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.

open cmd as admin
open cmd as admin

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
Open your Office folder
Open your Office folder

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"
Convert Office license
Convert Office license

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>
Activate Office using KMS key manually
Activate Office using KMS key manually

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
Create a new text file
create a new text file

Step 2.2: Save it as a batch file. (eg. office365.cmd).

Save the text file
Save the text file
Set name of the batch file
Set name of the batch file

Step 2.3: Run the batch file with admin rights. (important!).

Run the batch file as admin
Run the batch file as admin

Done! Your Office is activated successfully.

Successfully activate Office 365
Successfully activate Office 365

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!

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1,110 Comments

  1. Not working for windows 10 microsoft 356 now. In command prompt it says but in ms word it still shows product deactivated 🙁

  2. Hi, thanks! I followed all the steps described here, everything seemed fine, no errors, but when I open Word I see I have got 2016 Version, not the newest 365. I prefer 365 because of its newer functionalities, specially voice to text because I’ve a broken arm and it gets very difficult to type

  3. Sometime last week I had sent an email to you regarding the “Get Genuine Office” notification I have been getting since past month whenever I open MS-Word or MS-Excel both of which have been successfully activated but I still keep getting this nagging notification. Kindly send me your solution to this problem. I have tried out the script mentioned on your websitea number of times but it does not work….gives an error “ospp.vbs” not found.
    Pls help.

    1. Step 1: Open Microsoft Word

      Launch Microsoft Word on your computer.
      Step 2: Go to the File Menu

      In the top left corner of the Word window, click on the “File” tab. This will open the File menu.
      Step 3: Access Word Options

      In the File menu, look for “Options” on the left-hand side and click on it. This will open the Word Options window.
      Step 4: Navigate to the General Section

      In the Word Options window, make sure you are in the “General” section. It’s usually the default section when you open Word Options.
      Step 5: Search for Privacy Settings

      In the General section, you will see various options. Look for “Privacy Settings” within this section.
      Step 6: Click on Privacy Settings

      Once you locate “Privacy Settings,” click on it. This will open the Privacy Settings window.
      Step 7: Scroll Down to “Connected Experiences”

      In the Privacy Settings window, scroll down until you find the section that says “Connected Experiences.”
      Step 8: Uncheck “All Connected Experiences”

      Within the “Connected Experiences” section, you will see an option that says “All Connected Experiences.” If it has a checkmark, uncheck it.
      Step 9: Save and Close

      After unchecking “All Connected Experiences,” simply close the Word Options window.
      Step 10: Restart Microsoft Word

      To apply the changes, close Microsoft Word and then reopen it.
      That’s it! You have successfully adjusted the privacy settings in Microsoft Word to disable “All Connected Experiences.” Your privacy preferences are now updated.

      1. Mr Myers,
        Sir, your reply does not solve the problem of file error I referred to in my message before. Instead you have given me detailed instructions on unticking the checkmarks on ‘Connected Experiences” which I have done a number of times before. Your solution on “Connected Experiences” DOES NOT WORK..and the offending banner still re-appears.
        I need a proper, working solution to eliminate the “Get Genuine Office” banner. This is the script (as given in MS Guides) executed in Administrator mode:.
        cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ckms >nul&cscript //nologo slmgr.vbs /ckms >nul&cscript //nologo ospp.vbs /setprt:1688 >nul&cscript //nologo ospp.vbs /sethst:e8.us.to >nul&cscript //nologo ospp.vbs /act
        Looking forward to a solution to this nagging problem. Thank you.

  4. The command prompt output said activation was successful, but Excel says it is still unlicensed.
    When I enter the same license key number under “I already have a license key”, Microsoft tells me it is for Office 2016, not Office 365.

    1. Could it be that you recently updated license keys and happened to paste the same license key for Office 16 and Office 365?

  5. thank you very much before this i use wps and honestly wps is s**t compare to office so thank you so much kind sir / maam

  6. Love your website.
    Could you also make a tutorial for total noobs on how to create a person KMS server on their PC?

  7. Thanks for your help. I activated MS Office 365 with MS Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021 instead of MS Office Professional Plus 2016. With the help of your MS Office 2021 activation blog. Is there any problem activating MS Office 365 with MS Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021? That said, is it good to activate Office 365 with MS Office LTSC Pro Plus 2021 or not?

  8. When i activate, in the last step it says: ERROR CODE: 0xC004E015
    ERROR DESCRIPTION: The Software Licensing Service reported that license consumption failed.

  9. Hello, i have the same problem as Monde Waldemar. I’ve tried this on my windows 11 on microsoft 365 but it doesnt work. the cmd says product activation successfull but when i open an office product it shows unlicensed product and i cannot use it. I would really like the owner website or someone to help me to resolve that problem.

    1. When you activate the office already open the Word or Excel. Then, after activating close the Word or Excel that you open. Now, Open word or Excel, Finally You can see Product was activated

      1. For me, that did not help. When I enter the license number given on this page Microsoft tells me that it is for Office 2016 and not for Office 365, which somehow makes sense, as 365 is a subscription. But the header on this page says it is for Microsoft 365, so I don’t know if I am doing something wrong.
        I reacted already from start to the fact that it said Office16 in the path names, but then I saw that was actually the only Office folder on my disk, obviously used by the Office 365 trial as well. So I think it is only the presented license that does not work for Office 365.

  10. Hello, I’ve tried this on my windows 11 microsoft 365 but it doesnt work. the cmd says product activation successfull but when i open word or excel i still see the unlicensed product and i cannot use it. I would really appreciate your help

    1. When you activate the office already open the Word or Excel. Then, after activating close the Word or Excel that you open. Now, Open word or Excel, Finally You can see Product was activated

  11. For me its work only for 1st document open. Uf i close document and open 1 more time still i get message “4 days left”