How to Install and Activate Office 2024, 2021 and 2019 on Windows

Quick answer: Uninstall any older Office first. For volume keys (Office Professional Plus, Standard and single apps), download Office with Microsoft's free Office Deployment Tool and enter the key under File → Account. For retail keys linked to a Microsoft account, redeem the key at microsoft365.com/setup and install from your account.

This guide covers Office 2024 Professional Plus, Office 2024 Standard, Office 2021 Professional Plus, Office 2019 Professional Plus, their multi-key packs, the retail Pro Plus editions and standalone apps such as Word 2024 and Excel 2024. Using a Mac? Follow the Office for Mac guide.

Which installation method do I need?

Your order email says whether your key is a volume or retail key. Use the matching method:

If your order email contains its own download link, you can use that installer instead of the Microsoft tools below. The activation steps are the same.

Before you start

• Remove older Office versions and Microsoft 365 trials from Settings → Apps → Installed apps. Leftover installs are the number-one cause of activation errors. Microsoft's uninstall support tool removes stubborn leftovers.
• Office 2024 and 2021 need Windows 11 or Windows 10. Office 2019 needs Windows 10 or later.
• Use 64-bit Office unless you rely on old 32-bit add-ins. You can't mix 32-bit and 64-bit Office on one PC.

Method A: Install with the Office Deployment Tool (volume keys)

1. Download the Office Deployment Tool from Microsoft and run it. Choose a folder such as C:\ODT; it extracts setup.exe and sample files.
2. In that folder, create a text file named configuration.xml with the content below. Change the Channel and Product ID to match your product (see the table), and change en-us to your language if needed.

<Configuration>
  <Add OfficeClientEdition="64" Channel="PerpetualVL2024">
    <Product ID="ProPlus2024Volume">
      <Language ID="en-us" />
    </Product>
  </Add>
  <RemoveMSI />
  <Display Level="Full" AcceptEULA="TRUE" />
</Configuration>

3. Open Command Prompt as administrator, go to the folder (cd C:\ODT) and run:
   setup /configure configuration.xml
4. Office downloads directly from Microsoft's servers and installs. This takes 10-30 minutes depending on your connection.
5. Open Word or Excel. When asked, enter your 25-character key, or go to File → Account → Change Product Key.
6. Check that File → Account shows "Product Activated".

Prefer a graphical tool? Microsoft's Office Customization Tool builds the same configuration file with tick boxes. Full technical details are in Microsoft's Office LTSC 2024 deployment guide.

Activating from the command line

If the in-app box doesn't appear, open Command Prompt as administrator and run (64-bit Office path shown):

cd "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16"
cscript ospp.vbs /inpkey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
cscript ospp.vbs /act

The message "Product activation successful" confirms it. Run cscript ospp.vbs /dstatus to check the licence status.

Method B: Redeem a retail key with your Microsoft account

1. Go to microsoft365.com/setup and sign in with your Microsoft account (or create one for free).
2. Enter the 25-character key from your order email and confirm your country and language. The licence is now permanently linked to this account.
3. Open account.microsoft.com/services, find your Office product and select Install.
4. Run the downloaded installer. When it finishes, open any Office app and sign in with the same account. Office activates automatically.

To reinstall later, for example on a new PC, just sign in to the same account and select Install again. You don't need the key a second time.

Troubleshooting

Still stuck? Reply to your order email with a screenshot of File → Account and we'll help.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Office Deployment Tool safe and official?

Yes. It's Microsoft's own free tool, and it downloads Office directly from Microsoft's content servers.

Can I install Visio or Project next to Office?

Yes. Add a second Product ID to the same configuration file. See our Visio and Project guide.

Is Office 2019 or 2021 still supported?

Office 2019 reached end of support on 14 October 2025, and Office 2021 on 13 October 2026. Both keep working after those dates but get no new security updates. Office 2024 is supported until 9 October 2029.

Does Office 2024 include Publisher?

No. Microsoft is retiring Publisher, so it isn't part of Office 2024. Publisher 2021 is still available as a standalone app.

Useful links