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Transfer Office Home and Business 2019 Without Product Key
Question details
The user needs to transfer Microsoft Office Home and Business 2019 to a new computer but has lost the original 25-character product key and only has the purchase invoice serial number.
- Product
- Microsoft Office Home and Business 2019
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Transferring an existing Office 2019 installation and license to a new device.
- Observed behavior
- The user wants to successfully reinstall and activate Office 2019 on a new PC without possessing the physical product key.
Ensure you have the login credentials for the Microsoft account originally used to redeem your Office 2019 license. Make sure your old computer is connected to the internet before uninstalling the software to properly register the license removal.
Reinstall Office 2019 via Your Microsoft Account
If you have already redeemed your Office 2019 product key, it is digitally linked to your Microsoft account, allowing you to reinstall it on a new computer without needing the physical key.
Microsoft Office 2019 licenses are strictly tied to the Microsoft account used during the initial setup. Because of this digital entitlement, the original 25-character product key is generally no longer required after the first activation.
On your old computer, open the Control Panel, navigate to 'Programs and Features', locate Microsoft Office Home and Business 2019, and click 'Uninstall'. This step is required to comply with the 1-PC license agreement.
On your new computer, open a web browser and go to the Microsoft account dashboard (account.microsoft.com). Log in using the exact account associated with your Office 2019 purchase.
Click on the 'Services & subscriptions' tab at the top of the page. Scroll down to the 'Products you've purchased' section to locate your Office Home and Business 2019 license.
Click the 'Install' button next to your Office 2019 product. Follow the on-screen prompts to download the setup file, run the installer, and complete the setup on your new device.
Switch to WPS Office for a Hassle-Free Experience
Avoid the stress of lost product keys, complicated license transfers, and rigid single-PC restrictions by switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, comprehensive, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office.
- 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 setup file and follow the quick installation wizard to complete the process in minutes.
- 3. Open Your Existing Files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your old Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files with perfect formatting preservation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use the serial number on my purchase invoice to activate Office 2019?
No, the serial number printed on a retail invoice or receipt is only for store inventory and billing purposes. It cannot be entered into the Microsoft activation wizard. You must use the Microsoft account linked to your digital license.
What should I do if I forgot which Microsoft account is linked to my Office 2019?
Try signing in with all your personal email addresses at the Microsoft account dashboard. Check each account's 'Services & subscriptions' page. If you still cannot locate the license, you will need to contact Microsoft Support for account recovery assistance.
Do I absolutely have to uninstall Office 2019 from my old computer first?
Yes, Office Home and Business 2019 is a single-PC license. You must uninstall it from the old device to free up the activation slot. If you fail to do so, Microsoft's activation servers may block the activation on the new computer, prompting a 'maximum activations reached' error.
