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How to Move Microsoft Office Home and Business License to Another Device
Question details
The user needs to transfer a Microsoft Office Home and Business license to a different computer after mistakenly assigning two licenses to a single device.
- Product
- Microsoft Office Home and Business
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Transferring a software license to a new computer when multiple licenses are tied to one device.
- Observed behavior
- The user cannot assign one of the purchased licenses to the new computer because both licenses are already assigned to the original device.
Ensure you have the login credentials for the Microsoft account associated with your Office Home and Business purchase.
Transfer the License via Microsoft Account Services
Use your Microsoft account portal to locate the available license and install Office directly on your new device.
Office Home and Business licenses are tied to your Microsoft account rather than the physical hardware. You can manage your installations directly from the services and subscriptions page.
Open a web browser on the new device and go to account.microsoft.com/services. Sign in with the account you used to purchase or register Office.
Scroll through your purchased products to find the specific Office Home and Business license you want to transfer.
Click the 'Install' button next to the license to download the setup file. Run the downloaded file and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.
Contact Microsoft Support for Device Limit Errors
If you encounter an activation error stating the device limit has been reached, Microsoft Support must manually verify and release the license.
Switch to WPS Office to Avoid Complex License Transfers
Tired of dealing with strict device limits and complex license transfers? WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative that lets you work seamlessly across multiple devices without licensing headaches.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded file and follow the simple on-screen instructions to install the suite.
- 3. Sign In and Sync: Sign in with your email or social account to easily access your files across all your devices.
- 4. Open Your Files: Double-click any existing Microsoft Office file to open it directly in WPS Office with formatting perfectly preserved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I just uninstall Office to transfer the license to a new computer?
No. Simply uninstalling Office from the original computer removes the software, but it does not remove the license assignment from your Microsoft account. You must install it on the new device from your account portal, and you may still need to contact support to fully release the previous activation.
How many devices can I install Office Home and Business on?
Office Home and Business is a perpetual, one-time purchase license that can only be installed and activated on one computer at a time.
What happens if I assigned two licenses to one computer by mistake?
Both licenses remain tied to your Microsoft account. To fix this, you will need to install Office on the second computer using the same account and activate it. If the automated system blocks the activation, contact Microsoft Support to untangle the assignments and release one license for the new PC.
