How to know if Microsoft Office is activated

Check if Microsoft Office is activated, it prevents outages, function limits and warning messages at the worst possible time. Whether you use Windows , the Mac, there are quick methods within the applications themselves, more technical alternatives with commands and checks designed for corporate environments. Here you'll find everything, step by step, with specifics for Microsoft 365, perpetual licenses, and OEM scenarios.

In addition to the basic methods, we review the activation model change in Microsoft 365, the registry paths and folders where the licenses are reflected, and the appropriate tools such as vnextdiag.ps1 in PowerShell. You'll also see what to do if it doesn't activate, what Microsoft requirements are (for example, the mandatory use of a Microsoft account), and specific advice if you manage multiple computers or have reinstalled the system.

Why you should check activation before using Office

Having Office activated guarantees access to all features, updates, and stability on a daily basis. If not enabled, persistent alerts may appear, some buttons may become unavailable, and after a grace period, the software may enter reduced functionality mode.

In work and study environments, these blockages lead to wasted time and avoidable errors. Confirming your license status at startup saves you trouble later, especially if you automate tasks with Excel, integrate macros, or need to work uninterrupted.

How to check activation from an Office application on Windows

The most direct method is done within Become, Excel or another Office app. Open an app, go to File, then Account. The status is displayed under Product Information. If you see "Product Activated," everything is fine.

This quick glance is sufficient for most domestic and professional cases. If you work with multiple installations or suspect an irregularity, you'll find additional checks and advanced methods below.

Check activation on Mac

On macOS, open Word (or any Office app) and go to the application menu. Select Help and then Check Activation. If the product activation notification appears, you can continue working normally.

If the message doesn't confirm activation or prompt you to sign in, check your Microsoft account and internet connectivity. Remember that some licenses require you to log in to validate your subscription or linked purchase.

Advanced Methods in Windows: OSPP.VBS and PowerShell

For technical diagnostics, there are two main paths, depending on the edition/versioning: OSPP.VBS and vnextdiag.ps1. The first applies to classic installations; the second is the modern path for Microsoft 365 Apps.

OSPP.VBS for perpetual installations (e.g. Office 2016/2019/2021/2024)

In traditional Office installations, you can check the status with the script OSPP.VBS. Run the Symbol of the system as administrator and run the command appropriate to your installation path:

cscript "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16\OSPP.VBS" /dstatus

Please note that the Office16 folder may vary (Office15, Office14, etc.) depending on the version. Adjust the path to yours; the result will show you the license status and relevant details.

Microsoft 365: New activation method and vnextdiag.ps1

Starting with version 1910, Microsoft 365 Apps changed its activation system and stopped using OSPP.VBS for these editions. Since version 2104, a PowerShell script, vnextdiag.ps1, is included to view and manage activation.

First, you can confirm if your suite uses the new method. There are three practical ways:

• Word > File > Account > About Word: If you see a license ID that starts with EWW, you are on the new system.
• Windows Registry: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\Licensing\LicensingNext; Products listed with a value of 2 indicate they use the modern model.
• License folder in the profile: %localappdata%\Microsoft\Office\Licenses contains numbered subfolders and files by product if activated using the new method.

To view the status using PowerShell, open Windows PowerShell and navigate to the Office16 folder. Then run:

./vnextdiag.ps1 -action list

The script will display installed products and, for each one, data such as: License type (for example, User|Subscription), name (O365ProPlusRetail, VisioProRetail), status (Licensed), email of the user who activated it, and the associated tenant ID.

If the device uses activation for shared devices or per-device licensing, it also appears in the output. It is especially useful for administrators managing classrooms, VDI, or labs.

Need to force a reactivation? You can remove the specific license with:

./vnextdiag.ps1 -action remove -LicenseId EWW_GUID_ID

Replace EWW_GUID_ID with the exact LicenseId returned by the listing command. Then, launch an Office app again and complete the sign-in to reactivate.

Other indicators within Office and the system

In Product Information (File > Account), in addition to the activation status, you can see the product name and sometimes the full version. This helps you distinguish whether it's Microsoft 365 or another edition like Home & Student.

If you need the build or architecture details (32/64 bit), in Excel choose About Excel. A box will open with the exact version number, build, and whether it's Click-to-Run or Windows Store.

Some guides mention Programs and Features (Control Panel) to check your Office installation. While viewing that list is helpful in confirming that Office is installed, the “Product Activated” status should be best verified from within the app itself or with the indicated scripts.

What to do if Office is not activated

If you don't see the "Product Activated" status or the app asks for activation, start with the basics. Restart your computer, check your internet connection, and sign in with the correct Microsoft account if your edition requires it.

When purchasing from authorized dealers, contact the seller to verify the validity of the license. Sometimes it's enough to check your purchase email or the license assignment to your Microsoft account.

Important in OEM: Microsoft requires a Microsoft account (MSA) and an internet connection to successfully activate Office 2019/2021/2024 or preinstalled Microsoft 365. Without access to Microsoft public endpoints, activation will not complete.

If activation doesn't happen, Office may remain in trial mode for 30 days from the first use. During this period, increasing warnings will appear, and at the end, many features will be disabled until you activate them properly.

Microsoft accounts in multi-computer environments

Microsoft limits you to about 25 licenses per account on certain consumer plans; if you purchase more devices, you'll need multiple MSAs. In these cases, creating one account per device can simplify license tracking.

A best practice is to generate an MSA per computer and use a recognizable alias, such as the computer's service tag. It also ensures strong passwords, securely shared with whoever manages IT.

If you lose access to your MSA, use the Microsoft account recovery form and flow. Recovering ownership is key to reinstalling or reactivating Office after changes in hardware or system.

Please note that each Office OEM device must be activated individually on that device. OEM licenses are not managed through Microsoft KMS, do not include traditional 5x5 keys, and do not include reimagining rights.

Reinstallation, corporate images, and recovery after hardware changes

With OEM, Microsoft does not grant reimaging rights for Office. If you're applying a corporate image, first activate Office in the factory image and link it to the MSA. You can then reimage and, when reinstalling Office, sign in with the same account so it reactivates automatically.

If you have already reimaged without activating before, the Office OEM license will not be applied to that image later. For business scenarios with reimaging, consider Office Pro Plus through volume licensing, which does include these rights.

Have you received a replacement unit or system? Go to account.microsoft.com/account, go to Services & subscription, locate your product, copy the key if available, and choose Install to download the official installer.

When you open Word after installation, log in with the same MSA you originally used. If Office doesn't detect the associated license, a screen will appear to enter the key; paste it and complete the activation.

Don’t be surprised if you purchased 2019/2021/2024 and see “Office 365” on the welcome screen before activating. The name will be updated after activation is complete; confirm the actual edit in File > Account, where you'll also see the activation status.

Automation with COM/OLE and programmatic state detection

If you generate spreadsheets via COM/OLE, activation is critical: when Office is not activated, writing to cells often fails and OLE errors occur. Avoid surprises by checking the status before launching mass reports or processes. You can also consult the guide for run Office using commands.

Options to automate detection: For perpetual installations, launch OSPP.VBS with /dstatus and parse the output; for modern Microsoft 365, use PowerShell and vnextdiag.ps1 -action list to read the status by product and the activating user.

You can also check the registry under LicensingNext (value 2) or the %localappdata%\Microsoft\Office\Licenses folder to confirm activated products. These routes are useful in audit scripts that check multiple computers before executing tasks.

To improve management, review how safely activate macros and ensure compatibility in your scripts.