Excel 2016

Question

I purchased Windows 10 Pro in 2016. Now, when I open my Excel program, I have the student edition. I need Pro.

Answer 1

Hi,

Please check one thing for me:

1. On the Excel activation screen, look for the email address or Microsoft account shown there.
2. If an email address is shown, tell me whether it's the account you normally use for Microsoft/Office.
3. If there's an option such as Use a different account, don't select it yet - just let me know if you see it.

Also, please tell me the exact wording of the screen that asks you to insert the USB/key. A screenshot would be even better.

Regards,
Jhun

Answer 2

Hi Bobby,

The issue may be with the Office license or the edition currently installed.

1. Try to Open Excel and if possible go to File > Account.
2. Look under Product Information and tell me the exact product name shown there.
3. If Excel won't let you get that far, tell me the exact message you see when it asks for the product key.

Also confirm if the product key was specifically for Office/Excel 2016. Windows 10 Pro product key wont activate excel.

Regards,
Jhun

Answer 3

Hi Bobby,

When you get the "Something went wrong with Microsoft" message, does it appear:

1. When you open Excel?
2. When you go to File > Account?
3. When you try to sign in to your Microsoft account?
4. Or when you open Services & subscriptions in your browser?

If possible, please also send me the full error message or a screenshot. That will help determine whether we're dealing with an Office activation issue, a Microsoft account issue, or something else.

Regards,
Jhun

Answer 4

HI Bobby,

Good day. The first thing you need to check is which Office license is actually linked to your Microsoft account.

Windows 10 Pro and Office/Excel are separate products, so the Windows 10 Pro purchase from 2016 wouldn't change Excel to the Professional edition.

Please check this first:

1. Open Excel.
2. Go to File > Account.
3. Under Product Information, tell me the exact product name shown there.
4. Also check the Belongs to section and let me know whether an email address is shown.

If you previously purchased Office Professional 2016, sign in to your Microsoft account and open Services & subscriptions. Check whether Office Professional 2016 is listed there. Microsoft uses the Microsoft account associated with the Office purchase to reinstall and activate Office 2016.

If Professional 2016 is listed, we can reinstall the correct edition rather than purchasing it again.

If you don't see it there, let me know what you see under File > Account in Excel. We can then check whether the Professional license was purchased with a different Microsoft account or whether the installed copy is simply a different Office edition.

Regards,
Jhun