transfer/reset a Project 2021 retail license from an old computer to a new one.

Richard Allen 0 Reputation points
2026-04-23T14:32:50.99+00:00

gOT A NEW COMPUTER AND i NEED TO GET MY MS PROJECTS 2021 RETAIL LICENSE TRANSFERED FROM OLD PC TO NEW PC

Microsoft 365 and Office | Project | For home | Windows

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  1. AI answer

    2026-04-23T14:33:02.0133333+00:00

    To move a retail (one-time purchase) Project 2021 license from an old PC to a new one, follow the same general transfer rules that apply to other one-time Office products and then reinstall/activate on the new device.

    1. Check transfer eligibility
      • Project 2021 retail behaves like other one-time Office products (Office Home & Business, Home & Student, Professional): it is licensed for a single computer at a time.
      • The license can be moved to another computer owned by the same person, but only one active installation is allowed at any time.
    2. Remove/uninstall from the old PC
      • On the old PC, uninstall Project 2021 so it is no longer in use on that device. This is required by the license terms when transferring to another computer.
    3. Install Project 2021 on the new PC
      • If Project 2021 was redeemed to a Microsoft account (for example via https://microsoft365.com/setup as described for Project Standard/Professional):
        1. Sign in on the new PC with the same Microsoft account used to redeem the key.
        2. Go to the services and installs area for that account and download/install Project 2021 (same process as other one-time Office apps).
      • If Project 2021 was installed from DVD or direct installer and you still have the media/installer:
        1. Run the Project 2021 setup on the new PC.
        2. Complete installation.
    4. Activate Project 2021 on the new PC
      • When Project starts the first time, it should prompt for activation.
      • Enter the same 25-character product key if requested and follow the on-screen steps.
      • If online activation reports that the key has reached the maximum number of activations (because it was used on the old PC), use telephone activation, as is required for one-time Office transfers:
        1. In Project, go to activation options and choose to activate by telephone.
        2. Follow the prompts to complete activation on the new PC.
    5. Ensure the old PC no longer uses the license
      • After successful activation on the new PC, keep Project uninstalled on the old PC to stay compliant with the one-device limit.

    If there is any doubt about transfer rights, the detailed transfer terms for similar one-time Office products are in the Microsoft Software License Terms under the transfer section (for example, “Transfer to a Third Party” for Office 2019/2016), which follow the same pattern: one device at a time, uninstall from the original device, and re-activate (often by phone) on the new device.

    References:

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  2. Alexis-NG 18,070 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-04-23T15:49:26.2266667+00:00

    Hi Richard Allen,

    Project 2021 is a one-time purchase product. When you first activate it, the license is typically linked to a Microsoft account, which associates the product key with your account for future use.

    When switching to a new computer, you can reinstall Project 2021 and sign in with the same Microsoft account to activate it, without needing to re-enter the product key. In some situations, you may still be prompted to enter the key again, but it will reactivate successfully since it is already associated with your account.

    It is important to note that this license allows installation on only one device at a time. While you can transfer it to a new computer, you must ensure it is no longer in use on the previous device to remain compliant with the licensing terms. For reference: Transfer your Office license to another device or another person - Microsoft Support

    To transfer Project 2021 to your new PC, you can do the following steps:

    • Uninstall Project 2021 from the old PC first.
    • Go to m365.cloud.microsoft/apps. If you're not already signed in, select Sign in with the same account used when you first activated Project. Screenshot of Office.com home page after signing in
    • From the Microsoft 365 home page select Install and more.
    • If you have multiple Microsoft 365 products you may have to scroll through the list of your owned products/ Locate the version of Project you want to install and select Install.

    For more information, please consult: Install Project - Microsoft Support

    If it was redeemed before, the key is already attached to your account.

    Shows the "Sign in to set up Office" page that might appear after you install Office

    When you open Project, Ii will prompt for activation please sign in (if account-linked) or enter your product key

    Reference: Activate Office for Windows - Microsoft Support

    Note: For users in the European Economic Area (EEA), you can transfer your license to another person as permitted by applicable law, by contacting customer support. You’ll be required to verify your identity through your Microsoft account to confirm you have legitimate license rights. You’ll also need to provide an email for the person you’re transferring the license to. Upon verification, Microsoft will cancel your entitlement and will email the new licensee instructions for how to associate the license with their Microsoft account. (If the new licensee doesn’t already have a Microsoft account, they’ll need to create one.)   

    If activation fails, please reach out to me again with a screenshot of the error message you encountered, I'd love to help you further from there.

    I hope this provides enough clarity and helps you stay inform with your current situation.

    Thank you for your patience and your understanding. If you have any questions or need further assistance, please feel free to share them in the comments on this post so I can continue to support you.   

    Note: Follow the steps in this documentation to enable email notifications if you want to receive email notifications related to this topic.

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