How to Activate Microsoft Office 365 with a Product Key in 2020
Microsoft Office 365 is a popular and powerful suite of productivity applications that includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and more. It allows you to create, edit, share, and collaborate on documents, spreadsheets, presentations, emails, notes, and other files across multiple devices and platforms. However, to enjoy the full features and benefits of Office 365, you need to activate it with a valid product key.
A product key is a 25-character code that verifies that you have purchased a genuine copy of Office 365. You can find your product key in different ways depending on how you acquired Office 365. For example, if you bought Office 365 online from Microsoft or another authorized retailer, you should receive your product key in an email confirmation. If you bought Office 365 as a physical product from a store, you should find your product key inside the packaging or on a card. If you have an Office 365 subscription, you don't need a product key to activate it. You just need to sign in with your Microsoft account that is associated with your subscription.
In this article, we will show you how to activate Office 365 with a product key in 2020 using two methods: online and offline. We will also provide some tips on how to troubleshoot common activation issues and how to avoid scams and malware that claim to offer free or cracked product keys.
How to Activate Office 365 Online with a Product Key
The easiest and most recommended way to activate Office 365 is online. This method requires an internet connection and a web browser. Here are the steps to follow:
- Open any Office 365 application on your device, such as Word or Excel.
- If you see an activation wizard or a sign-in prompt, follow the instructions on the screen to sign in with your Microsoft account or enter your product key. If you don't see any prompt, go to File > Account > Activate Product.
- After entering your product key or signing in with your Microsoft account, you should see a message that says "Activation successful". This means that your Office 365 is activated and ready to use.
- If you want to check the activation status of your Office 365, go to File > Account again and look for the "Product Activated" label under the Product Information section.
How to Activate Office 365 Offline with a Product Key
If you don't have an internet connection or you encounter some errors while activating Office 365 online, you can try the offline method. This method requires a phone call to Microsoft's activation center and a confirmation ID. Here are the steps to follow:
- Open any Office 365 application on your device, such as Word or Excel.
- If you see an activation wizard or a sign-in prompt, follow the instructions on the screen to enter your product key. If you don't see any prompt, go to File > Account > Activate Product.
- After entering your product key, you should see a message that says "We're sorry, something went wrong and we can't do this for you right now. Please try again later. (0x8004FC12)". This means that your device cannot connect to the activation server.
- Click on the "Change Product Key" link and re-enter your product key.
- You should see another message that says "We couldn't contact the server. Please try again in a few minutes. (0x80072EE2)". This means that your device still cannot connect to the activation server.
- Click on the "I want to activate the software by telephone" link and select your country or region from the drop-down menu.
- You should see a toll-free phone number and an installation ID on the screen. Note down these numbers or take a picture of them.
- Call the phone number and follow the voice prompts. You will be asked to enter the installation ID using your phone keypad. After entering the installation ID, you will be given a confirmation ID by the automated system.
- Type the confirmation ID in the boxes on the screen and click on "Next".
- You should see a message that says "Activation successful". This means that your Office 365 is activated and ready to use.
- If you want to check the activation status of your Office 365, go to File > Account again and look for the "Product Activated" label under the Product Information section.
How to Troubleshoot Common Activation Issues
Sometimes, you may encounter some errors or problems while activating Office 365 with a product key. Here are some common issues and how to fix them:
- If you see a message that says "This product key has already been used" or "The product key you entered can't be used on this machine", this means that your product key is not valid or has been used on another device. You need to use a different product key or contact Microsoft support for assistance.
- If you see a message that says "Your product key isn't secure" or "An error occurred", this means that there is a problem with your internet connection or the activation server. You need to check your internet connection and firewall settings or try the offline method.
- If you see a message that says "Your subscription has expired" or "You're currently signed in with an Office 365 subscription that has expired or been suspended", this means that your Office 365 subscription has ended or been canceled. You need to renew your subscription or buy a new one.
- If you see a message that says "You're signed in with the wrong account" or "This account doesn't have an Office license assigned to it", this means that you are not using the Microsoft account that is associated with your Office 365 subscription or product key. You need to sign out and sign in with the correct account or contact your administrator if you are using a work or school account.
How to Avoid Scams and Malware that Claim to Offer Free or Cracked Product Keys
Some websites, programs, or tools may claim to offer free or cracked product keys for Office 365 or other Microsoft products. However, these are usually scams or malware that can harm your device, steal your personal information, or infect your files. Here are some tips on how to avoid these risks:
- Do not download, install, or run any software or tool that claims to generate, hack, crack, bypass, or activate Office 365 or other Microsoft products without a valid product key. These are likely to be viruses, trojans, ransomware, spyware, adware, or other malicious programs.
- Do not visit, click on, or share any link, website, email, message, or advertisement that claims to offer free or cracked product keys for Office 365 or other Microsoft products. These are likely to be phishing, spam, fraud, or malware distribution schemes.
- Do not buy, sell, trade, share, or use any product key that is obtained from an unauthorized source, such as a third-party seller, a friend, a family member, a forum, a blog, a social media platform, or a torrent site. These are likely to be stolen, counterfeit, expired, blocked, or revoked by Microsoft.
- Do not use any product key that is too cheap, too good to be true, or does not match the product name, version, edition, language, or region of your Office 365. These are likely to be fake, invalid, incompatible, or illegal.
- Always buy Office 365 from Microsoft's official website ([4]) or from an authorized retailer ([5]). Always use the product key that is provided by Microsoft or the retailer in a legitimate way. Always keep your product key safe and secure and do not share it with anyone else.
We hope this article has helped you learn how to activate Office 365 with a product key in 2020. If you have any questions or feedback, please leave a comment below.