Every licence we sell is delivered as a genuine 25-character product key plus the link to Microsoft's own download. Nothing is installed from our servers — you always get Microsoft's installer, which is also why the steps below match what Microsoft's support pages describe.
Before you start
- Your key. It is on your order page (the link in your confirmation e-mail) and in the e-mail itself. It looks like
XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX. Copy and paste rather than retyping. - A Microsoft account. Free at account.microsoft.com. Linking the licence to an account is what lets you reinstall later without hunting for the key.
- Room on the disk. Office needs about 4 GB on Windows and 10 GB on a Mac; Windows 11 needs 64 GB.
- Remove trial or old versions. A pre-installed Microsoft 365 trial on a new PC should be uninstalled first (Settings → Apps). Two versions side by side cause most "it installed but will not open" calls.
- Check compatibility. Office 2024 runs on Windows 10/11 and the three most recent macOS releases. Windows 11 needs TPM 2.0 and a supported processor — our Compatibility Checker walks you through it.
Office 2024 on a Windows PC
- Go to setup.office.comSign in with (or create) your Microsoft account, then choose Enter product key.
- Enter the keyPaste the 25 characters. Microsoft shows the product name — confirm it matches what you bought (for example "Office Home & Business 2024"). Choose your country and language.
- DownloadClick Install. A small setup file downloads; run it. Office streams the full installation in the background — leave the PC on and online for 10–20 minutes.
- Open Word and sign inOpen any Office app, accept the licence agreement and sign in with the same Microsoft account. Activation completes automatically.
- ConfirmFile → Account should show Product Activated and the name of your edition.
Professional Plus 2024
Office LTSC Professional Plus installs through the Office Deployment Tool rather than setup.office.com. Our Office 2024 on Windows guide covers both routes, and the product page links the current ODT download.
Office 2024 on a Mac
- Redeem the keySame first step: setup.office.com, sign in, enter the key, confirm the product name.
- Download the installerChoose Install; a
.pkgfile (about 2 GB) downloads to your Downloads folder. - Run the packageDouble-click it, follow the prompts, enter your Mac password when asked. Install takes 5–10 minutes.
- ActivateOpen Word from Launchpad; a window asks you to sign in. Use the same Microsoft account. Choose Activate when it finds your licence.
- Allow notifications and updatesMicrosoft AutoUpdate installs alongside Office and keeps it patched — let it run.
Windows 11 and Windows 10
There are two routes depending on what is on the PC today.
Route A — upgrade an existing activated Windows Home to Pro
- Settings → System → ActivationChoose Change product key.
- Enter the Pro keyWindows downloads the Pro features (a few minutes) and restarts.
- CheckSettings → System → Activation shows Windows 11 Pro — Active.
Route B — clean install on a new or wiped PC
- Create installation mediaOn another PC, download the Media Creation Tool from microsoft.com/software-download and write it to an 8 GB USB stick.
- Boot from the USBUsually F12, F2 or Esc at power-on opens the boot menu. Choose the USB device.
- InstallPick language and region, then Install now. When asked for a key, enter it (or choose I don't have a product key and enter it later in Settings). Choose the edition that matches your licence.
- Finish setupSign in with a Microsoft account. Windows activates online within a minute of first connecting.
Secure Boot and TPM
If the installer says "This PC can't run Windows 11", TPM 2.0 or Secure Boot is probably switched off in the firmware. Our Windows 11 guide shows where to turn them on for common manufacturers.
Project and Visio Professional
Project and Visio are Windows-only desktop applications and install exactly like Office: redeem at setup.office.com, download, run, sign in. Two things catch people out:
- Version alignment. Project/Visio 2024 install alongside Office 2024 or Microsoft 365 without issue. Mixing a 2019 edition with Office 2024 can trigger a "please uninstall other versions" message; our guides explain the workaround.
- 32-bit vs 64-bit. Use the same bitness as your Office install. Almost everyone today is on 64-bit.
Check that it worked
| Product | Where to look | What you should see |
|---|---|---|
| Office (PC) | Any app → File → Account | "Product Activated" and the edition name |
| Office (Mac) | Word → Word menu → About Word | Licence: your edition name |
| Windows | Settings → System → Activation | "Windows is activated with a digital licence linked to your Microsoft account" |
| Project / Visio | File → Account | "Product Activated" with the edition and year |
Common problems
- "This product key has already been used." Usually a previous attempt partially succeeded. Sign in to account.microsoft.com/services; if your product is listed, just click Install. If not, see activation help.
- Setup stalls at 0 % or an error ending in 1603. Leftovers from an old Office. Run Microsoft's Support and Recovery Assistant (link in our Office guides) to remove them, then retry.
- "Unlicensed product" banner after installing. You are signed in with a different Microsoft account from the one used to redeem. File → Account → Sign out, then sign in with the right one.
- Windows error 0xC004C003. The key is blocked or was redeemed on another PC. Contact us with your order reference — we will check and replace it under the guarantee.
Stuck? Tell us where it stopped and include a screenshot of the error. During business hours, calling is faster.