Try WPS Office: A Free, Hassle-Free Alternative for Shared PCs
If managing Microsoft 365 subscription sharing across multiple Windows profiles is becoming too complicated, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a robust, highly compatible office suite without the strict per-user activation requirements.
- 1. Visit the official website: Go to the official WPS Office website on your shared Windows computer.
- 2. Download the installer: Click the 'Free Download' button to get the Windows installation file.
- 3. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded installer. A single installation makes the software accessible to all user profiles on the PC.
- 4. Start working instantly: Open WPS Office from any Windows user account to create and edit documents immediately, with no complex activation loops.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Microsoft 365 ask for activation on a computer where it is already installed?
Microsoft 365 licenses are tied to individual Microsoft accounts, not just the physical device. When a second user logs into their distinct Windows profile, the Office apps check for a license linked to their specific Microsoft account. They must be explicitly granted a shared license to activate it.
How many people can share a Microsoft 365 Family subscription?
The primary account owner can share their Microsoft 365 Family subscription with up to five other people. This allows a total of six individuals to enjoy full Office apps and 1 TB of OneDrive cloud storage each.
Does the second user need to download and install Office again?
No. If the primary user has already downloaded and installed the Microsoft 365 desktop apps on the shared Windows PC, the second user only needs to accept the sharing invitation online and then sign into the existing apps on their Windows profile.
What should I do if the sharing invitation link expires?
If the invitation link expires before the family member accepts it, the primary subscription owner must log back into their Microsoft account 'Services & subscriptions' page, navigate to 'Manage', and generate a new sharing link or send a new email invitation.
