Your product key is usually in your email receipt or inside the Office box
If you bought Microsoft Office as a standalone product (not as part of a computer), your product key is a 25-character code that looks like this: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX. Microsoft sends it to the email address you used at checkout. If you bought a physical copy in a box, the key is printed on a card or sticker inside the packaging.
If you bought Office through Microsoft 365 (the subscription version), you do not have a product key at all — you sign in with your Microsoft account instead, and your subscription is tied to that account. The distinction matters because the steps to find or recover each one are completely different.
If you cannot find your key and you need it now, the fastest path depends on which version you own and where you bought it. This guide walks you through each scenario.
Key Takeaways
- A one-time Office product key is a 25-character code sent to your email receipt; a Microsoft 365 subscription uses your account login instead and has no product key.
- Check your email inbox and spam folder for the receipt from the retailer or Microsoft — the key is usually in that message.
- If you bought Office in a physical box, the product key is printed on a card or sticker inside; check the box itself and any documentation that came with it.
- If you bought from a third-party retailer and cannot find the key, contact that retailer's customer service with your order number — they can resend it.
- If you are trying to reactivate Office on a new computer, signing into your Microsoft account may be faster than hunting for the key.
Check your email for the receipt and key
Start with the email address you used when you bought Office. Search your inbox for emails from Microsoft, the retailer you bought from, or any confirmation message with "Office" or "product key" in the subject line. The key is usually in the body of that email or as an attachment.
Check your spam and promotions folders too — retailer emails often land there by mistake. If you bought from a third-party seller like Amazon or Best Buy, search for their name instead of Microsoft's. The key will be in their confirmation email, not Microsoft's.
If you bought Office years ago and your email account is no longer active, you may not be able to recover the key through email. Move to the next section instead.
Look inside the physical box or packaging
If you have the original Office box, open it and look for a card or sticker with a 25-character code printed on it. This card is usually bright white or colored and labeled "Product Key" or "License Key." It may be glued to the inside of the box lid, tucked into a sleeve, or attached to the instruction booklet.
Check the back of the box as well — some retailers print the key on the outside packaging so you can see it before opening. If the key is visible through a clear window on the box, write it down before you open it, because opening the box may make the key harder to read.
If you no longer have the box, you cannot recover the key this way. Try the next section.
Sign into your Microsoft account to find keys you registered
Go to account.microsoft.com and sign in with the Microsoft account you used to buy Office. Click on "Services & subscriptions" or "Your products" (the exact name varies by account type). This page shows all Office licenses tied to that account.
If you registered your product key with Microsoft when you first installed Office, it will appear here with the option to view the full key. If it does not appear, the key was never registered to this account — either it was registered to a different Microsoft account, or it was never registered at all.
If you see your Office product listed but no key is shown, you may own a Microsoft 365 subscription instead of a one-time product key. Subscriptions do not display a key because you do not need one — you just sign in with your account.
Contact the retailer if you bought from a third party
If you bought Office from Amazon, Best Buy, Costco, or another retailer, contact that retailer's customer service with your order number. They have a record of the key they sold you and can resend it to your email. This usually takes one business day.
Have your order number ready — you can find it in your email receipt or in your account on the retailer's website. If you no longer have the order number, the retailer can usually look it up by the email address or phone number on the account.
If the retailer says they cannot resend the key because it has been too long, or if the key was lost or damaged, ask whether they can issue a replacement. Some retailers will, some will not — it depends on their policy and how long ago you bought it.
Contact Microsoft directly if you bought from them
If you bought Office directly from Microsoft and cannot find the key anywhere, go to support.microsoft.com and search for "find product key" or "recover product key." Microsoft's support site has a form where you can request help recovering a key you purchased directly from them.
You will need to sign in with the Microsoft account you used to buy Office, and you may be asked to provide proof of purchase (like a credit card statement or email receipt). Microsoft can usually confirm whether a key was issued to your account and resend it if it was.
If Microsoft cannot find a record of the purchase, ask whether you can buy a replacement key or transfer your license to a new account. The options depend on how long ago you bought it and what type of Office license you own.
Use your Microsoft account instead of the product key
If you are trying to install or reactivate Office on a new computer and you cannot find the product key, try signing in with your Microsoft account instead. When you open Office, it will ask you to sign in. Use the same account you used to buy Office, and the software may set up without needing the key.
This works if the key was registered to your account at any point in the past. It does not work if you bought the key from a third-party retailer and never registered it with Microsoft, or if you are trying to use the key on a different account than the one that bought it.
If signing in does not set up Office, you will see an error message telling you to enter the product key instead. At that point, you will need to find the key using one of the methods above.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I bought Office years ago and deleted the email with the product key?
Sign into your Microsoft account and check "Services & subscriptions" to see if the key was registered there. If it was, you can view it. If not, contact the retailer you bought from with your order number — they may still have a record of it. If the retailer cannot help, Microsoft support can sometimes confirm a purchase and issue a replacement key, though this depends on how long ago you bought it.
Is my product key the same as my Microsoft account password?
No. Your product key is a 25-character code used to set up Office. Your Microsoft account password is what you use to sign in to your account. They are separate. You need the product key only if you are installing Office on a computer for the first time or reactivating it after a major change.
Can I use the same product key on two different computers?
It depends on the license type. A one-time Office product key can usually be used on one computer at a time — if you install it on a second computer, it may deactivate on the first. Microsoft 365 subscriptions allow installation on multiple computers (usually up to five) as long as you sign in with the same account. Check your license terms or contact Microsoft support to confirm what your specific key allows.
What if someone gave me a product key and I am not sure if it is still valid?
Try entering it during Office installation. If the key is valid and has not been used, the installation will proceed. If the key has already been used on another computer or account, or if it is expired, you will see an error message. At that point, contact the person who gave you the key to ask whether they can transfer it to you, or contact Microsoft support.
Do I need the product key if I have a Microsoft 365 subscription?
No. Microsoft 365 is a subscription service — you sign in with your Microsoft account instead. There is no product key to find or enter. If you are asked for a product key when installing Microsoft 365, you are likely trying to install the wrong version of Office, or you may own a one-time license instead of a subscription.