Microsoft 365 features that help users manage their subscriptions, account settings, and billing information.
To activate Office on a new computer without entering credit card details, use an existing paid license or a one-time purchase product key instead of starting a new trial.
Follow the path that matches the type of Office license:
- Microsoft 365 subscription or one-time purchase already owned
- Install Office using the Microsoft account that owns the license:
- On the new PC, sign in with the same Microsoft account used when Office or Microsoft 365 was originally purchased or activated.
- Go to the services page for that account (for example, where Office is listed) and install Office from there.
- Activate after install:
- Open Word, Excel, or another Office app.
- When prompted, select Sign in (do not choose a trial or “Buy”).
- Sign in with the same Microsoft account that has the active Microsoft 365 subscription or Office license.
- Office should activate without asking for credit card details.
- Install Office using the Microsoft account that owns the license:
- Office product key card (no subscription)
- If this is a brand-new, unused key:
- Go to Office.com/setup or https://microsoft365.com/setup.
- Sign in with a Microsoft account.
- Enter the 25-character product key in the format XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX.
- Complete the steps to add the product to the account.
- Install and activate:
- After redeeming, install Office from the same account.
- Open an Office app and accept the license terms; Office should activate automatically or via the Activation wizard, again without any credit card.
- If this is a brand-new, unused key:
- Office pre-installed on a new Windows PC
- If the screen shows options to Try, Buy, or Activate Microsoft 365, that is usually a trial of Microsoft 365 Family that may ask for payment details. To avoid entering credit card details, do not start a trial.
- Instead, if the device includes a one-year subscription or one-time purchase:
- A digital product key is already on the PC.
- Choose Sign in and use a Microsoft account to activate. No printed key or credit card is required.
- Reinstalling a one-time purchase (Office 2016/2019/2021)
- If Office Home & Student, Home & Business, or Professional was previously redeemed to a Microsoft account:
- Sign in on the new PC with that same account.
- Install Office from the account’s services page.
- Open an Office app; in most cases it activates automatically after accepting the license terms, or via the Activation wizard, without any payment prompt.
- If Office Home & Student, Home & Business, or Professional was previously redeemed to a Microsoft account:
If a screen only offers a trial or purchase and does not recognize any product on the signed-in account, verify that the correct Microsoft account is being used (the one originally used to buy or redeem Office). If there is no existing license on that account, any new subscription or purchase will require payment details.
References:
- Using product keys with Microsoft 365
- Activate Office for Windows
- Activate Microsoft 365 or a non-subscription version of Office
- Activate Microsoft 365 or a non-subscription version of Office that's pre-installed on a new Windows device
- Activate an Microsoft 365 purchase or offer that's included on a new Windows device
- Activate a brand new or Microsoft 365 product key
- Description of the Office Activation Wizard
- Download and install or reinstall Office 2021, Office 2019, or Office 2016
- Activate Office after reinstalling or installing on a different device
- Move my Home and Student 2016 to a new computer - Microsoft Q&A
- How to reinstall Office & Student 2019 - Microsoft Q&A