How to transfer office to a new MacBook when the old one died before I could uninstall the program?

Rachel Lillian 0 Reputation points
2026-09-17T21:51:51.0666667+00:00

My kid's old MacBook died and I was unable to uninstall the copy Microsoft Office 2016 from it. I have another older MacBook I'd like to put it on - how can I download it without buying a new copy?

Microsoft 365 and Office | Access | For home | Other
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  1. Hendrix-V 19,025 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-09-18T02:46:32.22+00:00

    Hi Rachel Lillian,

    If your old MacBook is no longer functional, you generally do not need to uninstall Microsoft Office from that device before installing it on a replacement Mac. Based on your description, the next steps depend on the type of Office 2016 license you own.

    If you have a retail (one-time purchase) license for Office 2016 for Mac, you may be able to install and activate Office on the replacement Mac using the same product key or the Microsoft account associated with the purchase. If the activation service indicates that the license has already reached its activation limit, Microsoft Support may be able to review the activation status and discuss available options.

    Please note that this is a user-to-user support forum. Moderators, contributors including external Microsoft employees cannot directly intervene in Microsoft product features or access back-end systems. Our role is limited to providing technical guidance on reported issues, requests, or ideas.

    You will also want to verify that the replacement Mac supports Office 2016, as compatibility can vary depending on the macOS version installed. Additionally, if you no longer have the original installer, check the Microsoft account used to purchase Office, as installation files and license information may still be available there.

    Feel free to ask me by clicking "Add Comment" or "Add Answer" if you cannot add comment so your response will be visible. Thanks for your effort.


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