Activating Microsoft Office on a Windows system is crucial to unlock its full features and ensure compliance with licensing agreements. This guide will walk you through the process of activating Microsoft Office using different methods, including using the command line for advanced users.

Activation Methods

1. Using the Internet (Online Activation)

• Open any Office application (e.g., Word, Excel).


• You will be prompted to sign in to your Microsoft account. Enter your credentials.


• Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the activation process.

2. Using a Product Key

• Open any Office application.


• Go to File > Account.


• Click on Change Product Key.


• Enter your 25-character product key and follow the prompts to activate.

3. Activating via Command Prompt (CMD)

• Open Command Prompt as Administrator.


• Navigate to the Office installation directory. The path may vary depending on the version of Office and Windows architecture (32-bit or 64-bit). For example:
  

   cd "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16"  // For Office 2016 64-bit
  
   cd "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16"  // For Office 2016 32-bit



• Use the following command to set the product key:
  

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



• To activate Office, run:
  

   cscript ospp.vbs /act



• You can check the activation status with:
  

   cscript ospp.vbs /dstatus

4. Using PowerShell

• Open PowerShell as Administrator.


• Run the following script to activate Office:
  

   $officePath = "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16"
  
   Set-Location $officePath
  
   Start-Process "cscript ospp.vbs /act" -Wait

Troubleshooting

• Activation Errors: Ensure your internet connection is stable. If using a product key, double-check that it is entered correctly.


• No Internet Access: Consider phone activation by selecting the option during the activation wizard.

Conclusion

Activating Microsoft Office is a straightforward process, whether you use the graphical interface or command-line tools. Ensure you have your product key or Microsoft account details ready for a seamless experience.