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Do You Need to Buy Microsoft 365 Again for a New Mac?
Question details
The user needs to know whether purchasing a new Microsoft 365 or Office Home & Student license is required when switching to a new Mac computer.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 / Office
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Moving existing Microsoft Office installations and licenses to a newly purchased Mac.
- Observed behavior
- Unsure about the transferability of the existing Microsoft Office license or if a repurchasing process is triggered on a new device.
Before transferring your license, ensure you know the exact Microsoft account credentials associated with your current Microsoft 365 subscription or Office one-time purchase.
Using an Existing Microsoft 365 Subscription on a New Mac
Microsoft 365 is a subscription service linked to your account, allowing multiple installations without needing to repurchase.
If you have an active Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription, you do not need to buy it again. Microsoft 365 allows you to install the Office apps on multiple devices and be signed in on up to five devices simultaneously.
Open a web browser on your new Mac, go to the Microsoft account dashboard, and sign in with the account tied to your Microsoft 365 subscription.
Navigate to the Services & subscriptions section, locate your Microsoft 365 subscription, and click the Install button to download the installer package for Mac.
Run the downloaded .pkg file on your new Mac, follow the on-screen installation prompts, and sign in to any Office app (like Word) to activate the suite.
Transferring an Office Home & Student License
Office Home & Student is a one-time purchase licensed for a single device, meaning you must deactivate it on the old Mac first.
Try WPS Office as a Free Alternative for Your New Mac
If you want to avoid the hassle of transferring software licenses or don't want to pay for another expensive subscription for your new Mac, WPS Office is an exceptional, lightweight, and completely free alternative. It provides a highly familiar interface, meaning you won't need to learn new software.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Office Home & Student include Microsoft Outlook for Mac?
No, Office Home & Student is a one-time purchase that strictly includes Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. It does not include Outlook or the 1 TB of cloud storage offered by Microsoft 365.
Can I keep Microsoft 365 active on both my old and new Mac?
Yes, if you are using a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription, you can install the applications on multiple computers and remain signed in on up to five devices simultaneously without deactivating.
Why is my one-time Office purchase failing to activate on my new Mac?
Activation usually fails if the software detects the license is still actively paired with your old Mac's hardware. You need to fully uninstall Office from the old Mac first. If it still fails, use the phone activation method provided in the Microsoft Activation Wizard to complete the hardware transition.
