How to Transfer an Office License

How to Transfer an Office License to Another PC
Transferring your Microsoft Office license to a new computer is a necessary step when upgrading your hardware or replacing a faulty PC. The process involves deactivating the old installation and then reactivating it on the new machine. The method for transferring a license depends on the type of license you have: a one-time purchase (like Office 2021) or a subscription-based license (like Microsoft 365).

This guide will provide detailed steps for both scenarios to ensure a smooth and legal transfer of your Office license.

Understanding Office Licenses
Before you begin, you need to know which type of license you have.

One-Time Purchase: This license (e.g., Office 2021, Office 2019) is tied to a single PC and a Microsoft account. You can transfer it, but you must first deactivate it from the old PC.

Subscription (Microsoft 365): This license allows you to install Office on multiple devices simultaneously (usually up to 5 PCs or Macs). You don’t need to deactivate it; you simply sign out on the old PC and sign in on the new one.

Transferring a One-Time Purchase License (Office 2021/2019)
This process requires you to deactivate the old installation first.

Step 1: Deactivate Office on the Old PC
Uninstall Office: On the old computer, go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps.

Find your Microsoft Office product in the list, click the three-dot menu next to it, and select “Uninstall.”

The uninstallation process will automatically deactivate the license, but it’s a good practice to confirm it in your account.

Step 2: Verify Deactivation in Your Microsoft Account
Go to the Microsoft account services page at account.microsoft.com/services.

Sign in with the Microsoft account that the Office product is registered to.

Under the “Devices” section, you should no longer see the old PC listed with an active Office license.

Step 3: Install and Activate on the New PC
On the new computer, go to the Microsoft account services page.

Find your Office license under “Services & subscriptions” and click the “Install” button.

Follow the on-screen instructions to download and run the Office installer.

Open any Office app (e.g., Word) and sign in with your Microsoft account to activate the product.

Transferring a Microsoft 365 Subscription
The process is much simpler, as you only need to manage your installations from your Microsoft account.

Step 1: Deactivate from the Old PC (Optional but Recommended)
Go to the Microsoft account services page at account.microsoft.com/services.

Microsoft hesabınızla oturum açın.

Find your Microsoft 365 subscription and click “Install”.

Under the “Devices” section, find the old computer and click “Deactivate”. This frees up one of your installation slots.

Step 2: Install and Activate on the New PC
On the new computer, go to the Microsoft account services page.

Find your Microsoft 365 subscription and click “Install.”

Follow the instructions to download the installer and install Office.

Open any Office app and sign in with your Microsoft account. The license will automatically activate.

Sıkça Sorulan Sorular
Q: I get an error when trying to install on the new PC. What should I do?
A: This often happens if the old license wasn’t properly deactivated. Go to account.microsoft.com/services and confirm that the old PC is no longer listed. If the problem persists, use the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant tool on the new PC.

Q: I don’t remember my Microsoft account. What can I do?
A: You need access to the Microsoft account that the license is tied to. You can try to recover your account through the account recovery options on Microsoft’s website.

Q: Can I transfer a retail license from a physical disc?
A: Yes. The same process applies. The product key on the disc card is linked to your Microsoft account, and you will manage the installations from there.

Çözüm
Transferring an Office license is a straightforward process, but it requires careful management of your installations. For one-time purchases, it is crucial to deactivate the license from the old PC before installing it on the new one. For Microsoft 365 subscriptions, simply signing in on the new device is all that’s required. In both cases, using the Microsoft account services page is the central hub for managing your licenses.

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