Transfer license to a new computer

It depends on how you bought Office for the old computer.

Only one one type of MS license is transferable to new computer. It is known as a FPP license. Typically you get a FPP license by buying the Retail (big ugly ecologically insensitive, mind bending) Yellow Plastic box With the CD in it. You can also get FPP licenses electronically, but you have to ask for them specifically and pay a little more.

Other MS licenses include:

• MLK (Medialess Key) ie electronic download,
• OEM, preinstalled by manufacturer.
• PKC, Product Key Card

These licenses are typically sold at at discount from the retail price.

You have to figure out what type of license you have.

If you have a FPP license, to transfer it, you simply uninstall it from the old machine and install it on the new machine. In theory, internet activation should be automatic, but you may have to phone activation and explain to the service rep. During install and activation you are given option of doing internet or phone activation.

So without further investigation you could simply do the uninstall, install and see what happens. If you have to do the phone activation the SR will explain to you that the product key does not quality for transfer.

If you want more info on the types of product keys check out this link:

Product Key Card vs “Traditional” Retail disk -http://www.microsoft.com/oem/en/products/office/Pages/office\_2010\_sell.aspx

<update 2017 Apr 07>

Office 365/2016

Please note that this is a VERY OLD reply originally written for Office 2010 and earlier. If you are looking for instructions on how to "transfer" or simply "install" an Office 365 license things have changed quite a bit.  Office 365 "license management" is now handled/controlled by you the user/license owner through the "MyAccount" web page. For example, to install Office 365:

• Go to the My Account page at https://office.com/myaccount
• sign in using your Microsoft Account/Email ,
• click the install button to start the installation process.
• Depending on your browser  go to the install pop up that appears and click Run (in Internet Explorer)  Setup (in Chrome)  or Save File (in Firefox).
• Your install is finished when you see the phrase  "You're all set! Office is installed now" and an animation plays to show you where to find Office applications on your computer.

Install Office 365 / Manage Office 365 Wiki / Install 365

See this Wiki for more detailed instructions, with pictures, and additional related links:

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/msoffice/wiki/msoffice_install-mso_win10/stuff-you-can-do-in-myaccount-install-deactivate/3018f88b-d838-4cbf-afa4-e40e5a4f21cc

Install Office 2016 (including Office 365)

The MS 365 Home "FAQ" page has more information:

https://products.office.com/en-us/microsoft-office-for-home-and-school-faq

Office 365 install and setup Help:

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Office-365-install-and-setup-Help-afb38ee0-1679-4548-9e68-7730cb36991d

Please click on the  "Vote as Helpful" button if this reply has helped with your issue.

Check the link below to know more about the license terms of office 2010 product:

http://office.microsoft.com/en-us/products/microsoft-software-license-terms-for-microsoft-office-2010-HA101817777.aspx

Thank you, this was helpful. I am still not sure what kind of license I have, but I believe that I have the one that is allowed to be transfered. I installed a trial copy first, to be on the safe side, now I need just to switch to my own license but I am not able to do this. Do you know how to switch from a trial license to a regular license?

In general, I find it quite difficult to find this information withint the product manuals, which I find quite bad. I strongly believe that a guide describing how to transfer licenses is needed, both in wind7 and office. I have the same problem with transfering windows 7. I am trying to transfer both Win 7 and Microsoft office, but it is impossible to find a useful guide.

One thing that I cannot understand, how does microsoft know that I am not using 4 installations? Will it warn me? Because I manage to install Win 7, now have it on four machines. I did not want to uninstall it first, in case this was not allowed. Will it like warn me if I start all four computers?

All help is greatly appreciated.

Best regards

Pablo Vallejos

I purchased a two year security license just this year, and bought a new computer last month.  I want to put the two year license on this computer.   Sister Mary Jane Hebert