Remove an Office 2016 Product Key and Activate Microsoft 365
Question details
User needs to remove an installed Office 2016 product key because Microsoft 365 repeatedly activates with the old Office 2016 license.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2016 and Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- The user installed Microsoft 365, but activation keeps using an existing Office 2016 license instead of the Microsoft 365 subscription account.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft 365 activates with an old Office 2016 license, and Office does not switch to the Microsoft 365 account until the old product key is removed.
Close all Office applications and sign in to Windows with an administrator account. Keep your Microsoft 365 sign-in email and password available for reactivation.
Remove the Office 2016 product key with Command Prompt
Use this method when Microsoft 365 repeatedly activates with an existing Office 2016 license and you need to clear the old key before signing in.
The Office Software Protection Platform script, ospp.vbs, displays installed Office licenses and can remove the old Office 2016 product key. After removal, restart the computer and sign in to Microsoft 365 to activate the correct license.
Right-click the Start button, select Command Prompt (Admin) or Windows PowerShell (Admin), and confirm the User Account Control prompt.
Type cd C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16 and press Enter. For 32-bit Office on 64-bit Windows, use cd C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16 instead.
Run cscript ospp.vbs /dstatus and note the last five characters of the installed Office 2016 product key.
Run cscript ospp.vbs /unpkey:XXXXX, replacing XXXXX with the five characters shown in the dstatus output.
Restart the computer, open an Office app, and sign in with the Microsoft 365 account to activate Office.
Switch to WPS Office When Microsoft 365 Keeps Activating with an Office 2016 License
If Office 2016 product key conflicts or Microsoft 365 activation issues interrupt your work, WPS Office is a free, lightweight alternative that opens Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files with a familiar interface and no product key cleanup.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Go to the official WPS Office website and click Download WPS Office Free, then run the installer.
- 2. Open existing Office files: Launch WPS Office and open your .docx, .xlsx, or .pptx files directly from the Home tab or File > Open.
- 3. Work without activation conflicts: Use the Writer, Spreadsheet, or Presentation tabs to edit, save, and export documents without removing an Office product key.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Microsoft 365 keep activating with my old Office 2016 license?
A previously installed Office 2016 product key remains registered in Windows. Display it by running cscript ospp.vbs /dstatus in the Office16 folder, then remove it with /unpkey.
What command removes an Office 2016 product key?
Open Command Prompt as administrator, go to C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16 or C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16, run cscript ospp.vbs /dstatus, then run cscript ospp.vbs /unpkey:XXXXX using the five displayed characters.
Do I need to restart after removing the Office 2016 product key?
Yes, restart the computer after running the /unpkey command. Then open an Office app and sign in with the Microsoft 365 account to activate the correct license.
Can WPS Office replace Microsoft 365 if activation continues to fail?
Yes, WPS Office is free and opens .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx files with a similar ribbon interface, so you can continue working while you resolve Microsoft activation issues.
