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- Microsoft Office Download
- Microsoft Office 365
- Microsoft Office 2019 Volume License Key
- Microsoft Office 2019 Volume License Setup
- Microsoft Office 2019 Volume License Key
Applies to:Volume licensed versions of Office 2019 and Office 2016, including Project and Visio
Activation is the process of validating software with the manufacturer after it has been installed on a specific computer. Activation confirms that the product is genuine—not a fraudulent copy—and that the product key or serial number is valid and has not been compromised or revoked. Activation also establishes a link or relationship between the product key and the particular installation.
Use of some devices or functionalities may require the purchase of separate licenses. The following software is included in the Office 2019 suites, available through Volume Licensing. Use of some devices or functionalities may require the purchase of separate licenses. The following software is included in the Office 2019 suites, available through Volume Licensing.
Note
If you're a user trying to activate a personal copy of Office, see Activate Office instead of reading this article.
Volume activation is the process that Microsoft volume licensing customers use to automate and manage the activation of Windows operating systems, Microsoft Office, and other Microsoft products across large organizations.
There are three different methods that you can activate volume licensed versions of Office, including Project and Visio:
Key Management Service (KMS): Office is activated by contacting a KMS host computer on your network.
Multiple Activation Key (MAK): Office is activated online by Microsoft-hosted activation servers or by telephone.
Active Directory-based: Office on a domain-joined computer is activated through Active Directory.
Microsoft Office Download
Which activation method you choose depends on the size, network infrastructure, connectivity, and security requirements of your environment. You can choose to use different activation methods for different versions of Office and for different computers, for example desktops and laptops. Because these three activation methods are also used to activate volume licensed versions of Windows, you might be able to use the same method to activate both Windows and Office. For more information, see Volume Activation for Windows 10 and Volume Activation Overview.
All volume licensed versions of Office, including Project and Visio, have a preinstalled product key, called a Generic Volume License Key (GVLK), that can be used for KMS and Active Directory-based activation. You don't have to enter a product key for each Office installation if you're activating Office by using KMS or Active Directory. If you're activating Office by using MAK, you must enter a product key for each Office installation, but there are ways to automate that.
Key Management Service (KMS) activation of Office
KMS activation is a client-server model in which each client requests activation from a KMS host computer. The keys needed to activate Office are installed on the KMS host computer. The client uses DNS to locate a KMS host computer to request activation.
For more information, see the following:
Multiple Activation Key (MAK) activation of Office
MAK activation is used for one-time activation through Microsoft-hosted activation services, either via the internet or by telephone. MAK activation requires that a MAK is installed on a client computer and instructs that computer to activate itself against those services.
Each MAK has a predetermined number of allowed activations and is based on your volume licensing agreement. Each Office activation that uses MAK counts toward the activation limit. After Office is activated, no re-activation is required unless the hardware changes significantly.
For more information, see Activate volume licensed versions of Office by using MAK.
Active Directory-based activation of Office
Active Directory-based activation can activate Office installed on domain-joined computers. The product key information, which is the same that is used by KMS, is stored in Active Directory and replicated throughout the forest. If Office can't contact Active Directory for activation, Office tries to activate by using KMS.
For more information, see Activate volume licensed versions of Office by using Active Directory.
Related topics
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This article helps you determine the licensing type of your Microsoft Office product, whether it's Microsoft 365, Office 2019, Office 2016, or Office 2013.
License types
To determine whether you have a retail edition or a volume license edition, use one of the following methods, depending on which version of Microsoft Office product you've installed.
Microsoft 365
If you're using a Microsoft 365 product, see View Microsoft 365 licenses and services with PowerShell. Follow the steps to find your license type and other details about your version of Office.
Office 2019 and Office 2016
Press Windows logo key+X on your keyboard to open the quick action menu.
Select Command Prompt (Admin).
If a security prompt window is displayed, select Allow.
Using the command line to check your license type
Open an elevated Command Prompt window.
Type the following command to navigate to the Office folder.
For 32-bit (x86) Office
cd c:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficeOffice16For 64-bit (x64) Office
cd c:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice16Type
cscript ospp.vbs /dstatus, and then press Enter.In this example, the screen displays the Retail type license. If you have a volume license (VL) product, the license type is displayed as VL or Volume Licensing.
Office 2013
Method 1: Search DVD or ISO file for Admin folder
This method requires that you have access to the DVD or ISO file that's used to install your Office product.
Open File Explorer, and navigate to the DVD or ISO file.
Search for a folder that’s named Admin.
- If the Admin folder exists, this disc is a volume license (VL) edition.
- If the Admin folder does not exist, this disc is a retail edition.
Note
Retail media includes a lowercase 'r' before the '.WW' in the folder name and before the 'WW.msi' in the MSI file name.For example, the installation file for Proplus retail is ProplusrWW.msi in the ProplusrWW folder. Proplus non-retail is ProplusWW.msi in the PlusplusWW.
Method 2: Use the command-line interface
Open an elevated Command Prompt window.
Windows 10, Windows 8.1, or Windows 8
Press Windows logo key+X on your keyboard to open the quick action menu.
Select Command Prompt (Admin).
If a security prompt window is displayed, select Allow.
Windows 7
- Select Start, and type cmd.
- On the Start menu, right-click Command Prompt, and then select Run as administrator.
- If a security prompt window is displayed, select Allow.
Type the following command to navigate to the Office folder:
For 32-bit (x86) Office
cd c:Program Files (x86)Microsoft OfficeOffice15For 64-bit (x64) Office
cd c:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeOffice15
At the command prompt, type
cscript ospp.vbs /dstatus, and then press Enter.In this example, the license channel is reflected as RETAIL or VOLUME.
Microsoft Office 365
Volume licenses
Microsoft Office 2019 Volume License Key
To determine the Office volume license type on a Mac, open an Office app (such as PowerPoint), select the name of the app in the menu, and then select About (app).
The license type will be listed below the Product ID.
Subscription licenses
To determine the Office subscription license type, open an Office app (such as PowerPoint), select the name of the app in the menu, and then About (app).
The license type will be listed below the Product ID.
More information
For more information, see Find details for other versions of Office.
Microsoft Office 2019 Volume License Setup
To get support for your Microsoft product, go to the Office product page, and log in to your My Account panel. Within the panel, you can find your product details, support options, and information about any subscriptions that you have.
Microsoft Office 2019 Volume License Key
Still need help? Go to Microsoft Community.