Instructions for Moving Microsoft Office to a Fresh PC

Instructions for Moving Microsoft Office to a Fresh PC

Transferring Microsoft Office to a New Computer: A Step-by-Step Guide

Transferring Microsoft Office from an old computer to a new one involves a few simple steps to ensure you comply with Microsoft's licensing rules. Here's a comprehensive guide to help you through the process.

For Non-Subscription Versions of Office 2016 or Office 2019

1. Deactivate on the old PC:
2. Sign in to your Microsoft Office account at the official Office website.
3. In the "My Account" section, find your Office installation, and choose to Deactivate it.
4. Uninstall Office from the old computer.
5. Install on the new PC:
6. Sign in to your Microsoft Office account online.
7. Download the Office setup file for your version (2016 or 2019).
8. Run the installer and follow prompts to complete installation.
9. Activate on the new PC:
10. Open any Office app.
11. When prompted, sign in with your Microsoft account.
12. Enter your original product key if requested.
13. Activation will complete online if your license is valid and transferable.
14. Phone activation option (if online activation fails):
15. If automatic online activation does not work, Office offers an option to activate by phone.
16. In Office activation wizard, select “Activate by phone” to get a toll-free number and an Installation ID.
17. Call Microsoft’s activation phone line, provide the Installation ID, and enter the Confirmation ID they give you to complete activation.

Notes: - OEM licenses typically cannot be transferred to another PC, but retail licenses (most Office 2016 and 2019 retail versions have) allow transfer following this process. - If you encounter an activation error on the new Mac, follow the on-screen instructions to activate by phone. - If an old computer does not work, you may have to contact Microsoft to have the product key released to be used on another PC.

For Microsoft 365 Subscribers

For a Mac with a Microsoft 365 subscription, visit https://www.office.com, sign in to your Microsoft account, click "Install Office", run the installer, follow the on-screen instructions, open any Office app, and activate Office by signing in. Office apps can be used on up to 5 devices simultaneously without deactivating other installations.

Transferring Office to a New Computer Using Third-Party Programs

Third-party programs like EaseUS Todo PCTrans can help transfer Office to another computer via USB drive, but there's no simple way to do this directly.

Article Credits

This article has been viewed 3,321,725 times and was co-authored by Nicole Levine, MFA, a Technology Writer and Editor for the website. Nicole Levine has over 20 years of experience in creating technical documentation and leading support teams.

[1] Microsoft Office Transfer and Activation Instructions: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/install-office-on-another-computer-or-device-7600b3c3-4d5a-47d7-8f6c-0f783d60c98b [5] Microsoft Office Deactivation and Activation Guide: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/deactivate-and-reactivate-office-2f251a74-6450-4d6a-b45f-2011a0d12355

• To transfer non-subscription versions of Microsoft Office (like Office 2016 or Office 2019) from a home computer to a new one, follow the steps for deactivation, uninstallation, installation, and activation as detailed in the guide.
• When dealing with Microsoft technology and learning how to successfully transfer Office to a new home computer, it's essential to understand the steps for deactivation, installation, and activation, as well as the difference between non-subscription and Microsoft 365 subscription versions.

Read also: