Bought Planner and Project Plan 3 license But can't install desktop app

Question

Under the Subscription tab, our unique identifier for Planner and Project Plan 3 license is already reflected. But under Apps and devices tab, notification writes "You currently have not been assigned an Office license that includes the Office desktop apps". How do I download the Project desktop app?

Answer 1

Dear @Our Howe,

Good day. Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum!

First of all, I want to begin by sincerely apologizing for the frustration and inconvenience this issue has caused you.

As per your description, it seems that you trying to download Project with the Project plan 3 license bought recently.

I understand you posted a question about a personal account (for home). Therefore, I will explain the information based on a personal account. If you are using a business account, please reply to this answer and I will provide more detailed instructions on how to use Project Plan 3 for businesses. The Planner & Project Plan 3 subscription is designed for business or organizational use and cannot be activated on a personal Microsoft account (such as @outlook.com or @hotmail.com). That's why you won't find the download or launch option. 

I’ve looked into this, and the issue is due to the type of account you're using. The trial for Project Plan 3 (now called Planner & Project Plan 3) is specifically designed for business or organizational environments. Unfortunately, it cannot be activated on a personal Microsoft account. Please don't worry, this is a common hurdle, and there are straightforward paths forward. Here are your options to access the trial: 

Option 1: Use an existing work/school account 

If you have access to a Microsoft 365 account provided by your work, school, or any organization, you can start the trial there. An administrator in that organization may need to enable trial subscriptions in the admin center. 

Option 2: Set up a new business trial environment 

If you’re evaluating this for personal projects, freelance work, or a new business, you can sign up for a Microsoft 365 Business Premium trial. This creates the right type of account (a "business tenant"). Once that’s set up, you can then easily activate the Project Plan 3 trial within it. 

Important note: Please remember to cancel the trial subscription once your issue is resolved to avoid any charges.   

I know it's an extra-step, and I wish it were simpler. The licensing and backend features for Project are built for organizational use, which is why this workaround is necessary. 

Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or need further clarification.

Your understanding and co-operation are highly appreciated. Thank you for your precious time. Have a nice day!

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