Activating Your Copy of Office

If you have a standard copy of Microsoft Office and you have not yet registered/activated any copy of Office on your computer, the Microsoft Activation Wizard will automatically open after you have finished installation. To continue to use all of the features of Microsoft Office, you need to activate your copy of the software. Following are the steps in this process.

Screen shot of the Microsoft Office Activation Wizard

Microsoft Office Activation Wizard

The wizard will guide you, step-by-step, through the process of activating the product via the Internet or over the telephone.

If you choose to activate your product through the Internet and you are not already connected, the wizard will help you get connected. If you choose to activate your product by talking to a customer service representative over the telephone, please note that it may take longer to complete the process.

What Happens If You Don't Activate the Software?

If you do not activate your copy of Microsoft Office, the product will go into Reduced Functionality Mode. In Reduced Functionality Mode, you will not be able to save modifications to documents, or create a new document, and additional functionality may be reduced.

No existing Office files or documents will be harmed, and you can easily get Office out of this mode by following the instructions outlined in the screens presented.

Using the Office Activation Wizard

Step

Mouse actions

Keyboard actions

In the Microsoft Office XP Activation Wizard:

Select Activate by using the Internet, to proceed using an existing Internet connection, or,
Select Activate by using the telephone, to proceed with activation by talking with a customer service representative.

Choose this option if you do not already have access to the Internet

In the Microsoft Office XP Activation Wizard:

Select Activate by using the Internet (to proceed using an existing Internet connection), by pressing A, or,
Select Activate by using the telephone, (to proceed with activation by talking with a customer service representative), by pressing T.

Choose this option if you do not already have access to the Internet

Microsoft Office Activation Wizard: Privacy Policy

If you are completing the Activation Wizard over the Internet, after you are connected, the first screen that is displayed is Privacy Policy. (If you are completing activation by telephone, the following information will be provided during that process.)

Read the Privacy Policy.
To proceed to the next screen, select Next, or press N.
To exit the Activation Wizard without completing activation, select Activate Later, or press R.
To open Office Help and read more about Microsoft privacy policy, select Help, or press H.

Microsoft Office Activation Wizard: Privacy Policy

Microsoft Office Activation Wizard: Customer Information

The next screen is Customer Information. While only country/region are required information, you can supply other information that will be used by Microsoft and its subsidiaries to provide you with information about new products and services, and to mail product updates if you are eligible.

To enter information in any of the data boxes, select in the data box, or press an underlined key to move to a data box, and then begin entering information.
When you're finished, to move to the next screen, select Next, or press N.
To exit the Activation Wizard without completing activation, click Activate Later, or press R.

Microsoft Office Activation Wizard: Customer Information

Microsoft Office Activation Wizard: Special Offers

The next screen is Special Offers. If you would like to be informed about product updates and special offers, select the appropriate boxes.

To select any of the boxes you want, select the option, or press the underlined letter.
If you want to be informed about product updates and special offers via e-mail, select Email Address, or press A, and enter your e-mail address.
To submit your information and activate Office XP, select Submit, or press S.
To exit the Activation Wizard without completing activation, select Activate Later, or press R.

Note: If you want to move back to earlier screens to review or change any previously entered information, select Back, or press B.

Microsoft Office Activation Wizard: Special Offers

Microsoft Office Activation Wizard: Activation Complete

The next screen is Activation Complete. You will receive this message when your activation is completed successfully. If you get a different message, follow the instructions on the screen to troubleshoot the problem.

When the activation is complete, select Finish, or press F.

Depending upon your type of installation and computer configuration, you may get additional messages. If you do, follow the instructions on the screen.

Microsoft Office Activation Wizard: Activation Complete