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Hi there, folks, how can I find my Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2021 serial key on my installed PC? I have accidentally deleted my emails containing this serial when I spring cleaned my email account. I tried Belarc Advisor but only it showed a partial key and was of no use.
I purchased the key from a 3rd party seller on Amazon many years ago now, but they are no longer on Amazon.
Many thanks in advance
Robert
I think I may have activated it via phone, using the product installation ID as well as providing some sort of confirmation ID in A-H segmented boxes containing numbers in a Microsoft Activation Wizard. I have these ID numbers but I do not know how to access the activation wizard where I can input these numbers into.
Without the use of some shady, third-party tools, you can't. Starting in 2013, only the last 5 digits of the key are stored locally. You can find those in the Registry or via cmd, but prob won't help much in this situation.
Hi Shawn, thanks for replying, and yeah, I tried one and it seemed way too dodgy, so I uninstalled that app, just to be safe...
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Hi @R. T. D
For the security reasons, on the machine on which Office is installed, we cannot find the full activation key.
For phone activation, please try rohnski2's steps in thread 'Office 2021 offline activation'.
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Hi there, Hua,
Darn it, your posted method of **rohnski2's method might have worked.
The thing is: I rang a Microsoft agent and they weren't able to help me, so in a last ditch effort, she talked me into inputting a randomly acquired default/FREE serial from any online search engines to force the Activation Wizard appear, so I can input my Confirmation ID.
It didn't work at all, as the default/FREE serial key generated an INstallation ID that could not be verified. As a result of this consequence, this default/FREE and random serial is now embedded into my system whenever I install a fresh copy of Office Professional Pro Plus 2021 -- with the Installation ID assigned/designated to that default/FREE serial...
I don't know what to do. This is so frustrating!**
BTW, thank you so much for taking the time to replying to my query. Much obliged and all!
Robert
Hi @R. T. D
Running cscript ospp.vbs /dinstid (Search "CMD" in Windows Search Box, right-click on Command Prompt, run as administrator, use "cd" command to locate to root Office installation folder, such as: cd C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16, then run cscript ospp.vbs /dinstid) can get the Installation ID of Office. Please check whether the installation ID got via this way is the one that could not be verified.
If yes, I suggest you contact Microsoft, check whether they have resources to help you.
Thanks for your understanding.
Hi there, Hua, thank you again for your assistance, my friend.
I did what you suggested and wow, it's NOT the same installation ID... What on earth?
This time I got the SLUI 4 activation method to work and it confirmed that Activation was all done and set. However, as soon as I exited all that -- and had a look at the 'Account' section under Word Account, it states that 'Activation Required - Microsoft Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021'. With the subtext: This product is unlicensed. Connect to your corporate network or contact your system administrator for further assistance.'
I actually tried the method in Command Prompt (admin) on this website -- out of sheer desperation...
https://www.wootechy.com/unlock-document/free-microsoft-office-2021-product-key/#part2
Could that have messed it all up?
Once again, much obliged and all for you assistance, Hua.
Is there a way to perhaps undo that series of scripts in Command Prompt (admin) shown on that website?
Hi @R. T. D
Sorry, I'm a bit confused.
The commands in article above are for volume licensed version of Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021 and specify a KMS host to activate Office. But in your previous post, you said there was a key, I need to confirm is it a MAK key? KMS activation and MAK activation are different, the free KMS host resources on the network might not be legal.
Besides, please tell us what version of Office do you have? Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021 or Office Professional Plus 2021 (It is a retail version.)?
Is there a way to perhaps undo that series of scripts in Command Prompt (admin) shown on that website?
If you have Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021, under this case, we can cancel a specified KMS host via using cscript ospp.vbs /remhst command. But this way won't change the KMS activation method, unless you use another effective activation method.
But if you have Office Professional Plus 2021, you do not need to find back the key, just sign your licensed account (The Microsoft account bound with the key) in Subscriptions & Services page to download and install Office.
Hi Hua,
To clarify, and I am a little confused about the acronyms of the differing versions, heh, but anyway, I bought Office Professional Plus 2021 from an Amazon seller, key was given to me but I accidentally deleted that email when I did a bit of spring cleaning on hotmail, so I don't know what the key is.
In my desperation I came across that website that could convert the copy of Office I had into Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021 -- so I chanced at it. All to no avail.... Now when I check status it says something about it being in grace period and several days remaining...
I have gone into my subscriptions on my Microsoft account, but it seems the product is tied to the machine and not my account? Since it's not showing on my subscription or purchase history.
Hi @R. T. D
Thanks for the detailed explanation.
If you do not find the Office 2021 on Subscriptions & Services page, it may be LTSC Professional Plus 2021, the key is MAK.
Sorry, the help I can provide is limited at the moment.
In addition to asking Microsoft for help. Maybe you need to try to recover deleted emails.
Hi, Hua,
No, no, please don't apologise. You've been tremendously generous with your time helping me, and I very much appreciate your devoted efforts to assist, Hua. So a BIG thank you!! Much obliged and all, my friend.
Hi，
Thanks for your understandings.
If you have any Office issues, welcome to discuss with us on Q&A.