How to Reinstall Office 2013 Without a Product Key or Microsoft Account
Question details
The user wants to reinstall Microsoft Office 2013 but lacks the original 25-character product key and access to the associated Microsoft account.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2013
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Attempting to reinstall or recover Office 2013 after an accidental uninstallation or system crash without the necessary license credentials.
- Observed behavior
- The standard installation fails or cannot be initiated because the setup wizard strictly requires a valid product key or a linked Microsoft account, and third-party key finders fail to retrieve the full license.
Check your email archives for digital purchase receipts from Microsoft or authorized retailers, and thoroughly search for any physical retail packaging if you purchased a boxed copy of Office 2013.
Use Windows System Restore
Roll back your computer's state to a previous point in time before Microsoft Office 2013 was uninstalled.
If Office 2013 was recently removed or corrupted, a Windows System Restore might bring the installed application back along with its previously activated state. This circumvents the need to manually enter the product key.
Note that any apps, drivers, or updates installed after the restore point was created will be removed. Your personal files will not be affected.
Click the Windows Start button, type 'Control Panel' and press Enter. Change the view to Large Icons, then click on 'Recovery'.
Click on 'Open System Restore' to launch the wizard. Click 'Next' to proceed.
Check the list of available restore points. Select a date and time from before Office 2013 was uninstalled or stopped working.
Click 'Next' and then 'Finish'. Windows will restart and apply the changes. Once rebooted, check if Office 2013 is accessible.
Locate Original License Information
Find the original 25-character product key or the Microsoft account used during the initial purchase.
Switch to WPS Office to Avoid Product Key Hassles
Since recovering an older Office 2013 key is often impossible and Microsoft no longer supports it, migrating to WPS Office is the smartest solution. It is a completely free, highly compatible Office suite that requires no complicated licensing or product keys to view, edit, and create documents.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button for your operating system.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded installer and follow the quick setup wizard to install the software on your computer.
- 3. Open Your Files instantly: Once installed, you can immediately open, edit, and save all your existing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files without entering any product key.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use a product key finder software to recover my Office 2013 key?
Generally, no. Due to the way Microsoft encrypted licenses starting with Office 2013, product key finder tools can typically only uncover the last five characters of the key. This is useful for identifying which key was used if you have a list of keys, but it is not sufficient to reinstall the software.
Is it possible to download a free trial of Office 2013?
No, Microsoft no longer provides free trials or official download links for Office 2013 since the product has reached the end of its lifecycle. Be highly cautious of third-party websites offering Office 2013 downloads, as they often contain malware.
What happens if I reinstall Windows entirely?
If you perform a clean installation of Windows, any existing System Restore points will be erased. You will absolutely need your original 25-character product key or the associated Microsoft account to reinstall and activate Office 2013.
Can I use an Office 2013 product key on multiple computers?
Typically, retail licenses of Office 2013 are strictly tied to one computer at a time. If your motherboard died or you bought a new PC, you usually must uninstall it from the old PC (or prove it is no longer in use) before the activation servers will accept the key on a new device.
