How to Transfer Microsoft Office 2016 to a New Laptop
Question details
The user wants to transfer a transferable Microsoft Office 2016 license to a new computer, ensure Access is included, and save files locally without requiring OneDrive.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2016
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Moving an existing perpetual Office 2016 software license to a new machine and configuring local storage.
- Observed behavior
- The user needs to locate their associated Microsoft account, uninstall the suite from the old computer, and securely install it on the new laptop.
Verify that your Office 2016 license is a retail transferable version rather than an OEM copy, and ensure you have the login credentials for the Microsoft account used during the original purchase.
Uninstall and Reinstall Office 2016 on the New Laptop
Transfer your transferable perpetual license by completely removing it from the old device and reinstalling it via your Microsoft account.
Microsoft allows the transfer of retail Office 2016 licenses to a new computer. To do this, you must first deactivate or uninstall the software from the original device to free up the license, and then download it onto your new laptop.
Open the Control Panel on your old laptop, navigate to 'Programs and Features', locate Microsoft Office 2016 in the list of installed applications, and select 'Uninstall'.
On your new laptop, open a web browser and go to account.microsoft.com/services. Sign in using the email address and password associated with your Office 2016 license.
Locate your Office 2016 purchase under the 'Services & subscriptions' section and click the 'Install' button. Run the downloaded installer file to set up Word, Excel, and Access.
To save files locally without OneDrive, open Word or Excel, navigate to File > Options > Save, and check the box that says 'Save to Computer by default'. Choose your preferred default local file location.
Recover the Microsoft Account Username
If you have forgotten which email address was used to register your Office 2016 license, you can use the Microsoft account recovery tool.
Switch to WPS Office for a Hassle-Free Desktop Experience
If you cannot recover your Microsoft account or find transferring an older Office 2016 license too complicated, WPS Office is a lightweight, fully compatible alternative that allows you to easily edit files and save them directly to your local drive by default.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
- 2. Install the application: Run the setup file and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the lightweight installation in minutes.
- 3. Open existing files locally: Launch WPS Office and instantly open your old Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files from your local hard drive with perfect formatting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Office 2016 Home and Student include Microsoft Access?
No, Microsoft Access is not included in the Home and Student edition. It is exclusively available in the Professional and Professional Plus editions of Office 2016.
Do I have to use OneDrive to save my documents in Office 2016?
No, OneDrive is completely optional. You can configure Word, Excel, and other Office applications to save files directly to your computer's local hard drive by going to File > Options > Save and checking 'Save to Computer by default'.
Can I transfer an OEM version of Office 2016 to a new laptop?
Generally, OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) versions of Office that came pre-installed on your computer are tied to that specific hardware and cannot be transferred. Only retail perpetual licenses can be moved to a new device.
What should I do if my Microsoft account recovery fails?
If the automated username recovery page fails and you cannot identify the email associated with your Office 2016 purchase, you will need to contact Microsoft Support directly with your proof of purchase and product key for further assistance.
