Computer Devices

Question

My husband and I have a combined MS account. How many devices can we use our Microsoft license on? We each have computers, IPads, and IPhones. I have a third old computer and two old Ipads we would like to use for emergencies which would bring us to 9 devices. Is that too many for our license?

Answer 1

If you have a Microsoft 365 Personal subscription, that entitles you to install and use Office on up to 5 devices that you log into and use at the same time.

If you need to install and use the Office apps on more that 10 devices at the same time, then you would need to purchase the Microsoft 365 Family subscription, and use separate Microsoft accounts for each of you, then the person who owns the Microsoft 365 Family subscription can share the subscription with the other family member, each of you can then install Office on up to 5 devices that you log into and use at the same time, that is a total of 10 devices.

To switch from the Microsoft 365 Personal subscription to the Family subscription is a complete new subscription, then the remaining time left on the Personal subscription would be converted to the Family subscription at a pro-rata basis, that is explained in the 'Switch to a version of Microsoft 365 that has more features' section on this link.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/accounts-billing/subscriptions/switch-between-microsoft-365-subscriptions

Answer 2

If we want a bigger license so we wouldn't have to sign out of devices, how much would that cost?

Answer 3

For Microsoft 365 consumer subscriptions (such as Microsoft 365 Family or Personal):

• Microsoft 365 can be installed on all devices without a hard install limit.
• The key limit is on how many devices can be signed in and activated at the same time.
• A single subscription account can be signed in to Office on up to 5 devices at the same time (any mix of PCs, Macs, tablets, and phones). If a 6th device is signed in, Office will automatically sign out one of the others.

So having 9 total devices (computers, iPads, iPhones, and older “emergency” devices) is allowed, but only 5 of them can be actively signed in and using the subscription at the same time. To use another device, sign out of Office on one of the others, or let Office automatically sign one out when the limit is exceeded.

Note: If using Microsoft 365 Family, each person it’s shared with gets their own 5-device sign-in limit under their own account.

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References:

• Sign in to Microsoft 365
• Get help with product key errors on Office.com/setup
• Understand subscriptions and licenses in Microsoft 365 for business
• Microsoft 365 Apps activation limits
• Overview of licensing and activation in Microsoft 365 Apps
• Is there a device limit on 365 Family installs? - Microsoft Q&A