License & Subscription Issues

Can Office Professional Plus 2016 Be Transferred to Another Account?

Rana Garcia Oct 1, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to know if an existing Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2016 license can be moved or transferred to a different Microsoft account.

Can Office Professional Plus 2016 Be Transferred to Another Account?

Product: Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2016
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to migrate a one-time purchase software license from one Microsoft account to another.
Observed behavior: Office Professional Plus 2016 is permanently bound to the original Microsoft account or volume licensing agreement and cannot be natively transferred between personal accounts.

Before you start

Verify your exact Office version and determine whether it was purchased as a personal retail copy or obtained through a company or school volume licensing agreement.

Solution 1Recommended

Understanding Office 2016 License Limitations and Workarounds

Since Office Professional Plus 2016 is a one-time purchase, Microsoft restricts moving the license between accounts. This solution clarifies your available options based on how the software was acquired.

Microsoft binds one-time purchase licenses directly to the account used during the initial setup. Unlike subscription services, there is no official mechanism to unbind the product key and move it to a new personal Microsoft account.

However, depending on your license type (Retail vs. Volume Licensing), you may have different avenues to regain access to your Office software.

Identify your license type

Log in to your current Microsoft account and navigate to the 'Services & subscriptions' page. Check if Office Professional Plus 2016 is listed under your purchased products.

Handle Volume Licensing (Work or School)

If you do not see the product listed, it is likely a Volume License provided by your organization. You must contact your company's IT or Licensing Administrator, as only they can reassign licenses to a different organizational account.

Continue using the original account

For personal retail licenses, you cannot transfer the ownership. To continue using Office 2016 on a new PC, you must log in using the original Microsoft account that holds the license.

Understanding Office 2016 License Limitations and Workarounds

Microsoft 365 Subscriptions: If you were using Microsoft 365 Family or Personal instead of Office 2016, you could effectively 'transfer' it by turning off recurring billing on the old account and starting a new subscription on the new account.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office to Avoid Licensing Headaches

If you are unable to transfer your Office 2016 license and need a reliable, fully-featured productivity suite for a new account or device, WPS Office provides a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative without restrictive licensing lock-ins.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
2. Create a New Account: Sign in using any email address, Google account, or other supported third-party logins to activate your workspace.
3. Open Your Existing Files: Drag and drop your previous Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files directly into WPS Office to continue your work without losing any formatting.

Seamlessly compatible with Microsoft Office formats like .docx, .xlsx, and .pptxFree to use with a familiar, easy-to-learn interface that requires no retrainingOne unified account syncs your documents seamlessly across Windows, Mac, iOS, and AndroidNo complicated volume licensing or restrictive one-time purchase account binding

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use my Office 2016 product key on a new computer?

Yes, you can install Office 2016 on a new computer, but you must first uninstall it from the old device. You still need to sign in using the original Microsoft account tied to the license; you cannot transfer it to a new account.

What is a Volume License in Office Professional Plus?

A Volume License is an agreement used by businesses and educational institutions to deploy Office across multiple computers. These licenses are managed by an IT administrator, meaning individual users cannot transfer them between personal accounts.

Can I transfer a Microsoft 365 subscription to a different account?

While you cannot directly transfer a Microsoft 365 subscription, you can achieve a similar result by turning off recurring billing on the current account, waiting for the subscription to expire, and purchasing a new subscription under the new Microsoft account.

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