Password & Account Recovery

How to Recover Microsoft Office After Resetting Windows

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to reinstall and reactivate Microsoft Office 2019 after downgrading from Windows 11 to Windows 10, but has lost access to the Microsoft account password required for activation.

Product: Microsoft Office 2019
Device & OS: Windows 11 / Windows 10
Scenario: Reinstalling the Office suite after a system reset or operating system downgrade.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Office was removed during the Windows reset, and the user cannot sign in to download the installer due to a forgotten Microsoft account password.

Before you start

Gather any old passwords, alternate email addresses, and phone numbers that might be associated with the Microsoft account you originally used to purchase or activate Office.

Solution 1Recommended

Use the Microsoft Account Recovery Form

Recover your lost Microsoft account to regain access to your digital Office 2019 license and reinstall the software.

Modern versions of Microsoft Office are permanently linked to your Microsoft account. To reinstall Office after a system reset, you must first recover account access so you can download your licensed installer.

Visit the recovery page

Open a web browser and go to the official Microsoft account recovery form via account.live.com/acsr.

Enter account details

Type in the email address, phone number, or Skype name of the Microsoft account associated with your Office 2019 license.

Provide a contact email

Enter a different, working email address where Microsoft support can contact you, then complete the security captcha characters.

Fill out the recovery form

Answer the security questions and provide as much historical account information as possible, such as old passwords and recent email subjects, to verify your identity.

Reinstall Office

Once Microsoft restores your account access, sign in at office.com, navigate to 'Services & subscriptions', and click 'Install' next to your Office 2019 product.

Form Review Time: Microsoft typically takes up to 24 hours to review your submitted recovery form and will send the results to the alternate contact email you provided.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office as a Free Alternative

If you are unable to recover your Microsoft account and need to get back to work immediately, WPS Office is an excellent, free alternative. It is lightweight, fully compatible with standard document formats, and easy to install on a fresh Windows system.

1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click on the Free Download button.
2. Run the setup: Open the downloaded executable file and follow the on-screen instructions to install the suite on your newly reset Windows system.
3. Start creating: Launch WPS Office to immediately open your existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files without needing an activation key.

Completely free to use without requiring complex account recoveryFully compatible with Microsoft Office formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx)Lightweight installer ideal for freshly reset or downgraded PCsFamiliar tabbed interface requiring zero learning curve

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Microsoft Office uninstalled when I downgraded Windows?

When you reset or downgrade your Windows operating system, the process typically wipes third-party applications to ensure a clean system state. You must manually reinstall software like Microsoft Office afterward.

Can I use my Office 2019 product key instead of signing in?

No. Once an Office 2019 product key is redeemed, the license is permanently bound to the Microsoft account used during activation. You must recover and sign in with that specific account to reinstall the software.

What happens if my Microsoft account recovery request is denied?

If your request is denied, you can submit the form again with additional or more accurate information. You can attempt the recovery form up to two times per day.

Will my old Word and Excel files be deleted?

If you chose to keep your personal files during the Windows downgrade, your local documents should remain intact. Documents saved to OneDrive will also be safe and accessible once you regain access to your Microsoft account.

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