Office 2016 does not recognized

For Office 2016, the product key is typically used only once to redeem the product and link it to a Microsoft account. After that, reinstalling or activating Office should be done by signing in with that same Microsoft account, not by entering the key again.

Try this:

1. Go to https://account.microsoft.com/services and sign in with the Microsoft account that was originally used to redeem Office 2016.
2. If Office 2016 appears there, select Install and complete the installation.
3. Open an Office app and sign in with the same Microsoft account to activate it.

If the key shows as already used, that is expected after redemption. The key is no longer needed for reinstalling.

If the key is not working and was bought separately from the software, contact the seller and request a refund. Microsoft states that separately sold keys may have been stolen or fraudulently obtained and then blocked.

If Office shows Unlicensed Product after installation:

1. Sign in to Office with the account used to buy or redeem Office.
2. Check whether multiple copies of Office are installed, because that can cause activation conflicts.
3. Check whether the product appears under the Microsoft account used for Office.

If Office was installed on multiple PCs using the same Install button, activation can fail on the other PCs because each install is tied to a unique product key. In that case, change the product key on the affected PC from an Office app:

1. Open any Office app.
2. Go to File > Account.
3. Under Product Information, select Switch License.
4. Select Enter product key instead.
5. Enter the Office 2016 product key and select Install this product instead.

• Where to enter your Office product key
• "This product key has already been used" error in Office
• Where to enter your Office product key
• Unlicensed Product and activation errors in Office
• Change your Office product key