Activation Problems

How to Deauthorize Word for Mac and Activate on a New Computer

Rana Garcia Oct 12, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to transfer a retail Microsoft Word 2019 license from an old Mac to a new Mac.

How to Deauthorize and Transfer Word for Mac to a New Computer

Product: Microsoft Word 2019
Device & OS: Mac
Scenario: Moving a retail Microsoft Word license between Mac computers.
Observed behavior: The user wants to successfully sign out of the old device, clear previous license data, and activate the software on a newly purchased Mac.

Before you start

Ensure you have your Microsoft account credentials ready and verify that your Word 2019 purchase is listed under your account services before deauthorizing the old Mac.

Solution 1Recommended

Sign out and remove license files on the old Mac

To prevent activation conflicts and successfully deauthorize your old computer, you must completely remove the license from your previous Mac.

Simply uninstalling the Microsoft Word application will not remove the license from your Mac. You must use the designated license removal tool provided by Microsoft to ensure the authorization is cleared.

Sign out of Microsoft Word

Open Microsoft Word on your old Mac, click on 'Microsoft Word' in the top Apple menu bar, and select 'Sign Out'.

Download and run the license removal tool

Download the official Microsoft Office license removal tool from the Microsoft support website. Open the downloaded .pkg file and follow the on-screen instructions to clear all license files from the system.

Uninstall Word (Optional)

If you no longer need the application on your old Mac, you can open the Finder, go to the Applications folder, and drag Microsoft Word to the Trash.

Sign out and remove license files on the old Mac

License Successfully Removed: Once the removal tool finishes running, your old Mac is officially deauthorized and ready for the license to be transferred.

Solution 2

Verify your purchase and activate on the new Mac

Once the old Mac is completely deauthorized, you can safely install and activate Word on your new device using your Microsoft account.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Need a simpler solution? Try WPS Office for Mac

Skip the complex license transfers and activation issues. WPS Office provides a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Word that works seamlessly on your Mac without strict device limits.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the Mac version for free.
2. Install the application: Open the downloaded installer file and drag the WPS Office icon to your Applications folder.
3. Open your Word documents: Launch WPS Office and open your existing .docx files to continue working seamlessly without activation hurdles.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx) formatsFree, lightweight, and fast Mac applicationNo complex license transfer processes neededFamiliar user interface for immediate productivity

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to uninstall Word on my old Mac to transfer the license?

Uninstalling the application is optional but recommended if you are selling or giving away the Mac. However, you must explicitly sign out and run the Microsoft license removal tool to properly deauthorize the computer; simply dragging Word to the Trash does not remove the license.

Where can I check if my Word license is tied to my account?

You can verify your license by logging in to account.microsoft.com/services with your Microsoft account. Navigate to the 'Products you have purchased' section, where your retail Word 2019 license should be listed.

Will my Word documents be deleted when I remove the license?

No, your locally saved documents will remain intact and completely safe on your Mac even after you remove the Office license files or uninstall the Word application.

Installation & Activation