Install Office 2016 OEM without Live account

Anonymous
2015-10-07T18:12:57+00:00

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:

  • Add it to my MS account, or it will be forever stuck to me--which is inappropriate, since I will not own the computer or software once I am paid for the system by my client.
  • Make my client set up a MS account just for this.
  • Pry into my client's information to get his MS account information (if he even has one).

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?

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

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  1. Anonymous
    2017-04-20T17:48:42+00:00

    DY I can see a problem with using your email address to setup Office Home and Business. You will be limited to 25 Office setups.  Re: Keys.  The 'Product Key' provided in order to download and setup Office should be renamed to 'Redemption Key' it is not the actual Product Key.  The actual Product Key is the one that is stored on the Office Account.  That key can be used if you download Office onto a DVD.  As you say this takes time.  However, you can use the actual Product Key to download Office from Microsoft at: Manage, download, back up, or restore Office products  (Scroll down to 'My copy of Office came with a disk, but I need to download online'.  Just give the customer the actual Product Key to download Office. BUT also give the customer the 'Redemption Key' because that is proof of purchase.  Cheers

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  2. Anonymous
    2017-04-20T17:58:07+00:00

    You are correct. The key is not really the key until you register and retrieve it from the portal. However the actual keys from he portal are irrelevant. Even when installing from a DVD/download and trying to enter an actual registered product key from the portal the software then still wants to activate and cannot do so successfully I would say 80% of the time. Also the keys on the portal cannot be distinguished from one to the next. MS recommendation was to "create a spreadsheet" LOL Really!!!!!!!!!

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  3. Anonymous
    2017-04-26T14:14:15+00:00

    I absolutely cannot believe that after almost 2 years nothing has changed about this and Microsoft has DONE NOTHING in response.  Clearly this is an issue and although they may not want people to operate in this manner there is a clear and present need for it and this new paradigm is a detriment to the end user.  Seems to be people need to band together and start a class action lawsuit against MS on the grounds that not offering the consumers whom PAID FOR THIS PRODUCT a way to simply to install the software THAT THEY OWN without having to register with an account online (which is not an option for everyone even in this day and age) as being harmful to the consumer.  I believe the same harmful-to-consumer argument was successfully litigated against MS for the forced inclusion of IE on older versions of Windows which eventually made them give you the option of being able to remove it without affecting the system.  Indeed the troubles outlined within this very thread make it clear that this practice of registering 2016 is harmful to the consumer.

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  4. Anonymous
    2017-04-26T15:48:05+00:00

    Russ they don't care this will never get fixed. They want to push everyone to office 365 in order to solidify and better predict their revenue on a monthly basis instead of on the release of new versions. They have left the OEM'S, Partners, Chanel, MPS's, Etc in the dust.

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  5. Anonymous
    2017-04-26T15:49:48+00:00

    Here is a helpful Tip though

        Phone activation although it says it's dead really is not. When you get the message that says phone activation is not available for your country simply go to the help button and it will give you the number for phone activation and it works.

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