Purchased some OFFLINE Excel LTSC licenses to install on OT offline PCs but are having issues with one of the installs and it keeps asking for activation.

Question

The message prompt is stating: "This copy of Microsoft Office is designed for corporate or institutional customers. Connect your computer to your network to complete activation. Your system administrator can help." Is there a workaround?

Answer 1

Hi @TonyG_1121 ,

Welcome to our forum!

Office LTSC is designed for offline use, but it still requires initial activation (either online or via phone). Since the PC is offline, telephone activation is the official way to activate Office LTSC without an internet connection, here are the steps you may take:

1. Open any Office application (e.g., Excel) and go to: File >Account >Activate Product.
2. When it fails to activate online, select "Use Telephone Activation".
3. Follow the instructions to call Microsoft’s automated activation line (a toll-free number should be provided).
4. Enter the Installation ID shown in Office and receive a Confirmation ID from Microsoft.
5. Enter the Confirmation ID to complete activation.

In addition, ensure the installed Office LTSC version (2021, 2019, etc.) matches the license type. If you installed a Volume License version but have a retail license, reinstall the correct edition.

Hope it helps.

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