Office repeatedly prompts you to activate on a new PC (2024)

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When you install a volume license version of Office Standard or Office Professional Plus on a new PC, you might be prompted with a Let's get started screen each time you start Office. This can happen if you don't uninstall the pre-installed version of Office on your new PC before installing a volume license version of Office.

Office repeatedly prompts you to activate on a new PC (1)

To stop the prompts for activation, make sure your Office uses volume licensing and then update the registry.

Verify that your Office version uses volume licensing

Volume license versions of Office are typically used by large organizations. Here's how to check if your version of Office uses volume licensing:

  1. Open a document in Word.

  2. Go to File > Account.

  3. Compare your screen to this screen shot and look for the following.

    • Volume license versions are named Office Standard or Office Professional Plus

    • Volume license versions have a Change Product Key link.

Office repeatedly prompts you to activate on a new PC (2)

If you see buttons named Manage Account or Update Options, you're not using a volume license version of Office. For help with activating other versions of Office, see Activate Office.

Update the registry to remove the Microsoft 365 activation prompt

Important:This task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs.

  1. Close the activation window and all Office apps.

  2. Right-click the Start button Office repeatedly prompts you to activate on a new PC (3) on the lower-left corner of your screen, and select Run.

  3. Type regedit, and then press Enter. Select Yes when prompted to open the Registry Editor.

  4. On the left side of the Registry Editor, under Computer, navigate to the following key in the registry:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\OEM

  5. Right click the OEM value and click File>Export.

  6. Save the key.

  7. After the key is backed up, selectEdit>Delete.

  8. Repeat steps 3-6 for the following key:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\OEM

  9. Close the Registry Editor and start Office again.

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Office repeatedly prompts you to activate on a new PC (2024)

FAQs

Why does my Microsoft Office keep telling me to activate? ›

This can happen if you don't uninstall the pre-installed version of Office on your new PC before installing a volume license version of Office. To stop the prompts for activation, make sure your Office uses volume licensing and then update the registry.

How do I stop Microsoft Office from asking for activation? ›

Restart any Office app and the message should be gone. If this is a constant issue, reset your credentials: Open Spotlight by selecting the magnifying glass at the top right of your desktop. Search for and open Keychain. Type in Office and then delete the data license file.

How do I stop Microsoft Office pop up activation? ›

How To Stop Microsoft Office Activation Wizard From Popping Up
  1. Click on the notification icon in the taskbar and choose to turn off all Office notifications. ...
  2. If you are not seeing the notification icon in your taskbar, you can get to it another way. ...
  3. Click on it and choose to turn the notifications off.
Jan 29, 2022

Why does my computer keep asking me to activate Windows? ›

You might see this error if the product key has already been used on another device, or it's being used on more devices than the Microsoft Software License Terms allow. To fix the problem, buy a product key for each one of your devices to activate Windows on them.

Why is my Microsoft Office suddenly unlicensed? ›

CONCLUSION: In conclusion, encountering the message “Microsoft Office Unlicensed Product” indicates that the Microsoft Office suite, including applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, is not properly activated with a valid license.

How to deactivate Microsoft Office and activate it on another computer? ›

How to deactivate Office home & student 2021 from a old laptop and reactivate on a new one? Uninstall Office from the original computer. On the new computer, sign in to your My Account page and click Install. After you finish installing, you may be asked to activate Microsoft Office over the phone.

Will Microsoft Office work without activation? ›

To fully use Office, you must activate Office. If you do not activate the product after you install it, the Office programs can be started only in reduced-functionality mode. In reduced-functionality mode, Office programs function more like viewers.

Is it okay not to activate Microsoft Office? ›

Some versions of Microsoft Office may also display messages encouraging you to activate or purchase a license. It's important to note that using unlicensed software is against Microsoft's terms of service and can result in legal consequences.

How to get rid of the get genuine Office notification? ›

An option to eliminate the notification is the “Microsoft Office Activation Wizard.” This tool verifies your Microsoft Office copy and removes the notification. Another good solution is to reinstall Microsoft Office. Issues with the installation can sometimes cause the notification.

How do I stop Windows activation notifications? ›

Steps to Disable Windows Notification on Your PC or Laptop:
  1. Step 1: From your Windows Desktop, press Win + R >> now in the Run dialog box type in regedit >> Click on OK.
  2. Step 2: Navigate the following location path “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\WindowsNT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform\Activation”.
May 15, 2023

What happens if I don't activate Windows on my computer? ›

If you don't activate Windows 10/11, Windows may only download critical updates for your device. Some updates like optional updates or security updates may be missed. Your computer may miss some latest downloads, services, apps, or driver updates from Microsoft.

What happens if I don't activate Windows? ›

Somes feature will not be available like : Cannot Receive windows update. Cannot upgrade windows. Get a reminder to activate Windows.

How to activate Microsoft Office for free without product key? ›

If you use a Windows PC, KMSpico is one of the best programs to activate Microsoft Office. KMSpico is a free-to-download key management service activator software designed by TeamDAZ. It is a powerful tool designed to activate different Microsoft Office and Windows product versions.

Why is my Microsoft Word asking for a subscription? ›

According to Microsoft , devices with screens larger than 10.1 inches require a Microsoft 365 subscription to create and edit documents, while devices with smaller screens can do so for free. This applies to tablets and smartphones, but not to laptops and desktops.

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