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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.
has anyone tried to install without an internet connection? in montana, middle of nowhere?
Sorry, but Office 2016 is impossible to install without an internet connection. I haven't looked, but I don't recall any mention of the phone activation option even being offered for Office 2016 (someone please correct me if there still is one). The normal "installer" that is now delivered is the "click to run" "stub" installer. It does not include the full office installation so it requires an internet connection to work.
Even if you buy an "installation" disk, you will almost certainly get the stub installer.
AFTER you have associated your license with an email account, you can go to the MyAccount site to download the (full) offline installer.
Even with the offline installer you need an internet connection at least briefly to do the activation associated with your installation.
Note: what Office bundle do you have? ALL Office 365 pay-forever-subscriptions require connection to the internet at least once a month to verify your subscription status. Even the one-time-payment Office 2016 licenses require an internet connection for the intial activation on your computer when you first install.
So, what you can do is:
You WHAT?!?!?!??!?!?!
You have to have an Internet connection and a Live account to install Office 2016?!?!?!?!
Come on Microsoft, this is going to win you no friends, and for what? How does this benefit anyone?
Yes,
We have a large network of dealerships (700+ employees). Of course everyone needs office. I am getting the OEM license with all new computers. I have to create an account for every computer that comes across my desk. How the heck am i supposed to manage all this. I am one person. So I have to invent email addresses and maintain a spreadsheet? Pretty upset, I called MS. They forwarded me to Volume licensing. Sounds great! You can manage them centrally and remove and reassign. Well because I don't need to buy licenses all at once I have to pay TWICE THE PRICE!
This is madness. I don't usually provide computers for home users but I did so this week for two customers who are connected to businesses that I service. Both had Office included with their Dell PC's. and neither of them wants an MS account; they just want it as it always has been. I make next to nothing on home users and now I am making LESS than nothing.
Just the time going through 18 pages of complaints, hoping to find a solution has wasted a lot of time.
MS just STOP IT and let us activate the software without an account.