How to install and activate Office 2024 without a Microsoft account
Office 2024 and Office 2021 Professional Plus activate with a product key alone. You can skip every "Sign in" prompt and never create a Microsoft account.
Updated 7 October 202601Do you need a Microsoft account?
No. Office 2024 and Office 2021 Professional Plus are activated with a 25-character product key. Signing in with a Microsoft account is optional: it only adds OneDrive integration and syncs a few settings.
This is different from Microsoft 365 and from the Home & Business boxes sold in shops, which ask you to redeem the key on a Microsoft account first.
02Install Office
- Uninstall any other Office version or Microsoft 365 trial first (Settings → Apps → Installed apps).
- Download the installer from the link in your key email and run it.
- Wait while Office downloads and installs, then close the installer.
03Skip the sign-in screen
- Open Word. If a window asks you to sign in or create an account, close it with the X in the corner.
- If Office then shows a yellow bar or an Activate Office window, choose the option to enter a product key instead of signing in.
04Enter your product key
- Go to File → Account.
- Click Change Product Key (or Activate Product).
- Type your 25-character key and confirm. Office checks it online in a few seconds.
- Under Product Information you should now see Product Activated.
05Activate from the command line
If the window keeps asking you to sign in, you can activate without it. Open Command Prompt as administrator and run:
cd "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16" cscript OSPP.VBS /inpkey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX cscript OSPP.VBS /act
Replace the X's with your key. With 32-bit Office, use Program Files (x86). The last command should end with Product activation successful.
06Will Office keep asking me to sign in?
Office may show a small Sign in link in the top-right corner. You can ignore it: it doesn't affect your license, and the apps keep working fully without an account.
07Something went wrong?
See Office activation errors for messages like "Unlicensed Product", or how to install and activate Office for the full install guide. Need a key? Office 2024 Professional Plus.
