Why do I need an account to sign in to Microsoft 365 or Office?
You need a Microsoft personal or work or school account to sign in to Microsoft 365 or Office
An association needs to occur between your account and the Microsoft 365 or Office product you bought. The association is what verifies you're the licensed owner of the product. When you sign in with your account you're allowed to:
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Install and activate Office A Microsoft account or work or school account is required to install and activate Microsoft 365 and Office versions 2013 or later.
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Connect to other Microsoft services Once your account is associated with your Office product, and depending what version of Office you have, your account also connects you to various Microsoft products and services such as Office Online or OneDrive.
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Reinstall Office Sign into your account portal to download and reinstall Microsoft 365 or Office. You don't need to re-enter your product key again.
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Create and share files Create, edit, and share any files you saved to a cloud-service such as OneDrive. By saving to OneDrive your files are always with you. Simply sign from your device and you'll have access to your files.
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Use Office across multiple devices If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you can also install and use the apps on more than one device.
How do I associate my account with Microsoft 365 or Office?
Signing in with a Microsoft account, or work or school account to Microsoft 365 or Office is how Microsoft verifies you have a legitimate license. How you associate your account depends on your Microsoft 365 or Office product and how you got it.
To associate your account with your product, select the option below that matches how you got Microsoft 365 or Office.
If you bought Microsoft 365 or Office at a retail store it likely came with packaging that included a key. When you redeem this key, you'll be asked to use an existing Microsoft account or create a new account. If you bought at an online retailer, check your email receipt for the product key and follow the steps to redeem it. See Redeem a product key to activate Microsoft 365 or Office.
If you bought your product through the online Microsoft Store and you signed in to make your purchase, the account you signed in with is the account that's associated with Office. If you tried to install the apps but can't, you may have missed the redemption step after your purchase. See I just bought Office. Where do I enter my product key?
If someone shared their Microsoft 365 Family subscription with you, they may have sent you an email or text message. When you're ready to install the apps, you'll be asked to use an existing Microsoft account or create a new account. See Create a new Microsoft account
If you're using the apps through your work or school, you were likely assigned an account when you started. This is the account you use to sign in to microsoft365.com.
If you bought Microsoft 365 or Office, but someone else installed it for you and their account is now associated with the product instead of yours, contact support. Be sure to have your proof of purchase.
See Try, buy, or activate Office that's pre-installed on a new PC for a list of all your options.
If you purchased Office through your organization's Microsoft Workplace Discount Program (formerly known as Home Use Program) benefit for use on a PC running Windows, you don't use an account to activate Office. You should have received a product key which you need to enter when prompted to activate Office. See Install or reinstall Office through Microsoft Workplace Discount Program.
How can I install or reinstall Microsoft 365 or Office apps?
If you have an existing Microsoft 365 subscription, or use Microsoft 365 at work or school, sign in at Office.com with the account that's associated with your subscription. This is where you can install or reinstall the apps.
Signing in at Office.com or signing in to the desktop apps also mean you can easily access any files you stored in cloud services such as OneDrive. Learn more at Sign in to Office or Microsoft 365.
Tips:
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Some organizations manage Microsoft 365 or Office licenses and all installations for their employees or students. If the apps aren't already installed on your device and you don't see an install option after signing in with your work or school account at Office.com, talk to the Microsoft 365 administrator in your organization.
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If you signed in with a Microsoft account and don't see an option to install Office, see the section below "Office isn't associated with this account".
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