Don't remember email address used to activate Microsoft Office

Anonymous
2013-11-19T04:12:13+00:00

Hi,

After I installed the new Windows 8.1 update, my Microsoft Office 365 had to be reinstalled.  I reinstalled Office, which then asked that I activate it.  I had my product key, which I entered when prompted and got the green check to move on to the next step.  The next step was to enter the email address that Office was activated with.  I don't remember activating Office with an email address OR I don't remember what the email address was.

How can I retrieve the email address so that I can complete activation?

Side note:  I think it's absolutely absurd that requesting your email address or username for any Microsoft product is so difficult.  I have read several forums with people having the same issue and wanting one simple thing - their username/email address that is linked to the product that they paid for.  Microsoft needs to find a way for their customers to have a way to get this information without having to post in a forum.

Thanks.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Install, redeem, activate | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2016-12-07T16:13:47+00:00

I think poor Girish has been beaten up enough.  If you carefully read his post and follow the link, http://commerce.microsoft.com/help , it does indeed take you to a very helpful site to resolve your issue, at least in 2016.

What you need to know:

  1. If you don't have an MS account created, create one.
  2. Save this account information (user name and password) so you don't have to go through this misery again.
  3. The email address you use doesn't have to be a Microsoft email address, feel free to use your standard address.
  4. If it was a retail purchase, know where you bought it and from what country.

What I found;

  1. Once on the help site
  2. Click on Manage Subscription
  3. Click on Manage My Microsoft Subscriptions
  4. Click on Contact Support
  5. On the Contact page, click Get Started
  6. Restate your problem, you'll get a bunch of stuff that's not useful.  In the chat box, scroll down and click on Talk to Someone.
  7. Surprisingly, you'll not have to restate your issue, just confirm that their understand is correct and proceed with the chat.

Just be prepared to answer what they ask and you should be good to go.

Worked for me,

Good luck

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-03-29T15:57:28+00:00

    Your solution is just a bunch of circle talk, and I know circle talk. Your 'solution' didn't solve or explain anything that most people don't know.

    It is completely UNBELIEVABLE that your company is essentially stealing money from us buyers, which is REALLY sad. I purchased Microsoft Office 2010 four years ago, and I NEVER entered an email with registration, EVER. I do believe it was a "skip-able" step.....I have multiple email addresses, as I'm sure many people now have. BUT I only have ONE microsoft/hotmail account...and why it's not working, I have no idea. Apparently my key is registered to another email, and I'm not even sure how that's possible.

    This is the most unbelievable step in the downloading process. It is completely unneccessary and not relevant. Why do we have to sign in in order to just download the program? To prevent theft?

    Are you joking? Who are you trying to fool with that one? Because you're a BUNCH OF IDIOTS if you think that is going to stop people from downloading and using your product for free. The only people that process thwarts are the ones that BOUGHT YOUR PROGRAM. I, personally, am about ready to blow up my computer in fustration. SERIOUSLY.

    People are going to steal what they want to steal regardless of your little verification process...BUT people who just want to use the program they BOUGHT are stopped dead in their tracks.

    So thank you, microsoft. Instead of using the PURCHASED VERSION OF MICROSOFT OFFICE 2010,

    I think I will go ILLEGALLY DOWNLOAD YOUR NEWEST OFFICE 2013. Since illegally downloading is so incredibally easy. I just have a good set of morals...until you **** me off.

    THANKS FOR THE FREE UPGRADE AND THE HUGE HEADACHE, Microsoft.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-03-30T15:36:53+00:00

    Instead of using the PURCHASED VERSION OF MICROSOFT OFFICE 2010, I think I will go ILLEGALLY DOWNLOAD YOUR NEWEST OFFICE 2013. Since illegally downloading is so incredibally easy. I just have a good set of morals...until you **** me off. THANKS FOR THE FREE UPGRADE AND THE HUGE HEADACHE, Microsoft.

    I just thought I should let you know that I didn't illegally download your newest program. I found my disk in a cd binder in a box that hadn't been unpacked....I went through the entire installation with ZERO GLITCHES, and hey, I was even able to "skip" the online registration, like I have EVERY other time I had to re-install this software. So, I am still baffled as to what email my key is linked to...considering I have yet to "register online"

    I find it incredibly annoying that I had to do HOURS of searching for my disk because I was incapabable of just downloading a "trial" of the program or something.

    SO

    If, like me, you have come to this page to find out how to download the program because you can't find your disk OR remember the email used for online registration...you have a few options...

    1. Don't uninstall the program in the first place

    Too late for that option? Then...

    1. You can remember the email, that you either did or did not actually use
    2. If you don't remember your email, you can either

             a. Download the program Illegally

             b. Find your disk

             c. Remember your email, that you did or did not actually use

    ...Good Luck!

    And Microsoft,

    FIX YOUR IDIOTIC GLITCHES

    Much Love

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-12-16T20:09:15+00:00

    I have the exact same issue and microsoft gives us the run around. I don't know what email was used to download my office 2013 but i have the product key. Does no good since you can't skip the step like one did with office 2010. So I bought 2013 11 months ago. My computer crashed and now i cant reinstall it. I will not purchase microsoft again. All your doing microsoft is ripping the customer off!

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-09-03T17:57:10+00:00

    I purchased Visio Standard 2013 back in March 2013 from a local retail store (Staples) at a cost of $299.99, and I have been using the software successfully since then. At the time of my purchase/initial installation (although I don't recall doing it) I must have created a Microsoft account in order to download the software to my computer (as it was a medialess installation), but I don't have a record of the email address I used to create this Microsoft account.

    Last week I purchased a new computer and I now wish to transfer the license for my Visio software over to the new computer. I attempted to do this myself on the Microsoft website and was unsuccessful, so I called in to the Microsoft Support line (1-800-642-7676).  After conversations with various people for over 5+ hours (including being transferred upwards of 15 times, and being disconnected 3 times) I have been unsuccessful in speaking with anyone who can help me. Everyone so far has confirmed that without the email address associated with the Microsoft account with which I registered this Visio software, I will be unable to re-activate this software on my new computer (even though I have already uninstalled it from my prior computer).

    I still have everything from when I bought Visio:

    • The Product Key
    • The box & enclosed installation instructions
    • The receipt from Staples showing the purchase

    I offered several times to provide photos showing all of these items, to prove my purchase/ownership of the software, but they were not open to that.

    I am very upset and think that it is UNETHICAL of Microsoft to essentially "rob" me of the software I paid a lot of $$ for just because I don't remember what email address I used to set up the Microsoft account at the time. 

    Note - I only have 2 email addresses (and I only had these same 2 email addresses in 2013 when I would have set up this account) and today I double and triple checked these addresses with Microsoft and they claim neither one has my Visio product associated with it.

    MicrosoftMUST be able to offer another alternative!  Even after supplying my 25 digit Product Key to two different tech support people (who both checked and verified that it was a valid product key; and one of the 2 men even told me the date of my purchase/install which was correct!) they could not resolve the issue. They told me without the email address I was stuck and, should I wish to continue using Visio, I would need to go and re-purchase the software again.

    This whole process has been maddening.   I am incredibly disappointed with Microsoft.  Their system is absolutely unfair and unethical and they should be ashamed of their policy and inability to provide better customer care.

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