I have a new computer and need to activate Word

Which version of Office do you have? Did you install it on your new computer?

It is possible that you are being asked to activate a preinstalled trial version. I would suggest that you uninstall the trial and then install your own version.

As other contributors have said, after you installed, activation is usually straightforward (it will depend on which version of Office you have, though).

Hi Judy,

Since you’ve got a new computer, Word is just asking to be activated again. Don’t worry — it’s usually pretty simple.

First, sign in with your Microsoft account. Open Word, and if it asks to sign in, use the same email you used when you first bought or activated Office. That usually does the trick right away.

If that doesn’t work, go to your Microsoft account online: Head to account.microsoft.com/services and sign in. You should see your Office or Microsoft 365 listed there. Click Install Office if you need to reinstall it — it’ll automatically activate once you open Word.

If you have a product key (a 25-digit code), go to setup.office.com, sign in, and enter the key. That will link your license to your account.

Check activation: In Word, click File → Account. If it says “Product Activated,” you’re all set.

If it still doesn’t activate, make sure your internet is connected and try opening Word as an administrator (right-click → “Run as administrator”).

To activate Word on your new computer, you will need to sign in with the Microsoft account that is associated with your Office purchase. Here are the steps to follow:

1. Open Word: Launch the Word application on your new computer.
2. Sign In: When prompted to activate, select Sign In.
3. Enter Credentials: Input the email address and password associated with your Microsoft account that has the Office license.
4. Follow Prompts: Follow any additional prompts to complete the activation process.

Make sure your computer is connected to the internet during this process, as Word needs to contact the Office Licensing Service to verify your license. If you encounter any issues, ensure that your Microsoft account has the appropriate Office subscription assigned.

If you have any other versions of Office installed, such as Office 2013, you may need to remove any existing product keys before activating the new installation.

If you continue to have trouble, consider checking your license status in the Microsoft 365 portal or contacting support for further assistance.

Hello, thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

1. May I know which edition of Microsoft Office you’re using on the new computer or having license for (for example, Office 2019, Office 2021, or Microsoft 365)?”
2. Could you please check if your Office license appears under the Services & subscriptions section of your Microsoft account at https://account.microsoft.com/services?