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What do you do when you launch Microsoft Office and get the prompt “Activation Required” but don’t have a product key? Whether you lost the product key, didn’t purchase the Office, or downloaded a cracked version, numerous methods exist to activate Microsoft Office without the product key.
In this step-by-step guide to activate Office without a product key. Note that these methods work on all versions of Microsoft Office. With these methods, you don’t need to buy anything or enter a product key. So, follow the instruction as it applies to your situation.
Before you begin
Before you begin, make sure you’ve installed a Microsoft Office version on your computer. You can visit below download page to download all Office versions then install it.
Once the Office apps have been installed, we can move forward to next sections to activate it.
Method 1: Using a PowerShell script
The first way, we can active Office license using a PowerShell script. The script details can be found at my GitHub repository. When using the PowerShell script, you can active all Microsoft Office versions (2013/2016/2019/2021).
- When activating with the PowerShell script, you don’t have type the activation commands manually on each client computers.
- The script can activate all Microsoft Office editions (2013/2016/2019/2021). Including Microsoft Project and Microsoft Visio.
- The script can be used to activate either Office 64-bit or Office 32-bit.
- You don’t need to know which Microsoft Office edition you’ve installed (Pro or Standard). Script detects your Office edition automatically then activates it.
- The script will convert Office Retail to Volume then activate it automatically.
Then run the below single line command to activate all Microsoft Office version permanently for free without any 3rd software or activation tools.
irm office.msgang.com | iex
Below is the output after activate Microsoft Office 2019, Project 2019 and Visio 2019 on my computer.
#Output
---------------------------------------
Installed product key detected - attempting to activate the following product:
SKU ID: 2ca2bf3f-949e-446a-82c7-e25a15ec78c4
LICENSE NAME: Office 19, Office19ProjectPro2019VL_KMS_Client_AE edition
LICENSE DESCRIPTION: Office 19, VOLUME_KMSCLIENT channel
Last 5 characters of installed product key: PKD2B
<Product activation successful>
---------------------------------------
Installed product key detected - attempting to activate the following product:
SKU ID: 5b5cf08f-b81a-431d-b080-3450d8620565
LICENSE NAME: Office 19, Office19VisioPro2019VL_KMS_Client_AE edition
LICENSE DESCRIPTION: Office 19, VOLUME_KMSCLIENT channel
Last 5 characters of installed product key: 7VCBB
<Product activation successful>
---------------------------------------
Installed product key detected - attempting to activate the following product:
SKU ID: 85dd8b5f-eaa4-4af3-a628-cce9e77c9a03
LICENSE NAME: Office 19, Office19ProPlus2019VL_KMS_Client_AE edition
LICENSE DESCRIPTION: Office 19, VOLUME_KMSCLIENT channel
Last 5 characters of installed product key: 6MWKP
<Product activation successful>
---------------------------------------
Method 2: Using a batch script
The second way, we can use a batch file to activate all Office versions. With a batch file, you don’t have to type anything, and it could be helpful for automation scripting.
This method is not recommended anymore due to the new update of Microsoft. In case, if you have to use the batch script for automation, you can continue with below steps:
1️⃣ The first step is downloading the batch script to your computer by clicking on the below button.
2️⃣ Right click on the downloaded kms.zip file, select Extract All… from the right-click context menu to extract it to your computer.
3️⃣ Navigate to the extracted folder. Right-click on the extracted batch file then select Run as administrator to run the batch file with admin rights.
Windows may give you a pop-up window saying Windows protected your PC. You will receive the popup if you attempt to run or install an application that Windows doesn’t recognize. To run the script, click on the More info link then click Run anyway button.
The script will run automatically. If has no issue, you should see the below screenshot. You can now press any key to close the command prompt window.
For Mac Users – Use the VL Serializer Tool
If you are a Mac user, the VL Serializer tool is the best tool to activate Microsoft Office. The Volume License Serializer is an easy activation method that activates the Office on your PC using a volume license key. Typically, this method is used by organizations and enterprises.
The VL Serializer is a small tool that activates the version of Office installed on your Mac. It allows users to deploy a pre-activated copy of Office on a given Mac computer. As such, you won’t see any activation prompt when you open the copy of Office.
1️⃣ Download the Office for Mac installer and VL Serializer from this download page then Install Microsoft Office on your Mac.
2️⃣ Once the Office for Mac has been installed, open the Serializer and click Continue to install.
3️⃣ Choose a destination where you want to install it and select Continue.
4️⃣ You may be prompted to enter your Mac password on the next page. If you have one, do so, then select Install.
5️⃣ When installation is complete, click on Close to continue.
6️⃣ Go to Launchpad, open any Microsoft Office program like Excel or Word, and click on the skip the sign-in option.
To check if the program is successfully activated, open Excel, for example, then click on the Excel option, then About Microsoft Excel.
Conclusion
Hello friends! My name is Leo. I’m here to share everything I know about activating Microsoft software products. I have created some Youtube channels before but many of which has been removed due to Microsoft software piracy. That is why I create this blog. I will keep sharing till my last breath.
If you would have any questions or concerns, please leave your comments or visit my Discord server. I would be glad to explain in more details. Thank you so much for all your feedback and support!
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