License & Subscription Issues

How to Use Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Project with Separate Licenses

Phi Hung Vo Oct 8, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to configure and use Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Project simultaneously when the products are tied to separate licenses or user accounts.

How to Use Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Project with Separate Licenses

Product: Microsoft 365, Microsoft Project
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Managing multiple software subscriptions tied to different accounts and ensuring both applications can be launched on the same device.
Observed behavior: Each software application must be launched and authenticated using the specific user account associated with its distinct product license.

Before you start

Ensure you have global or billing administrator privileges in the Microsoft 365 admin center and possess the login credentials for the accounts associated with each separate license.

Solution 1Recommended

Assign and Authenticate Separate Licenses in Microsoft 365 Admin Center

Allocate the separate product licenses to the correct user accounts using the admin center, and sign in to each application using its respective licensed account.

When Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Project are purchased separately, they may be linked to different user accounts or tenants. To use both on the same machine, you must assign the licenses properly and ensure that you authenticate each application with the correct credentials.

Sign in to Microsoft 365 Admin Center

Navigate to the Microsoft 365 admin center in your web browser and sign in using the administrator account associated with the Microsoft 365 Business license.

Navigate to Active Users

In the left-hand navigation pane, click on 'Users' and then select 'Active users' from the dropdown menu.

Assign the Microsoft 365 License

Select the target user account. In the flyout pane, go to the 'Licenses and apps' tab, check the Microsoft 365 business license under 'Product licenses', and click 'Save changes'.

Assign the Project License

If the Microsoft Project license is managed under a different administrator account, sign out and sign back into the admin center with that account. Locate the user profile and assign the Project license in the same 'Licenses and apps' section.

Sign in to Desktop Applications

Open a Microsoft 365 application (such as Word) and sign in with the account holding the Microsoft 365 license. Next, open Microsoft Project and sign in using the account specifically assigned the Project license.

Assign and Authenticate Separate Licenses in Microsoft 365 Admin Center

Account Switching: If you experience authentication conflicts on the same computer, you may need to manually switch accounts within the application's 'Account' or 'File' menu when opening Microsoft Project.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I merge my Microsoft 365 and Microsoft Project licenses into one account?

If the licenses were purchased under different organizational tenants or separate personal accounts, they cannot be merged directly. You must manage them separately or repurchase the licenses under a single, unified Microsoft tenant.

Why does Microsoft Project ask for activation even though I have a Microsoft 365 subscription?

Microsoft Project is not included in standard Microsoft 365 business or personal plans; it requires its own separate license. Ensure you are signed into Project using the specific account that has the Project license assigned.

How do I check which licenses are currently assigned to my Microsoft account?

You can verify your assigned licenses by logging into your Microsoft account portal, navigating to 'View account', and selecting the 'Subscriptions' or 'Apps & devices' tab to see all active products linked to your email address.

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