License & Subscription Issues

How to Transfer an Office 2016 License to Another User

Kushani Nimanthika Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to know if it is possible to transfer an existing Microsoft Office 2016 license to another person's Microsoft account.

Can an Office 2016 License Be Transferred to Another User?

Product: Microsoft Office 2016
Device & OS: Windows 11
Scenario: Attempting to move an Office 2016 license from one individual's Microsoft account to another, such as when passing a laptop to a family member.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Office 2016 licenses are permanently bound to the original Microsoft account used during the initial setup and cannot be reassigned to a different user's account.

Before you start

Ensure you have the login credentials for the Microsoft account originally used to purchase and activate Office 2016, as you will need this to manage your existing installations.

Solution 1Recommended

Moving Office 2016 to a New Computer (Same Account)

While you cannot transfer the license to a different person's Microsoft account, you can deactivate the installation on the current PC and install it on a new one using your own account.

Microsoft's licensing terms for Office 2016 do not allow a license to be transferred from one Microsoft account to another. Once a product key is linked to an account, it remains permanently tied to it.

However, if you simply want to use Office on a new computer (such as a laptop belonging to a family member), you can do so by logging in with your original Microsoft account to install and activate the software.

Log into your Microsoft Account

Go to the Microsoft Account website (account.microsoft.com) and sign in using the email and password associated with your original Office 2016 purchase.

Navigate to Services & Subscriptions

Click on 'Services & subscriptions' at the top of the page to view a list of all your registered Microsoft products and licenses.

Deactivate the old installation

Locate your Office 2016 license in the list, click on 'Installs', find the computer you want to remove it from, and select 'Deactivate install'.

Install on the new computer

On the new computer, return to the 'Services & subscriptions' page, locate your Office 2016 license, and click 'Install' to download and set up the software.

Moving Office 2016 to a New Computer (Same Account)

Account Sharing Requirements: The new user will need to remain logged into Office with your Microsoft account credentials to keep the Office 2016 applications properly activated on their device.

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1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package for your operating system.
2. Install the Software: Run the downloaded installer and follow the simple on-screen instructions to set up WPS Office on your computer.
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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I call Microsoft support to force a license transfer to another account?

No, Microsoft support generally cannot move a retail Office 2016 license to a different Microsoft account once it has been redeemed and permanently linked to the original account.

What happens if I try to use my Office 2016 product key on a different Microsoft account?

If you enter a previously used product key into a new Microsoft account, you will receive an error message stating that the product key has already been used or is currently linked to another account.

Can I sell my Office 2016 license to someone else?

Because the license is permanently bound to your personal Microsoft account, you cannot legally sell or transfer the digital license to another person. They would need access to your entire Microsoft account to use the software.

Login & Account Issues