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Microsoft 365 (How To) Re-activate Microsoft 365 Apps License

Users who need to re-activate Microsoft 365 Apps may need to run the Microsoft 365 Support and Recovery Assistant. If the user previously had a version of Microsoft 365 Apps which expired, they may be encountering this issue because it is still registering the old product key. The steps present in this article will not work for emeritus faculty or annuitants.

Troubleshooting 

**If this is a university-owned device, escalate this incident to Desktop Support. This team will need to perform these procedures because the user will need Administrative Access to install and run this tool.

  • If you are running Windows, navigate to this Microsoft article and download Microsoft's Microsoft 365 Support and Recovery AssistantFollow the given set of instructions.
    If you are running Mac OS, navigate to this Microsoft article and download Microsoft's license removal tool. Follow the given set of instructions.

  • After the set of instructions is completed, restart the computer and open a Microsoft Office application. If the tool worked successfully, you should be prompted to authenticate upon opening the application, which will activate Microsoft Office.

If steps 1-2 did not resolve the issue, the old license can be manually removed. This method needs to be completed in Command Prompt and should only be performed by HD Level 3 or Desktop Support.

For the Microsoft office activation for emeritus faculty and Annuitants, please visit [Link for document 91790 is unavailable at this time]


Manually Remove Microsoft 365 Apps License

This process requires entering commands through Window's Command Prompt.

If the above methods did not resolve your issue, please contact the UWM Help Desk at (414) 229-4040, toll free at (877) 381-3459, or submit a help request online at https://uwm.edu/technology/request-support for additional assistance with removing your Microsoft Office license.

  • Close all Microsoft 365 Apps.

  • Open Command Prompt as Administrator (Open Start Menu > search "Command Prompt" > right-click Command Prompt > Select Run as Administrator).

  • If you have Microsoft Office 2016 32-bit installed, copy and paste this command:
    cscript "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16\OSPP.VBS" /dstatus

    If you have Microsoft Office 2016 64-bit installed, copy and paste this command:
    cscript "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16\OSPP.VBS" /dstatus

  • Look for the Last 5 characters of installed product key (see example)


last-5-product-key

    • If you have Microsoft Office 2016 32-bit installed, copy and paste this cmdlet and replace <LAST 5 CHARACTERS OF INSTALLED PRODUCT KEY> with the 5 character key:
      cscript "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16\OSPP.VBS" /unpkey:<LAST 5 CHARACTERS OF INSTALLED PRODUCT KEY>
    • If you have Microsoft Office 2016 64-bit installed, copy and paste this cmdlet and replace <LAST 5 CHARACTERS OF INSTALLED PRODUCT KEY> with the 5 character key:
      cscript "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16\OSPP.VBS" /unpkey:<LAST 5 CHARACTERS OF INSTALLED PRODUCT KEY>

  • Open a Microsoft Office application. You should be prompted to authenticate upon opening the application, which will activate Microsoft Office.

Additional References