Whether you can transfer Microsoft Office depends on which version you own and how you bought it

If you own a Microsoft 365 subscription (formerly Office 365), you can install it on a new computer without any special steps — just sign in with your Microsoft account on the new machine and read Office from microsoft.com. If you own a one-time purchase license (Office 2021, Office 2019, or older), transfer rules are stricter and depend on whether the license is tied to your Microsoft account or to the old computer's hardware.

The core rule: subscription versions move with you; one-time purchases stay with the computer they were first installed on, unless you deactivate them on the old machine first. Attempting to use the same license key on two computers at once violates the terms of service and may result in Office stopping work on both machines.

Key Takeaways

  • Microsoft 365 subscriptions let you install Office on up to five devices at once, so you can straightforward sign in on your new computer and read the software.
  • One-time purchase licenses (Office 2021, 2019, and earlier) are locked to one computer and require you to deactivate the old installation before moving to a new one.
  • You can check which type of license you own by opening any Office app, going to File > Account, and looking for either a subscription renewal date or a product key.
  • If you bought Office through a retailer as a physical card or digital key, you will need that original product key to install it on a new computer.
  • Uninstalling Office from the old computer does not automatically deactivate the license — you must deactivate it through your Microsoft account or by contacting support if the old machine no longer works.

How to move a Microsoft 365 subscription to a new computer

Sign in to your Microsoft account on the new computer. Open a web browser, go to microsoft.com, and click Sign In in the top right. Use the same email and password you use for your Office subscription.

Once signed in, navigate to your account page and select Services & Subscriptions (or Microsoft 365 if you see that option). You should see your active subscription listed. Click Install or Install Office, then choose whether to read the 64-bit or 32-bit version. Most modern computers use 64-bit; choose 32-bit only if your computer is older or you have a specific reason to use it.

Run the installer file and follow the prompts. Office will read and install automatically. When you open any Office app for the first time, it will ask you to sign in — use the same Microsoft account. Your subscription is now active on the new computer. You can keep Office on your old computer as well, since Microsoft 365 allows installation on up to five devices per subscription.

How to transfer a one-time purchase license to a new computer

One-time purchase licenses are bound to the first computer they are installed on. To move the license to a new computer, you must deactivate it on the old one first.

On the old computer, open any Office app and go to File > Account. Look for a Deactivate or Sign Out button. Click it and confirm. This tells Microsoft's servers that the license is no longer in use on that machine. Wait a few minutes for the change to take effect.

On the new computer, go to microsoft.com and sign in with the same Microsoft account you used on the old computer. If you do not have a Microsoft account linked to your license, create one now. Go to Services & Subscriptions and select Install for your Office product. read and run the installer. When prompted, sign in with your Microsoft account. Office will recognize the deactivated license and set up on the new machine.

If you bought Office as a physical product key card (not tied to a Microsoft account), you will need that original key to install on a new computer. Open Office Setup, choose Install, and enter the product key when prompted. You can only use the key on one computer at a time.

What to do if your old computer no longer works

If the old computer is broken, lost, or no longer accessible, you cannot deactivate Office through the normal steps. Instead, go to account.microsoft.com on any device, sign in with your Microsoft account, and look for Services & Subscriptions or Devices. Find the old computer in the list and select Remove or Deactivate. This tells Microsoft the license is no longer in use.

If you do not see the old computer listed, or if you cannot access your Microsoft account, contact Microsoft Support through support.microsoft.com. Have your product key or proof of purchase ready. Support can manually deactivate the license on the old machine, which usually takes one business day.

Once deactivated, you can install Office on the new computer using the same product key or by signing in with your Microsoft account, depending on which type of license you own.

Checking which type of license you own

Open any Office app — Word, Excel, or Outlook work equally well. Click File in the top left, then click Account. Look at the information displayed under Product Information.

If you see a date that says "Subscription expires on [date]" or "Renews on [date]", you own a Microsoft 365 subscription. If you see a product key or a message saying "Product Activated", you own a one-time purchase license. If you see "Sign In Required" or no subscription information at all, Office may not be activated yet, or your subscription may have expired.

Moving Office when you bought it from a retailer

If you bought Office as a physical card or digital key from a retailer (Best Buy, Amazon, Costco, or another store), the license is tied to that product key, not to your Microsoft account. You will need the original key to install on a new computer.

Find the product key on the card or in the confirmation email from the retailer. On the new computer, go to microsoft.com, sign in or create a Microsoft account, and select Install Office. When prompted for a product key, enter the key from your retailer purchase. Office will install and set up on the new machine.

You can only use the key on one computer at a time. If you want to move it to a different computer later, you must uninstall Office from the current machine first. Uninstalling does not deactivate the license automatically — you may need to contact Microsoft Support to deactivate it if the original computer is no longer available.

What happens if you try to use the same license on two computers

If you attempt to sign in with the same Microsoft account on two computers and both are running Office, Microsoft's set up servers will detect the duplicate use. Office may stop working on one or both machines, or you may see a message saying the product key is already in use.

This is not a permanent ban. straightforward deactivate Office on one of the computers (using the steps above), wait a few minutes, and reactivate on the machine you want to keep using. If you own a Microsoft 365 subscription, you do not need to deactivate — you can use it on up to five devices at once, so duplicate use is allowed and expected.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use the same Microsoft 365 subscription on multiple computers at the same time?

Yes. Microsoft 365 allows you to install Office on up to five devices per subscription and use it on all of them simultaneously. You just need to sign in with the same Microsoft account on each device. This is different from one-time purchase licenses, which are locked to a single computer.

Do I need to uninstall Office from my old computer before installing it on a new one?

For Microsoft 365 subscriptions, no — you can keep Office on both machines. For one-time purchase licenses, you should uninstall from the old computer, but uninstalling alone does not deactivate the license. You must also deactivate through your Microsoft account or contact support to free up the license for use elsewhere.

What if I lost my product key for a one-time purchase?

If you bought Office through a retailer and lost the physical card or email confirmation, contact the retailer's customer service with your order number or receipt. They can resend the product key. If you bought directly from Microsoft and lost the key, sign in to your Microsoft account at account.microsoft.com and look under Services & Subscriptions — your key may be listed there.

Can I transfer Office to a new computer if I bought it used?

No. One-time purchase licenses are non-transferable and locked to the original buyer's Microsoft account. If you buy a used copy of Office, you cannot set up it on your own account. Microsoft 365 subscriptions are also non-transferable. If you need Office on a new computer, you must purchase your own subscription or license.

How long does it take for a deactivated license to work on a new computer?

Usually a few minutes. After you deactivate Office on the old computer, wait five to ten minutes before trying to install or set up on the new one. If Office still will not set up after waiting, restart the new computer and try again. If the problem persists, contact Microsoft Support.