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
    2016-04-16T23:00:50+00:00

    I also have winbdows 10 on here

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-06-12T05:01:00+00:00

    I have had a similar nightmare. I bought office 365 and somehow got something called Office 365 Enterprise E3. For the first 3 months althought my credit card was charged, I was told by various microsoft phone and chat people that I didn't have a license and that Microsoft had no record of my purchase.  Eventually they explained that some unusual thing that they had never heard of happening had happened with my license, whatever that means. Then they said it was fixed and then my email didn't work AND I still didn't have the office apps. I NEVER have found out what my user id was so when I have to do anything else with microsoft, I am told I don't have an account. When I chat I am asked what other email I used to open my account. I am told unless I come up with that e-mail, an e-mail that doesn't exist, they can't help me. I didn't use another email. I only have one. Even if I DID use another email are you telling me that Microsoft has no other way to retrieve my account. Now i have no way to renew. I also use WordPerfect. I have never had this sort of problem and when I call to buy products get helped, I get helped in one phone call.  With this thing multiple fruitless calls. Once someone from India called me at 1 a.m. two mornings in a a row and left a phone number in an accent so thick that I couldn't understand the number. I was later told that I wasn't helped because I didn't call back.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-06-12T05:03:47+00:00

    Yup and chat will give you a number to call, because they can't help you without that e-mail. They are just trying to get rid of you, because the phone people will ask you the same question.

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-07-30T07:19:43+00:00

    Yes, it seems that this is the only option.

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