Get Office 2021 for FREE without a product key

As you know, in the past fourteen years, all Microsoft Office version numbers were named according to a simple arithmetic sequence that has a difference of 3 between each one since Office 2007. Notwithstanding the rule, a new version of Microsoft productivity suite was released on October 5th succeeding Office 2019 and its official name is Office 2021, not Office 2022. Surely you will be curious to know what is new in this version that makes them change the naming convention of their product. Is it worth upgrading your old productivity suite? Let’s make it clear right now.

What’s new in Office 2021

There are quite a few new features added to this 2021 version. You will have a new dark mode, realtime co-authoring, editing tools, functions, motion graphics, improved features, and so much more. Just check out the official article here for more details. Now I am still using Office 2019 because new things in version 2021 are not enough to convince me to upgrade to it. Perhaps I will consider it again in the future but not now.

Download and install Office 2021

First, make sure that the operating system version you are running is Windows 10 or later before you get started. There is no way to install Office 2021 on Windows 8 or earlier.
Just go here to get the official download link from Microsoft. The size of the IMG file is 4.2 GB. Double click on the file to mount it to a virtual drive on your PC once the download is complete. Then follow the instructions of the Setup Wizard to install Office 2021 on your Windows.

Allow office 2021 installer makes changes to your device
Allow office 2021 installer makes changes to your device
Installing Microsoft Office 2021
Installing Microsoft Office 2021

This might take a while, please wait.

After the installation completes, just open an Office app to verify some basic information. Just skip the product key option by clicking the X button at the top right corner.

Skip Office 2021 product key option
Skip Office 2021 product key option

As you can see in the screenshot below, I installed Office Professional Plus 2021 on my PC successfully and the trial license will expire in 7 days.

Accept the license agreement of Office 2021
Accept the license agreement of Office 2021

Activate Office 2021 for FREE using KMS client key

Method 1: Running CMD commands manually

Running commands manually to activate Office 2021

Step 1.1: Open cmd program with administrator rights.
First, you need to open cmd in the admin mode, then run all commands below one by one.

Run cmd program with admin rights
Run cmd program with admin rights

Step 1.2: Get into the Office directory in cmd.

cd /d %ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft Office\Office16
cd /d %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\Office16

If you install your Office in the ProgramFiles folder, the Office directory depends on the architecture of your OS. If you are not sure of this issue, just run both of the commands above. One of them will be not executed and an error message will be printed on the screen.

Open location of Office 2021 installed
Open location of Office 2021 installed

Step 1.3: Install Office 2021 volume license.

for /f %x in ('dir /b ..\root\Licenses16\ProPlus2021VL_KMS*.xrm-ms') do cscript ospp.vbs /inslic:"..\root\Licenses16\%x"

This step is required. You can not install the KMS client product key of Office without a volume license.

Install KMS volume licenses of Office 2021
Install KMS volume licenses of Office 2021

Step 1.4: Activate your Office using the KMS key.
Make sure your device is connected to the internet, then run the following commands.

cscript ospp.vbs /setprt:1688
cscript ospp.vbs /unpkey:6F7TH >nul
cscript ospp.vbs /inpkey:FXYTK-NJJ8C-GB6DW-3DYQT-6F7TH
cscript ospp.vbs /sethst:107.175.77.7
cscript ospp.vbs /act

Use act command to activate Office 2021
Use act command to activate Office 2021

If you see the error 0xC004F074, it means that your internet connection is unstable or the server is busy. Please make sure your device is online and try the command “act” again until you succeed.

Here is all the text you will get in the command prompt window.

C:\Windows\system32>cd /d %ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft Office\Office16
The system cannot find the path specified.

C:\Windows\system32>cd /d %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\Office16

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16>for /f %x in ('dir /b ..\root\Licenses16\ProPlus2021VL_KMS*.xrm-ms') do cscript ospp.vbs /inslic:"..\root\Licenses16\%x"

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16>cscript ospp.vbs /inslic:"..\root\Licenses16\ProPlus2021VL_KMS_Client_AE-ppd.xrm-ms"
Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.812
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

---Processing--------------------------
---------------------------------------
Installing Office license: ..\root\licenses16\proplus2021vl_kms_client_ae-ppd.xrm-ms
Office license installed successfully.
---------------------------------------
---Exiting-----------------------------

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16>cscript ospp.vbs /inslic:"..\root\Licenses16\ProPlus2021VL_KMS_Client_AE-ul-oob.xrm-ms"
Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.812
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

---Processing--------------------------
---------------------------------------
Installing Office license: ..\root\licenses16\proplus2021vl_kms_client_ae-ul-oob.xrm-ms
Office license installed successfully.
---------------------------------------
---Exiting-----------------------------

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16>cscript ospp.vbs /inslic:"..\root\Licenses16\ProPlus2021VL_KMS_Client_AE-ul.xrm-ms"
Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.812
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

---Processing--------------------------
---------------------------------------
Installing Office license: ..\root\licenses16\proplus2021vl_kms_client_ae-ul.xrm-ms
Office license installed successfully.
---------------------------------------
---Exiting-----------------------------

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16>cscript ospp.vbs /setprt:1688
Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.812
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

---Processing--------------------------
---------------------------------------
Successfully applied setting.
---------------------------------------
---Exiting-----------------------------

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16>cscript ospp.vbs /unpkey:6F7TH >nul

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16>cscript ospp.vbs /inpkey:FXYTK-NJJ8C-GB6DW-3DYQT-6F7TH
Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.812
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

---Processing--------------------------
---------------------------------------
<Product key installation successful>
---------------------------------------
---Exiting-----------------------------

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16>cscript ospp.vbs /sethst:107.175.77.7
Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.812
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

---Processing--------------------------
---------------------------------------
Successfully applied setting.
---------------------------------------
---Exiting-----------------------------

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16>cscript ospp.vbs /act
Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.812
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

---Processing--------------------------
---------------------------------------
Installed product key detected - attempting to activate the following product:
SKU ID: cd18ecc0-466a-45d4-8d2e-8c4fa48ae591
LICENSE NAME: Office 21, Office21ProPlus2021R_Grace edition
LICENSE DESCRIPTION: Office 21, RETAIL(Grace) channel
Last 5 characters of installed product key: PG343
ERROR CODE: 0xC004F017
ERROR DESCRIPTION: The Software Licensing Service reported that the license is not installed.
---------------------------------------
Installed product key detected - attempting to activate the following product:
SKU ID: fbdb3e18-a8ef-4fb3-9183-dffd60bd0984
LICENSE NAME: Office 21, Office21ProPlus2021VL_KMS_Client_AE edition
LICENSE DESCRIPTION: Office 21, VOLUME_KMSCLIENT channel
Last 5 characters of installed product key: 6F7TH
<Product activation successful>
---------------------------------------
---------------------------------------
---Exiting-----------------------------

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16>
Office 2021 activation successful
Office 2021 activation successful

Congratulations! The activation was completed successfully.

Method 2: Using my pre-written batch script

How to activate Office 2021 using my pre-written batch script

This one is not recommended anymore due to the new update of Microsoft.

Step 2.1: Copy the script code below into a new text document.

@echo off
title Activate Microsoft Office 2021 (ALL versions) for FREE - MSGuides.com&cls&echo =====================================================================================&echo #Project: Activating Microsoft software products for FREE without additional software&echo =====================================================================================&echo.&echo #Supported products:&echo - Microsoft Office Standard 2021&echo - Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2021&echo.&echo.&(if exist "%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\Office16\ospp.vbs" cd /d "%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\Office16")&(if exist "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft Office\Office16\ospp.vbs" cd /d "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft Office\Office16")&(for /f %%x in ('dir /b ..\root\Licenses16\ProPlus2021VL_KMS*.xrm-ms') do cscript ospp.vbs /inslic:"..\root\Licenses16\%%x" >nul)&echo.&echo =====================================================================================&echo Activating your product...&cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ckms >nul&cscript //nologo ospp.vbs /setprt:1688 >nul&cscript //nologo ospp.vbs /unpkey:6F7TH >nul&set i=1&cscript //nologo ospp.vbs /inpkey:FXYTK-NJJ8C-GB6DW-3DYQT-6F7TH >nul||goto notsupported
:skms
if %i% GTR 10 goto busy
if %i% EQU 1 set KMS=kms7.MSGuides.com
if %i% EQU 2 set KMS=107.175.77.7
if %i% GTR 2 goto ato
cscript //nologo ospp.vbs /sethst:%KMS% >nul
:ato
echo =====================================================================================&echo.&echo.&cscript //nologo ospp.vbs /act | find /i "successful" && (echo.&echo =====================================================================================&echo.&echo #My official blog: MSGuides.com&echo.&echo #How it works: bit.ly/kms-server&echo.&echo #Please feel free to contact me at [email protected] if you have any questions or concerns.&echo.&echo #Please consider supporting this project: donate.msguides.com&echo #Your support is helping me keep my servers running 24/7!&echo.&echo =====================================================================================&choice /n /c YN /m "Would you like to visit my blog [Y,N]?" & if errorlevel 2 exit) || (echo The connection to my KMS server failed! Trying to connect to another one... & echo Please wait... & echo. & echo. & set /a i+=1 & goto skms)
explorer "http://MSGuides.com"&goto halt
:notsupported
echo =====================================================================================&echo.&echo Sorry, your version is not supported.&echo.&goto halt
:busy
echo =====================================================================================&echo.&echo Sorry, the server is busy and can't respond to your request. Please try again.&echo.
:halt
pause >nul
Create a new text document
Create a new text document

Step 2.2: Save this text file as a cmd file. (Eg. 1click.cmd).

Save text file as a cmd script
Save text file as a cmd script
Name the activation script
Name the activation script

Step 2.3: Run the cmd file in admin mode.

Run the activation script as admin
Run the activation script as admin
Allow the activation script to make changes to your PC
Allow the activation script to make changes to your PC
Activate Office 2021 using guang's pre written batch script
Activate Office 2021 using my pre written batch script

Step 2.4: Check the activation status again.

Office 2021 activation successful
Office 2021 activation successful

Done! Your product is activated successfully now.

More information:

Here is the KMS client key of Office 2021: FXYTK-NJJ8C-GB6DW-3DYQT-6F7TH.
The Office 2021 KMS license is valid for 180 days only but it can be renewed automatically so you needn’t worry so much about the period.

If you would have any questions or concerns, please leave your comments. I would be glad to explain in more details. Thank you so much for all your feedback and support!

5/5 - (738 votes)

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781 Comments

  1. its working fine just had to turn off the virus and firewall all windows products and than works and activated, once activated turn on all protection back again. Only Visio not included in the installation need to do it separately.

  2. For some reason, the activation steps works one time only. The second time I open any app from the suite, it is like nothing was ever done, the suite returns to the non-activated state. May anyone help me?

  3. Still not working
    After removing the anti-virus, disconnecting the firewall, uninstalling Office 21, and reinstalled, the same errors on both – cmd script and batch.
    THE LINK PROVIDED TO DOWNLOAD THE OFFICE21 IS NOT SPECIFIED FOR LTSC

  4. which office 2021 update version DOES NOT contain “Genuine Office” notification?

    I know the original build 2108 is safe.. but which other updates misses that annoying notification?

  5. please help me with the activation I am trying to active microsoft 2021 using the same steps but it does not work with my laptop and I dont know whether my laptop was programmed or what

  6. Still – The connection to KMS server failed! – Trying to connect to another one…
    Sorry, the server is busy and can’t respond to your request. Please try again.

  7. If you suddenly have to activate the product again, I found that the batch file .cmd worked for me. Manually using the command lines didn’t activate Office for me, but running the cmd file as Administrator worked like a charm, just gotta let the command run for a minute or so since connection to the KMS server may not work initially.

  8. The previously activated MS Office 2021 is showing as “activation required” now.
    Please help.

  9. This week, i tried both ways to activate the MO 2021 but it gives server is busy via CMD batch…via command gives another error,
    ERROR DESCRIPTION: An unknown error occurred. (0x1A8)
    —————————————
    —Exiting—————————–

  10. Hi, Sorry to say but after working for years now it doesn’t anymore. I think because a recent update.

  11. Apparently, Office 2021 pro plus activation doesn’t work on Windows 11. Even tho it says it’s successful, it will still pop up a message to activate office.

  12. error
    C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16>cscript ospp.vbs /inpkey:FXYTK-NJJ8C-GB6DW-3DYQT-6F7TH
    Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.812
    Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

    —Processing————————–
    —————————————
    ERROR CODE: 0xC004E016
    ERROR DESCRIPTION: The Software Licensing Service reported that the product key is invalid.
    —————————————
    —Exiting—————————–

    C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16>

  13. Hi thank for this wonderful and brilliant idea, anyways I just want to ask 2 questions which are? Is this activation process legal or is it not? Will Microsoft ever deactivate my activation if detected or not? Just been curious that’s all and thanks once again.

  14. Thank you! I’m a public school teacher who works for a rural, low income school. Needless to say I don’t get paid much, and bills are high these days. I use Office for making lessons, AND I also use it to make material for a nonprofit that hosts anime conventions for charity. It’s all possible because you put this info on here. Thank you!

  15. My apologies, I was using the old commands… doh! I have rectified this now! All working OK. Please remove my previous comment (and this one too). Many thanks for all your awesomeness =) I will look into sending you a donation.

  16. —Processing————————–
    —————————————
    ERROR DESCRIPTION: An unknown error occurred. (0x1A8)
    —————————————
    —Exiting—————————–

    C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16>cscript ospp.vbs /inslic:”..\root\Licenses16\ProPlus2021VL_KMS_Client_AE-ul-oob.xrm-ms”
    Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.812
    Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. Tous droits réservés.

    —Processing————————–
    —————————————
    ERROR DESCRIPTION: An unknown error occurred. (0x1A8)
    —————————————
    —Exiting—————————–

    C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16>cscript ospp.vbs /inslic:”..\root\Licenses16\ProPlus2021VL_KMS_Client_AE-ul.xrm-ms”
    Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.812
    Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. Tous droits réservés.

    —Processing————————–
    —————————————
    ERROR DESCRIPTION: An unknown error occurred. (0x1A8)