How to Use Microsoft 365 Subscription Included with a New Laptop
Question details
The user needs to know whether a one-year Microsoft 365 or Office subscription included with a new laptop can be combined with or used after an existing subscription that still has six months remaining on a damaged computer.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 or Office subscription
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- The user has a new laptop with an included one-year Microsoft 365 or Office subscription, and also has an existing subscription with six months remaining tied to a damaged computer.
- Observed behavior
- The user wants to redeem or schedule the subscriptions so the new one-year plan and the remaining six months are not lost.
Before you redeem, sign in to the Microsoft account that already has the existing subscription and keep the product key from the new laptop ready. Check the current subscription status and billing at account.microsoft.com/services.
Redeem the included subscription on the same Microsoft account
Use this if the new laptop includes a Microsoft 365 or Office product key and you want the included year to extend the subscription that still has six months remaining.
Microsoft 365 subscriptions are tied to a Microsoft account. Redeeming the included product key with the same account may extend the current subscription instead of creating a separate one, but subscriptions on different accounts cannot be merged.
Go to https://account.microsoft.com/services/ and sign in with the Microsoft account that already has six months remaining.
Find the Microsoft 365 or Office product key that came with the new laptop and select the option to redeem or enter a product key in the same account.
Follow the on-screen prompts to apply the key, then check the subscription expiration date to confirm the included year was added to the current plan.
Redeem the included subscription separately and stop recurring billing on the old plan
Use this when the included subscription is linked to a different Microsoft account, or when you want to keep the two subscriptions separate and use them one after the other.
Use WPS Office as a Free Microsoft 365 Alternative Without Subscription Management
WPS Office is a free, lightweight Office suite with familiar Writer, Spreadsheet, and Presentation tools. It supports Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats, offers a familiar ribbon-style interface, and makes it easy to move from Microsoft Office to a free alternative without managing Microsoft 365 subscriptions or product keys.
- 1. Download WPS Office Free: Click Download WPS Office Free and install WPS Office on your new laptop.
- 2. Open your existing Office files: Launch WPS Office and open Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files from the new laptop or cloud storage.
- 3. Use familiar Office tools: Choose Writer, Spreadsheet, or Presentation to create, edit, and save documents without managing a Microsoft 365 subscription.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I combine the one-year Microsoft 365 subscription from my new laptop with my current six-month subscription?
You can only extend the current subscription if you redeem the included product key with the same Microsoft account. If you use a different Microsoft account, the two subscriptions cannot be merged.
Where do I redeem the Microsoft 365 or Office product key from a new laptop?
Sign in at https://account.microsoft.com/services/ and use the redeem or enter product key option. The subscription is linked to whichever Microsoft account you use during redemption.
What should I do if my new laptop subscription is tied to a different Microsoft account?
Redeem the included subscription with that account, and then turn off recurring billing on the existing subscription at https://account.microsoft.com/services/ so it does not renew after the remaining six months.
Will I lose the six months remaining on the old computer's Microsoft 365 subscription?
No, the remaining time stays active on its Microsoft account until the expiration date. You can use it on another device or let it expire, then switch to the new subscription.
Does WPS Office manage or extend Microsoft 365 subscriptions?
No, WPS Office does not manage Microsoft 365 subscription keys. It is a free Office alternative that can open and edit Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files without a Microsoft 365 subscription.
