Can I change my Office product key without reinstalling Office?

Yes, as long as the new key is for the same version and edition that is installed. Use File > Account > Change License, or the ospp.vbs /inpkey command for volume editions. You only need to reinstall when the new key is for a different edition, such as moving from Home & Business to Pro Plus.

How do I see which product key Office is using?

Open an administrator Command Prompt in the Office16 folder and run cscript ospp.vbs /dstatus. The output lists each installed key with its last five characters and its license status. Office never displays the full key, so keep a copy of your key with your order.

How do I remove an old Office product key?

Run cscript ospp.vbs /dstatus to find the last five characters of the old key, then run cscript ospp.vbs /unpkey followed by a colon and those five characters. Run /dstatus again to confirm that only the key you want remains, then activate it.

Why is the Change License link missing in File > Account?

The link depends on how Office was installed. Some volume installs show Change Product Key instead, and installs linked to a Microsoft account may only show Sign Out. If neither option appears, use the ospp.vbs method from an administrator Command Prompt.

Will changing the product key delete my documents or settings?

No. Changing the key only replaces the license information. Your documents, templates, Outlook data and app settings stay where they are. If you have to uninstall and reinstall a different edition, your files are still kept, but back them up first as a precaution.

How to Change the Office Product Key (2016 to 2024)

You can change the product key Office uses without uninstalling it, as long as the new key is for the edition and version already installed. There are two ways: the Change License option inside any Office app, and the ospp.vbs script for volume editions such as Office Pro Plus. This guide covers Office 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2024 on Windows.

Why you might need to change your Office product key

The most common reasons to replace a key are:

Office was installed with a trial, a borrowed key or a key that has been blocked.
The current key reached its activation limit and you have a replacement.
A company PC is moving from one license to another.
Office shows Unlicensed Product or Product Activation Failed and you have a new genuine key.

Before you start, check which edition is installed. Open Word, go to File > Account and read the name under Product Information. The new key must match it. A key for Office 2021 Pro Plus will not activate Office 2019, and a Pro Plus key will not activate Home & Business.

How to change the Office product key in File > Account

This is the simplest method and works for most installations.

Open Word, Excel or any other Office app.
Go to File > Account (in Outlook, File > Office Account).
Under Product Information, select Change License. On some volume installs the link is called Change Product Key.
If Office asks you to sign in, choose the option to use a product key instead, if it is offered.
Enter the new 25-character product key and click Continue or Install.
Follow the prompts to activate. Office activates online by default.
Close all Office apps and open Word again. File > Account should show Product Activated.

If you are offline, or online activation fails, finish with our guide to activating Office by phone.

How to change the Office product key with ospp.vbs

The ospp.vbs script gives you full control over the keys installed on a PC. It is the method IT admins use for Office Pro Plus and other volume editions, and it works when the Change License link is missing.

Step 1: Open an administrator Command Prompt

Search for cmd, right-click Command Prompt and choose Run as administrator.

Step 2: Go to the Office folder

Office 2016, 2019, 2021 and 2024 all use the Office16 folder.

Office and Windows	Folder
64-bit Office	`C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16`
32-bit Office on 64-bit Windows	`C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16`

Type cd followed by the folder in quotes, for example:

cd "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16"

Step 3: Check the current keys

cscript ospp.vbs /dstatus

The output lists every Office license on the PC. For each one, note the line Last 5 characters of installed product key. You need these characters to remove a key.

Step 4: Install the new key

cscript ospp.vbs /inpkey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

Replace the Xs with your new key, including the dashes between groups. You should see Product key installation successful.

Step 5: Remove the old key

cscript ospp.vbs /unpkey:ABCDE

Replace ABCDE with the last five characters of the old key from step 3. Repeat for any other old keys you no longer need, such as a trial or a blocked key.

Step 6: Activate the new key

cscript ospp.vbs /act

If activation succeeds, run /dstatus again. It should show LICENSE STATUS: ---LICENSED--- for the new key.

ospp.vbs commands at a glance

Command	What it does
`/dstatus`	Shows installed keys and license status
`/inpkey:key`	Installs a product key
`/unpkey:last5`	Removes a key by its last five characters
`/act`	Activates installed keys online
`/dinstid`	Shows the installation ID for phone activation
`/actcid:id`	Activates with a confirmation ID from the phone line

Changing the key on Office 2024 Home & Business and Office for Mac

Retail editions such as Office 2024 Home & Business are usually redeemed at setup.office.com and linked to your Microsoft account. On these installs the license comes from the account, not from a key typed into the app. To use a different key:

Redeem the new key at setup.office.com with the Microsoft account you want to use.
In Office, go to File > Account, select Sign out, then sign in with that account.
If Office still shows the old license, go to File > Account > Change License and pick the correct product from the list.

On a Mac, open Word, go to Word > Sign Out, then sign in with the account that holds the new license. Office for Mac activates on sign-in.

What if the new key is for a different edition?

If the new key is for a different edition (for example Home & Business to Pro Plus) or a different version (2019 to 2021), changing the key is not enough. You need to:

Uninstall the current Office from Settings > Apps.
Restart the PC.
Install the edition that matches the new key.
Enter and activate the key.

Our guide to installing and activating Office walks through this for each version.

Common problems when changing an Office key

Problem	Likely cause	Fix
Key not accepted	Key is for a different edition or version	Install the matching edition
Old license still shows after the change	Old key not removed	Use `/unpkey` with the old key's last five characters
ospp.vbs not found	Wrong folder or Command Prompt not elevated	Check the Office16 path and run as administrator
Activation fails after a valid key	Key limit reached or no internet	Try phone activation, then contact support

Need help?

All keys sold by Software Recycling LLC are genuine Microsoft product keys with guaranteed activation. If a key will not activate, we send a working replacement free of charge. Open a ticket at /support or call +1-888-470-5516, 7 days a week, and we will help you swap the key and finish activation.