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How to Recover Pre-installed Office 2021 License After Reinstalling Windows
Question details
The user needs to recover and activate a pre-installed Microsoft Office 2021 license after reinstalling the Windows operating system.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2021
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Reinstalling Windows or performing a factory reset on a laptop.
- Observed behavior
- Microsoft 365 is installed but remains inactive, and the original Office 2021 entitlement does not appear automatically.
Ensure you have the login credentials for the Microsoft account that was originally used to set up the laptop and activate Office for the first time.
Download Office 2021 from Microsoft Account Services
If your Office 2021 license was linked to your Microsoft account during the initial setup, you can reinstall it directly from the Microsoft services page.
Most modern laptops tie the included digital license to the first Microsoft account used to sign in to Windows or Office.
Open a web browser and navigate to https://account.microsoft.com/services.
Log in using the exact Microsoft account credentials you used when you first activated the laptop and Office 2021.
Scroll through your list of services and subscriptions to find your Office 2021 entitlement.
Click on the 'Install' button next to your Office 2021 product to download the setup file, then run it to install and activate.
Contact Your Laptop Manufacturer for License Recovery
If your Office 2021 license was never registered to a personal Microsoft account, the license might be tied to the device hardware or require a specific manufacturer recovery tool.
Try WPS Office: A Free and Seamless Alternative to Microsoft Office
If you are unable to recover your Office 2021 license or prefer not to purchase a new subscription, WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative. Enjoy all the essential office tools with a familiar interface that makes migration effortless.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and click 'Download WPS Office Free'.
- 2. Run the Installer: Open the downloaded file and follow the on-screen instructions to install the software.
- 3. Start Creating: Launch WPS Office and instantly open your existing Microsoft Office documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is my Office 2021 license not showing up after I reinstalled Windows?
This typically happens if you haven't signed into the correct Microsoft account that the digital license was originally linked to. Ensure you are using the exact email address used during your laptop's initial setup.
Can a Microsoft support forum give me a new Office 2021 product key?
No, public user-to-user support forums do not have access to your account details and cannot issue replacement license files or product keys.
How do I know if Office 2021 was actually included with my laptop?
Check your original purchase receipt, invoice, or the physical box your laptop came in. It should specifically list 'Microsoft Office Home & Student 2021' or a similar perpetual license, rather than a standard 30-day trial of Microsoft 365.
