Activating Microsoft Office digital licence

[malcolio]

My new PC Specialist desktop arrived and it is fantastic, I just can't see how to activate the Microsoft Office digital licence I ordered! I was expecting a piece of paper with an activation key or something, or maybe that my e-mail address used to purchase the PC had been linked to the licence, but I don't seem to have been given any information on what to do. When I try using Microsoft Word I'm asked to login to my account but am told that there are no Office products linked to my e-mail address.

Am I missing something obvious here?!

 

[Oussebon]

What version of office did you buy exactly?

Could be easiest to just copy-paste the whole spec from the order page as it will say there.

 

[malcolio]

I bought the Microsoft® Office Home & Student 2019 (1 Digital License). And thank you for your help!

 

[malcolio]

No worries, I found the answer out by calling PCSpecialist once the holidays were over: they sent me instructions to download a command file that basically connected my Microsoft account with the digital licence.

It was good that this was a common enough problem that they had set instructions to solve it, but then my feedback would be that they should include a printout of the instructions in the welcome pack with any relevant orders to save customers having to phone up for help!

 

[Oussebon]

Thanks for posting the update If you haven't already fed that back to them directly, perhaps drop them an email, as they may not see feedback on the forums.

 

[MikeStroud]

I bought my laptop 2 weeks ago and have moreorless the same issue.

I ordered Office 2019, at first it worked but is now complaining it is unlicensed and isn't working. I've not had any response from PCSpecialist support so trying on here as the £2k laptop is currently just a brick without being able to use Office.

A bit more info below.

I have been using Word quite happily for the last week or so with no issues. But today it is saying I need to do an update and also that it is unlicensed (see attached screenshot). Pressing update does nothing at all.

With my laptop I ordered: "Microsoft® Office Home & Student 2019 (1 Digital License)"

When I first got the laptop Windows 11 insisted I logged in using my MS account which I did, this account has two 2016 versions of Office in it from previous PCs but no 2019 version.

With the new laptop I was expecting a 2019 version to be installed but if you look at the second screenshot you'll see it seems to be saying it is Office 365 that is unlicensed but I haven't signed up for that, I bought Office 2019.

How do I get this resolved? As far as I know I have never been given the "digital license"?

 

[Rakk]

With the new laptop I was expecting a 2019 version to be installed but if you look at the second screenshot you'll see it seems to be saying it is Office 365 that is unlicensed but I haven't signed up for that, I bought Office 2019.

How do I get this resolved? As far as I know I have never been given the "digital license"?

Office 365 is not Office 2019, there are completely different licenses, it looks like you've got Office 365 on there not 2019, and you are indeed not licensed for Microsoft 365, you are licensed for 2019, as you say

There should be a download option somewhere for 2019 afaik - have you looked in your PCS account, they do not install Office for you as they are digital licenses - you are expected to download and install yourself, if its not in your PCS account on the website you should contact PCS - phone is much faster especially after a number of bank holidays

 

[MikeStroud]

Thanks for your reply.

When I first got the PC Office was working (not 365) but now it says its unlicensed. I have never had a digital license from PCS for it nor is there one in my PCS or Microsoft account.

Nor is there a Office 2019 download option on the PC or in my PCS account.

I will try calling PCS but am a bit loathe to do so as I've read many accounts of having to wait an hour or more. Anyway thanks.

 

[MikeStroud]

Thinking about it, maybe the Office version on the laptop was 365 and that is what I've been using during some free trial period that has now ended maybe.

I was expecting Office 2019 to be installed and assumed that was what I was using.

So neither office 2019 installed and no license either.... not at all happy.

 

[Rakk]

So neither office 2019 installed and no license either.... not at all happy.

As mentioned in the original post, you may need to talk to PCS where they can send the relevant stuff so you can properly link it to your account.
But yeah as said, for digital licenses that are not for Windows you are expected to download and install yourself (means its not tied to that machine for a start)
But yes, I suspect you've been using a trial of Office 365 that's now run out

 

[MikeStroud]

Just for your information. I just spoke to PCS support, they ran some tests.

Office 2019 is installed an dis what I've been using. Apparently the license is bound to the hardware so that isn't the issue. But Office 365 is complaining it is unlicensed as well as my Office 2019 apps. They seem to think something has got corrupted etc. They're working on it.

 

[MikeStroud]

Seems the root cause is that PCS have had some issue recently affecting how they license Office 2019 and that is why mine wouldn't work. I got a refund and bought Office 21 from MS directly.