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I manage IT services for several small businesses and periodically need to purchase new computers with Office. I just purchased a new Dell laptop with the OEM version of Office 2016 Home & Business. It will not let me activate it without adding it to a MS account.
I know this is a perennial question, beginning with Office 2013, that is a major headache for independent technical consultants that support small businesses, as I do. But I have never seen a solid answer as to how to get this installed on the computer without the MS account--just a lot of try this, try that. This is NOT Office 365, just Office H & B 2016!
I will not:
But I must have Office installed, activated, and updated before I give the system to my client. The activation dialog, in fact, gives me the option of using a product key instead of a login, but then proceeds to "Redeem Online"--which I believe will end up with the same result that requires a MS account.
At this point, I now have a bigger issue. I backed up the Program Data folder that contains the cached Office installation files, then uninstalled MS Office, hoping that a reinstall would give me some option to truly install without being forced to figure out a MS account for my client. The uninstallation removed the original setup folders. Good thing I backed it up, but then when I reinstall from any of those, it installs Office 2013, not Office 2016. And while it still validates the key when I click the option to use a key instead of a logon, it (as before) takes me to "Redeem Online".
Hello, Microsoft: this issue alone has just eliminated my entire profit from this project, given the time I have already spent trying to get this done, then uninstalling and attempting to reinstall.
I know there are versions that can be activated without a MS account, but I do not buy in bulk and can never seem to figure out which is which.
How do I get this installed for my client without being required to use a MS account?
Processes in Microsoft 365 for setting up Office apps, redeeming product keys, and activating licenses.
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
So basically you guys are unwilling to resolve this issue. I say we should all install open office. it is just as good as Microsoft office and its free
Brian,
Right there with you. We are a managed service provider, representing 400+ end point systems. Most of our customers use volume licensing and have no issues. However, for our small customers who do not warrant volume licensing, the new 2016 line of products and Microsoft's change in activation process is a nightmare. Many of our small customers do not have and DO NOT WANT a Microsoft account for any reason. According to MS Activation Support, Office 2016 "Cannot be activated without an account and an Internet connection". Escalation to an Activation Supervisor just results in them hanging up on you in the middle of a sentence.
WOW.... Microsoft licensing continues to suck and their service and support of their product becomes worse and worse.
This activation process sucks. I do not want to associate a Microsoft LIVE ID with Office. Microsoft forcing everyone into integrating other services like OneDrive and other ****. WE DON'T WANT IT. We want to activate the product and use it as we always have.
I would start offering open office to customers. its free with all the things you can do with office and doesn't require you to set up an account. and again, its free!
Holy hell, this is HORRIBLE!!!!!!! Trying to setup new workstations now takes twice as long as it used to because of this bull.
I have a completely valid product key which was purchased for "Microsoft Office H&B 2016 (non-europe)" and it's useless without a Live account???? Why bother selling it at all, just switch to the cloud only scenario that Adobe took on (which sucks also).
This is pointless. Why, in the hell would Microsoft make additional barriers for LEGITIMATE users to jump through? This would seem to only have the benefit of turning away people who want to buy the product and make them steal the product.