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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1,119 Comments

  1. Hi! how can i get rif of microsoft Teams? i uninstall but it keeps reinstaling in every restart 🙁
    should be there a comand to do that ?

    1. Windows
      Quit Teams by right-clicking the Teams icon in the taskbar and choosing Quit.

      Open the Control Panel, select Uninstall a program, and then select Microsoft Teams.

      With Microsoft Teams highlighted, click Uninstall.

      Select Teams Machine-Wide Installer, click Uninstall.

  2. Hi, I got an email this morning stating MS Updates in Terms and Conditions; how will this influence any further use of MS products? Thanks

    1. Microsoft wont sent any information to customer, you only can find it on their website.

      Where do you get the office software download? What is the Updates in Terms and Conditions about?

      All Update will come from Microsoft just like retail customer.

      If anything change, Mr.Guang will create another post to let everyone know about it.

  3. bro i have already activated my ms officepro plus 2013 on my computer but i want to unactivate it and activate the office 365 can i do that please help

    1. Control Panel uninstall Office Pro Plus 2013

      Restart PC.

      Install Office 365 Pro Plus, use this post method to activate.

      Done

      Enjoy.

  4. Hey, this solution isn’t working anymore !!!
    Any help would be very greatly appreciated.
    Unable to activate my Microsoft Office 365 ProPlus using this suggested method. (Yes I have a working internet connection and I’m running the batch file in Administrator Mode). Please help anyone.

    When I’m running the batch file as an admin –

    ============================================================================
    #Project: Activating Microsoft software products for FREE without software
    ============================================================================

    #Supported products: Office 365 ProPlus (x86-x64)

    ============================================================================
    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

    1. Your activation should come up error code.

      Top Community, click in.

      Create a question with activation fail picture attach.

      Mr. Guang or Others will help you to solve your problem.

        1. Top community click in

          Create an activation fail question with fail activation picture attached.

          Mr. Guang or others will help you to solve your problem.

        2. Top community click in

          Create an activation fail question with fail activation picture attached.

          Mr. Guang or others will help you to solve your problem.

  5. CANT.

    SORRY YOUR VERSION IS NOT SUPPORTED!
    PLEASE TRY INSTALLING THE LATEST VERSION HERE!

    HELP ME HOW? I DONT EVEN KNOW WHAT VERSION OF 365 IS THIS. D**N

  6. ============================================================================
    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

  7. not successfully
    *Sorry! Your version is not supported.
    Please try installing the latest version here: bit.ly/cdt2k16
    As above.
    I do not know what to do next.
    I want to know how.
    Also, I want to know how to get bit.ly/odt2k16.

  8. THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH!
    SUPER EASY TO FOLLOW AND MY MS OFFICE IS NOW ACTIVATED!
    JUST FOLLOW THE INSRUCTION ON VIDEO.
    MORE POWER TO YOU!!!
    TWO THUMBS UP FOR YOU BOSS!!!

  9. I’ve followed the steps just as you described and downloaded and tried both 365 and the latest 2019 and allowed the port and checked the website to make sure the KMS server wasn’t blocked and it still keeps saying failed upgrade to latest version. Are there any new servers? Because I can’t get this to work for nothing. And I see people are still having success with it. Let me know. Thank you.

    1. Make sure Office 2019 is upgrade from Office 365, don’t have Office 365 and standalone Office 2019 in the same PC. Otherwise KMS Activation won’t success.

      1. I just found another youtube video that had an all in one installer and was easy to install and it worked.

  10. I have the Office 365 ProPlus and when I run the .cmd file it shows up “sorry, your version is not supported” I already tried to run it as administrator and it doesn’t work.

  11. Hi there!

    I tried all of the steps and it says that it didn’t work. Also, the icon of my office365 is different from yours, like its new. This Office 365 is already in my loptop. I opened it and Microsoft hinders me from using it. I searched and searched for these codes, but nothing worked.

    Do I need to install the old one? Or do somthing else instead?

  12. It didn’t work on mine, it says my version was not supported and that I need to install the latest version.. I did run the batch as administrator, please help!

    1. MIcrosoft only let KMS Activation activation method run on PC and Laptop.

      Mac, Tablet or Mobile, all not working

  13. Hi
    It didnt work for me, I receive the message that activation is successful, but when I run office products I find that it still asking for activation or product key
    Any advise on this ?

    Thanks

    1. If you have try install more than one time in the same PC. After KMS activation success, only the not activate version will pop UP.

      Control panel: remove other not activate copy of Office version.

      Restart PC

      Done

  14. Does this give you access to One Drive storage? how much online storage?
    Does this give you access to Office online?
    Does it work with Microsoft Bookings, Invoice and SharePoint?

    1. Office 365 in the market very long time. Upgrade to Office 2016 or future Office version is it selling point.

      When anyone install Office 365, automatic upgrade to office 2016 is normal.

      As long as you use Office 365 batch file to activate, it will become office 365 base Office 2016 version. That meant if you use Window 10, you still keep on get office 2019 upgrade and carry on have future Office version upgrade and also have future feature upgrade as well.

      1. I have the same problem. Every time I uninstall and download it again, when I open the program, it says “Office 2019.” I want Office 365, not Office 2019. They’re not the same. They’re different. 🙁

        Office 365 has Powerpoint Design features that Office 2019 does not have. I want those Design features. 🙁

        Do you know how I can download Office 365? I have read your blog posts and have tried your methods.

        1. This question only can ask Microsoft.

          Powerpoint Design features need pay extra money to Microsoft. So Kms activation free service will miss out Powerpoint Design features.

  15. Hi Guang,

    Good Day!

    Had tried activating MS Office 365 using the cmd script. But sadly it didn’t work out and command prompt said , my verison is not supported and to install new version, bit.ly/odt2k16

    may be i am less techie. please guide me..

    Thanks
    Manas

        1. Any error come out?

          Top community click in.

          Create a question with activation picture.

          Remember, fail activation, must uninstall the old version, before reinstall. Office 365 version only can have one copy in the same PC.

          1. This is exactly what my problem is. No problem comes out. Old version was uninstalled. I used “O365ProPlusRetail” while using deployement tool.

    1. The script file is for activation .

      It will automatic renew activation back to 180 days when you browsing internet.

      If you don’t want KMS method anymore,

      Top search: Uninstall Microsoft product trial license or KMS license completely, then delete the script file.

  16. This works! Thank you!

    When I clicked “Run as Administrator”, nothing happened (I thought the code does not work and I closed the command prompt). But I did again what included in the steps…and I’ve waited for few seconds….wow! It worked!

        1. Follow this post detail . All show in picture.

          Activation success only run with admin ID and connect internet at the same time.

  17. I use to way to activate my 0ffice 365 it activate successfully . But now it show ms office 2016 Pro Plus and after some time it automatically convention to office 2016 .
    How it happen and why it happen ?

    1. Retail Office 365 selling point are can upgrade to future Office version and have new feature update.

      As long as you use Office 365 batch file to activate, it will become Office 365 base Office 2016 version, it still can upgrade to Office 2109( windows 10 only) , and have future Office version and have new feature update.

      Enjoy.

  18. Voila! It worked. Had tried almost everything at other forums before hitting this post. Thank you “Always Smile” to help bring a smile.