Introduction

Microsoft Office is a suite of productivity applications widely used in businesses, schools, and homes across the world. There may come a time when you need to transfer your licensed Microsoft Office software from one computer to another. This article will discuss three methods to transfer your Microsoft Office license and applications, deactivating Office, making use of external media, and taking advantage of the Office 365 subscription.

1. Deactivate Microsoft Office License

The first option for transferring Microsoft Office is deactivation of the license from one computer and activating it on another. To accomplish this:

a. Sign in to your Microsoft account at www.office.com.

b. Click on “Services & Subscriptions” and locate your active Office product.

c. Click on the “Manage” button next to it, which will take you to the “Install Status” page.

d. Find your currently activated device under “Devices,” and click on “Deactivate Install.”

e. Upon deactivation, install Office on the new computer by following the steps in your account.

f. Launch any Office application on the new PC and sign in with your account details to activate the license.

Note: Make sure you’ve uninstalled Microsoft Office from your old computer after you’ve deactivated your license.

2. Use External Media

Another method for transferring Microsoft Office is using external media (such as a USB flash drive or an external hard drive). Follow these steps:

a. Locate and copy the Microsoft Office installation folder from Program Files.

b. Paste it onto an appropriate external media (i.e., USB flash drive or external hard drive).

c. Safely remove the media device from your current computer.

d. Plug it into the new computer and copy/paste the Microsoft Office installation folder into its Program Files directory.

e. After copying, run the executable file “Setup.exe” in the installation folder to initiate the installation process.

f. Enter the product key when prompted to complete the installation.

Keep in mind that using this method may not transfer product updates or certain customizations made to Office settings.

3. Leverage Your Office 365 Subscription

If you have an Office 365 subscription, transferring Office is simplified. Subscriptions provide the flexibility to install and use Office on multiple devices concurrently. Here’s how to transfer your Office 365 subscription:

a. Sign in to your Microsoft account at www.office.com from the new computer.

b. Click on “Install Office” and proceed with the installation instructions.

c. Once installed, open any Office application and sign in using your account credentials.

Remember that depending on your subscription type (Personal, Family, or Business), there may be a limit on the number of devices you can install Office on.

Conclusion

Transferring Microsoft Office doesn’t have to be a daunting task. By following the above-mentioned methods, you can efficiently transfer your Microsoft Office license and applications from one computer to another while ensuring compliance with licensing terms.