How do I activate preinstalled Office software on new Inspiron laptop?

Question

Hi all

I've just bought new Inspiron, and picked Microsoft Office 2016 Home and Business as an option; however, when starting any Office programs it tells me I either need to subscribe to Office 365 (which I don't want to do), or activate with a product key.

I'm assuming therefore that I should have a product key to enter, since I paid for the full version, but I have no idea where it is. The laptop didn't come with any CDs or manuals where I'd normally expect to find it, so I'm a bit lost.

Any idea what I can do to get everything up and running properly?

Thanks in advance!

C

DELL-Jesse L · Answer

Iniflonra,

You can click the link below for activating office on your computer if you get an error.

Office 2016 or Office 365 redemption error: Sorry, we couldn't set up Office.

If your new computer came with Office pre-installed, some computer manufacturers include a digital product key, and others include a product key card. To find out if you need a product key, go to Start > Microsoft Office > Activate or Start > Word 2016 > Activate on your new computer. If you're not prompted for a product key, this means you have a digital product key and you don't need a product key card. Just follow the prompts to associate a Microsoft account with Office.

Do you have a product key? It's ok if you don't--not every version of Office comes with a product key. It depends on how you got your copy of Office. If you have a product key, see Where to enter your Office product key. After you enter your product key (if you have one), see install Office. After you install Office, it should automatically activate for you. If it doesn't, you can follow the steps in this article.

Activate over the Internet

Open an Office application, such as Word. (Can't find Office? Here's how to find Office in Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7.)
View and accept the license agreement, if prompted.
Activation might take place automatically. If Office doesn't activate automatically, do one of the following:
- If the Activation Wizard appears, select I want to activate the software over the Internet, and then select Next. If nothing happens when you select Next, use the Enterkey on your keyboard.
  - If the Activation Wizard doesn't appear, create a new blank document, and then go to File > Account and select Activate Product.
    
    4.Follow the prompts to complete the activation process.

iniflonra · Answer

Hi

Thanks for this, but it's not helped, unfortunately.

I'm unable to go to Start > Microsoft Office > Activate or Start > Word 2016 > Activate as I'm running WIndows 10, so all of the Office Programs are shown in their own section (so I can go Start > Word, or Start > Excel for example, but there is no way of going Start > Microsoft Office).

When I open any of the Office programs I get three options to Try, Buy or Activate. I don't need to install Office as it is already installed, and I don't see any of the options to activate over the internet. It looks very much like I need to enter a product key, but didn't receive a card with my computer (I still have all of the packaging, and there is nothing in there).

What can I do?

Thanks

C

DELL-Jesse L · Answer

INIFLONRA,

You can click the link below for resolving the issue with OEM installed Office 2016,which may be what you are experiencing.

You're repeatedly prompted to activate after you install a Volume License copy of Office 2016

iniflonra · Answer

Hi

That still hasn't worked, unfortunately.

When I start Office programs, I get a different page now, but it just says 'Activate Office' (instead of the page with three options I was getting before). I need to either enter the email address that is associated with my Office subscription (I don't have an Office subscription) or click on the option to enter my product key, which, as I've said before, I don't have.

Any other ideas?

C

Philip_Yip · Answer

You should have a MPI card shipped with your system if you customised it to purchase Office with your system: http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/microsoft-product-identity-mpi-card/

allanbaird · Answer

Activate or Start -Word- Activate

Productivity Software

How do I activate preinstalled Office software on new Inspiron laptop?

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