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

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.

0 comments

515 answers

Sort by: Oldest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2018-01-04T08:55:42+00:00

    I gave up on MS Office a few weeks ago because of this issue.  I manage a smaller network of about 20 PC's and laptops.  Office 2010 and 2013 were great to support.  We will leave 2013 running as long as possible, but all new devices will have LibreOffice installed.  The old versions of OpenOffice/LibreOffice from 4 or 5 years ago were horrible compared to MS Office, but LibreOffice has improved to the point where it is now 100% as good as MS Office for most users.  And even easier, there is a "portable" version that doesn't require any installation.  I'm happy to pay a premium for a good product, but when MS treats it's customers like this, you will lose us.  Try LibreOffice.  You wont be disappointed.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2018-01-09T19:17:25+00:00

    NOT ONLY is it impossible to install MSO2016 without the MS account, Dell will NOT refund the clients money for the software once they refuse to give or create a MS account.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2018-01-19T07:45:20+00:00

    As Microsoft should be aware of by now... this and a tremendous number of stability and usability issues in it's recent products are convincing many small IT shops to steer customers toward "alternative" (open source) options.  My company may only setup a few hundred systems in a year, but there are thousands of companies like mine who are each driving millions of dollars away from Microsoft in the last few years.  Why?  Simply because Microsoft WILL NOT LISTEN.  As a result, it is becoming substantially easier to use and support alternative products.

    As "agile" as Microsoft pretends to be as of late, it will not exist in a few years if it continues to pay too much attention to MBAs and shareholders and too little to its own customers.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  4. Anonymous
    2018-01-27T19:07:23+00:00

    I use Office 365 before and now I buy Office Home & student 2016 . How I can Active new one

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  5. Anonymous
    2018-01-27T21:16:00+00:00

    You are posting on the end of  a thread which does not deal with your problem and therefore you will not receive the attention you need.  Do you mean that you have purchased a retail version of Office 2016.  If you have you will have been provided with a 25 character key. You can download/install your Office 2016 at: https://setup.office.com/  You need to use the email address and password for a Microsoft Account. BEFORE you install you need to uninstall your Office 365 which includes a  version of Office 2016 so they will clash.

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments