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How to Transfer an Office 2016 License from a Failed Computer
Question details
The user wants to transfer a Microsoft Office 2016 license to a new computer because the original computer holding the license has suffered a hardware failure.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2016
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- A user needs to migrate their Office 2016 installation to a replacement device after their old computer permanently broke down, preventing a standard uninstallation.
- Observed behavior
- The user needs to activate Office on the new machine, but the license is currently linked to an inaccessible, failed computer, which often triggers an activation block.
Verify that your Office 2016 license is a retail copy (such as Home & Student or Home & Business) rather than an OEM version, and ensure you have the login credentials for the associated Microsoft account.
Install Office 2016 on the New Computer and Contact Support
Since the old computer cannot be accessed to uninstall the software, you must install Office on the new device and have Microsoft Support unlink the previous activation.
Retail versions of Office 2016 are tied to your Microsoft account and can be transferred to a new computer. Because your previous computer has failed, you cannot manually deactivate the old installation. You will need to proceed with the installation on the new PC and use the activation wizard or contact support if blocked.
Go to the Microsoft account Services & subscriptions page (account.microsoft.com/services), sign in with your account, locate your Office 2016 purchase, and click 'Install'.
Open the downloaded setup file and follow the on-screen prompts to install the Office suite on your replacement device.
Launch any Office application like Word or Excel. When prompted, sign in using the same Microsoft account associated with your Office 2016 purchase.
If the Activation Wizard states that the software is already installed on another device, follow the prompts to activate by telephone, or contact Microsoft Support via chat. Explain that the original computer suffered a hardware failure, and ask them to manually unlink the license from the old device.
Try WPS Office: A Hassle-Free Alternative to Microsoft Office
If you are struggling with restrictive license transfers, activation limits, or lost product keys, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative that handles all your documents without complex licensing rules.
- 1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installer for your operating system.
- 2. Install and launch: Run the installation file. Once installed, WPS Office can automatically open your existing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files.
- 3. Sign in to sync: Create or sign in to a WPS account to easily access and sync your documents across all your devices without restrictive device limits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transfer an OEM Office 2016 license to a new computer?
No. OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) licenses are permanently tied to the motherboard of the computer they were originally installed on and cannot be transferred to a new device.
How do I find my Office 2016 product key?
If your Office 2016 is linked to a Microsoft account, you do not need the 25-character product key to reinstall it. Simply sign in to the Microsoft account Services & subscriptions page to download and activate the software.
What if I don't remember the Microsoft account used for Office 2016?
If you have forgotten the Microsoft account credentials, you will need to contact Microsoft Support and provide your original proof of purchase or product key so they can help you recover the account.
Is there a limit to how many times I can transfer a retail Office license?
Microsoft's licensing terms generally permit transferring a retail license to another computer that belongs to you, but typically not more than once every 90 days (except in cases of hardware failure). Frequent transfers may trigger an activation block requiring you to activate via telephone.
