Legal way to use Office 365 totally FREE without paying a dime
In a previous post here, I have shown you guys how to download and install Office 365 Multi-language using online installer downloaded directly from the Microsoft homepage. The new installation includes a 30-day free trial license by default. After that, most important features will be disabled. It means your work will be discontinued unless you pay for Office 365 subscription. If you are in financial difficulties, this is so bad, I know. To help you overcome this problem, I recommend using KMS licene key to activate your Office. For those of you guys who don’t already know, KMS license is almost similar to the trial one. It is totally free, legal and is valid for 180 days only. But don’t worry about the period because it can be renewed easily.
Remove your current trial license
This step is optional if your trial license was expired. However, if it is still valid, you need to remove it. Because in some cases, after you activate your Office using KMS license, important features are resumed but the expiration notification still remains. Follow the instructions in this post to uninstall the trial license.
Make sure your computer is ready
You need to check your internet connection again and make sure that the Windows Update service is turned on. KMS license has to be verified by making a connection to my KMS servers before it can be used. So you need to check if the KMS server is blocked or not. This is pretty simple. Just open your internet browser and try visitting this site: http://kms8.msguides.com. If it is visible, this means my KMS server is not blocked.
Activating your Office 365 using KMS client key
1. Manual method
Step 1.1: Open command prompt as admin.
First, you need to open command prompt with admin rights, then follow the instruction below step by step. Just copy/paste the commands and do not forget to hit Enter in order to execute them.
Step 1.2: Navigate to your Office folder.
If you install your Office in the ProgramFiles folder, the path will be “%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\Office16” or “%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft Office\Office16”. It depends on the architecture of the Windows OS you are using. If you are not sure of this issue, don’t worry, just run both of the commands above. One of them will be not executed and an error message will be printed on the screen.
cd /d %ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\Office16
cd /d %ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft Office\Office16
Step 1.3: Convert your Office license to volume one if possible.
If your Office is got from Microsoft, this step is required. On the contrary, if you install Office from a Volume ISO file, this is optional so just skip it if you want.
for /f %x in ('dir /b ..\root\Licenses16\proplusvl_kms*.xrm-ms') do cscript ospp.vbs /inslic:"..\root\Licenses16\%x"
Step 1.4: Use KMS client key to activate your Office.
Make sure your PC is connected to the internet, then run the following command.
cscript ospp.vbs /inpkey:XQNVK-8JYDB-WJ9W3-YJ8YR-WFG99
cscript ospp.vbs /unpkey:BTDRB >nul
cscript ospp.vbs /unpkey:KHGM9 >nul
cscript ospp.vbs /unpkey:CPQVG >nul
cscript ospp.vbs /sethst:107.175.77.7
cscript ospp.vbs /setprt:1688
cscript ospp.vbs /act
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%\Microsoft Office\Office16
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16>cd /d %ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft Office\Office16
The system cannot find the path specified.
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16>for /f %x in ('dir /b ..\root\Licenses16\proplusvl_kms*.xrm-ms') do cscript ospp.vbs /inslic:"..\root\Licenses16\%x"
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16>cscript ospp.vbs /inslic:"..\root\Licenses16\ProPlusVL_KMS_Client-ppd.xrm-ms"
Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.812
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
---Processing--------------------------
Installing Office license: ..\root\licenses16\proplusvl_kms_client-ppd.xrm-ms
Office license installed successfully.
---Exiting-----------------------------
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16>cscript ospp.vbs /inslic:"..\root\Licenses16\ProPlusVL_KMS_Client-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\proplusvl_kms_client-ul-oob.xrm-ms
Office license installed successfully.
---Exiting-----------------------------
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16>cscript ospp.vbs /inslic:"..\root\Licenses16\ProPlusVL_KMS_Client-ul.xrm-ms"
Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.812
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
---Processing--------------------------
Installing Office license: ..\root\licenses16\proplusvl_kms_client-ul.xrm-ms
Office license installed successfully.
---Exiting-----------------------------
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16>cscript ospp.vbs /inpkey:XQNVK-8JYDB-WJ9W3-YJ8YR-WFG99
Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.812
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
---Processing--------------------------
---Exiting-----------------------------
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16>cscript ospp.vbs /unpkey:BTDRB >nul
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16>cscript ospp.vbs /unpkey:KHGM9 >nul
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16>cscript ospp.vbs /unpkey:CPQVG >nul
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 /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 /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: d450596f-894d-49e0-966a-fd39ed4c4c64
LICENSE NAME: Office 16, Office16ProPlusVL_KMS_Client edition
LICENSE DESCRIPTION: Office 16, VOLUME_KMSCLIENT channel
Last 5 characters of installed product key: WFG99
---Exiting-----------------------------
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16>
2. Using batch script
This one is not recommended anymore due to the new update of Microsoft.
Step 2.1: Copy the code below into a new text document.
@echo off
title Activate Office 365 ProPlus for FREE - MSGuides.com&cls&echo =====================================================================================&echo #Project: Activating Microsoft software products for FREE without additional software&echo =====================================================================================&echo.&echo #Supported products: Office 365 ProPlus (x86-x64)&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\proplusvl_kms*.xrm-ms') do cscript ospp.vbs /inslic:"..\root\Licenses16\%%x" >nul)&(for /f %%x in ('dir /b ..\root\Licenses16\proplusvl_mak*.xrm-ms') do cscript ospp.vbs /inslic:"..\root\Licenses16\%%x" >nul)&echo.&echo ============================================================================&echo Activating your Office...&cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ckms >nul&cscript //nologo ospp.vbs /setprt:1688 >nul&cscript //nologo ospp.vbs /unpkey:WFG99 >nul&cscript //nologo ospp.vbs /unpkey:DRTFM >nul&cscript //nologo ospp.vbs /unpkey:BTDRB >nul&set i=1&cscript //nologo ospp.vbs /inpkey:XQNVK-8JYDB-WJ9W3-YJ8YR-WFG99 >nul||cscript //nologo ospp.vbs /inpkey:NMMKJ-6RK4F-KMJVX-8D9MJ-6MWKP >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
Step 2.2: Save it as a batch file. (eg. office365.cmd).
Step 2.3: Run the batch file with admin rights. (important!).
Done! Your Office is activated successfully.
Note:
- I only test this method with Office 365 ProPlus version. I am not sure it will work with the others.
- Step 3 is flagged “important” because the UAC system will stop this process if you don’t do it.
How to renew your Office 365 license
By default, your license will be renewed automaticaly every seven days but in some cases, it can be stuck. So you need to renew the license manually. Just follow instructions here.
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!
I decided to give it a try. I usually look at such things negatively. FU*K IT. IT WOOOORKS !! Thank you !!
OK, in the end few things in command I had bit different, but still!
Maybe someone can suggest how to h**k Photoshop the same?
Is Office 365 the same with 2016? the first method doesn’t work in my case
I was asking the same, why after the activation the product name changed to Office 2016 Pro Plus
I did everything but get this:
Activating your Office…
============================================================================
The connection to my KMS server failed! Trying to connect to another one…
Please wait…
============================================================================
The connection to my KMS server failed! Trying to connect to another one…
Please wait…
============================================================================
The connection to my KMS server failed! Trying to connect to another one…
Please wait…
============================================================================
Sorry! Your version is not supported.
Please try installing the latest version here: bit.ly/odt2k16
Is this still working ? With this can i use Onedrive aswell ?
The second one worked for me! The others codes i’ve been trying wasnt working. Thanks bro!
The first one also not working anymore
This doesn’t work, I don’t know if it’s because MS has changed the way they handle theese installations but this doesn’t work anymore
O*g you saved a broke student’s life! tysm!
For all those who are asking about activating Office 365 by KMS, that is, unfortunately, not possible at this moment. O365 is activated by subscriptions, not by a KMS server, unlike O16 & O19. This activator also activates it as O16 or O19, depending on the OS you’re currently. On Win10, it’s O19, otherwise it’s O16.
And if you got O365 UI before but now that has reverted back to O19 or O16, that’s because once you install O365, Microsoft provides 5-day free trial. For that trial period, your UI would be of O365, then back to O19 or O16.
If you want O365 UI for 5 more days, then just run the following command, in an elevated command prompt window. It resets your trial:
“%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\Office16\ospprearm.exe”
“%ProgramFiles%(x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16\ospprearm.exe”
The above one is for 64-bit installation of office, while the lower one is for 32-bit installation. Note that it would only give the new UI of O365 for only 5 days, then back to O19 or O16. Though, you can run this after 5 days if you want to.
hi Guang,
when i do the above method, office 365 is not activating instead office 2016 pro plus is activating , i really need office 365 kindly help.
Finally I uninstalled my version of O2019 Pro Plus and followed the instructions to the letter. The O365ProPlusRetail version – en-en – version – 16.0.13426.20274 has been installed until the end and is well declared at the opening of the applications in 365.
On the other hand, I have entered the command lines correctly and as for other people, the activated product is O Pro Plus 2016.
I have uninstalled everything and put the old O2019 pack back in place
It gave me the same result on an old PC where there was Office 2013 activation in O Pro Plus 2016. I think that the KMS server does not activate the O365 version and I have no key.
Hey. After using this method I can’t get use office 365 features and account shows office 2016. Please help.
yes same problem here
THXX!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Awesome Dude! It worked…Thanks
Thank you!
It worked for me!
Please help. I am getting the following error
There was a Problem Checking the device’s license status. Please sign in with Office 365 account this device was activated with.
Awesome man! It worked…Thanks 🙂
If you use Office 365 installer, the activation process activates it as Office 2016 Pro Plus..is that correct?
HELLO. I USED THE MANUAL METHOD TO ACTIVATE OFFICE 365 IN MY LAPTOP AND IT DOESN’T WORK.
you have to make sure that (1) you run command prompt as administrator, (2) have internet connection, and (3) installed the correct Office version
It worked and I am very happy, as I was struggling for weeks to reactivate. For how much time it is valid?
thanks it is perfectt, really works and very easy method
Hello Dear,
Thank you very much. Will you please give your attention on android office too 🙂 ? Eagerly waiting for your early and favorable response.
Best regards,
Rabiul Hassan Khan.
the method 2 (that was using batch script) woked with all office products i had also a office 2010 on my coumputer which got activated by this………..
I see office 16 all over the install software duh…. lol not funny dud
How to do the same on a mac
Hi,
I used Microsoft Office 365 Deployment tool to install Office 365 Professional Plus.
When I activate Office 365 Professional Plus, the user interface of Office applications [Word, Excel,…] changes to Office 2019 version.
Is there a way to bring back the interface of Office 365 Professional Plus?
Would you like to help me?
Thanks a lot for your attention,
João
Hi,
I used Microsoft Office 365 Deployment too
When I activate Office 365 Professional Plus, the user interface of Office Apps.. changes to Office 2019 version.
Is there a way to bring back the interface of Office 365 Professional Plus?
Would you like to help me?
It works. THANK YOU!! Activated in a few minutes.
of all the things i have tried this is the only one that works. Im so glad. thank you so much. im a student and this really helps me to do my homeworks.
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16>cscript ospp.vbs /inpkey:XQNVK-8JYDB-WJ9W3-YJ8YR-WFG99
Microsoft (R) Windows Script Host Version 5.812
Copyright (C) Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.
—Processing————————–
—————————————
ERROR CODE: 0xC004F069
ERROR DESCRIPTION: The Software Licensing Service reported that the product SKU is not found.
—————————————
—Exiting—————————-
Great thanks Sir, for your kindness, but it transformed office 365 to office 2016, how can i return it back to office 365?
Thanks a lot its work