Microsoft Office is a very important software for generating, editing and sharing documents. It’s totally irreplacible and most people find it very essential for their day to day activities. But in order to use the software you need to buy a license for activating it. Buying the license for MS Office suite or the individual packages is often expensive for most people. But there’s a way you can activate MS Office without buying the license, using the steps highlighted below.
1. MS Office 2021
Ms Office 2021 does not support activation via copy/pasting the plist license file. You will need to use the VL Serializer tool instead. Follow the steps below to activate MS Office 2021 for free.
1. Download Microsoft Office 2021, or install via brew:
brew cask install microsoft-office
2. Do not run MS Office after installation
3. Download and install Microsoft Office 2021 VL Serializer
4. Run the Microsoft Office 2021 VL Serializer and it will automatically activate MS Office 2021
5. You can now open and use the activated MS Office
2. MS Office 2019
Ms Office 2019 does not support activation via copy/pasting the plist license file. You will need to use the VL Serializer tool instead. Follow the steps below to activate MS Office 2019 for free.
1. Download Microsoft Office 2019, or install via brew:
brew cask install microsoft-office
2. Do not run MS Office after installation
3. Download and install Microsoft Office 2019 VL Serializer, or from GitHub
4. Run the Microsoft Office 2019 VL Serializer and it will automatically activate MS Office 2019
5. You can now open and use the activated MS Office
3. MS Office 2016
Ms Office 2016 can be activated by simply copy/pasting the plist license file. Follow the steps below to activate MS Office 2016 for free.
1. Download Microsoft Office 2016 – official link, or manual download, or install via brew:
# brew cask install microsoft-office # this point to Office 2019 now
# install last office 2016 version below
brew cask install https://github.com/Homebrew/homebrew-cask/raw/538c7cf34c085e3bb4fdac36f6370ded87930036/Casks/microsoft-office.rb
2. Copy license file com.microsoft.office.licensingV2.plist to Preferences
# md5(com.microsoft.office.licensingV2.plist) = a8f1283303838b4d3bd943775e463239
cp com.microsoft.office.licensingV2.plist /Library/Preferences/
# or download it in library by command line
curl -sSL git.io/office16-plist -o /Library/Preferences/com.microsoft.office.licensingV2.plist
3. You can now open and use the activated MS Office
Note
If you’re being asked to ‘Sign in’ and still the MS Office package requires activation, you can remove the MS Office license files from your Mac and reinstall again.
really useful thxxx
Welcome
it’s working without paying for the license.
great!!
Thanks.
Welcome
Oh Dear,
Thank you so much’ I’ve been finding it so difficult to use my office packages.
It actually works.
🙂
We are happy that you found the article useful.
please i don’t know how to do the step two
First thanks, for the very useful article, and for those having an error (23) Failed writing body” when using the command line option, you might to download to a /tmp folder first cos of permission issue and then copy to preferences
I am having this issue. How do I download a tmp folder. My Mac already has one.
Please respond
Hello, I am a bit confused. Where exactly do I paste this license file. Looking forward to your response
Hi, where can I find preferences to paste in the file? Appreciate your reply, thanks!
Under the Library folder.
and where exactly is that?!
I’m having the same issue – can someone please help?
So genius!!! Thank you very much! Quick and easy.
Thank you.
Thank you so much. Could not believe it!
We are happy you found the information useful. Welcome.
wow. it damn worked ! i m sooo happy.
Thanks
Welcome
Still asks for ‘Sign in’ and still the MS Office package requires activation. I have removed license, tried uninstalling and reinstalling, still not working. Please help!!!
Follow the procedure and don’t open the files are installing.
Thanks the activation worked , apps are working fine , but to use one drive it is asking for sign in. Should I do it . Will it deactivated the activation.
You can proceed and sign in, it won’t deactivate the activation.
Perfect !!! thanks
Welcome
Ok thank you so muchhh for this.THANk you sooo much. but I have one question. Is this legal?
Because as far as I know u can’t install ms word for free?
how do i copy license to preferences
Find the preferences file under the Library folder.
thank you so much, i had an old computer and i am older user and computer illiterate and couldn’t afford to buy new computer so i had it fixed but it wiped out my office 2011 and then because i don’t know what i am doing i bought download office 2019 but it was not compatible with my old computer and could not get my money back but 2016 worked so thank you !
Glad to hear that. Most welcome.
Thank you. The first option worked perfectly for me.
Welcome
thank you bro, its very works!
Welcom
Welcome
Hello Mr Victor, thanks for the expose. I have tried following the instructions but I do not know where to find preferences to paste the file. Would appreciate a response. Thanks
Under the Library folder.
Hello. And where can you find the library folder?
the github link is from office 2019 serializer, not from office 2021. please have you the link from office 2021 !?
Download it directly from Microsoft
Hello. I want to ask where to find the library folder. I am a person not versed in this matter
Thank you so much! It really did work!
Glad to hear you got the help you needed.
hi, how do i download the VL serializer? I signed in with my personal microsoft account which obviously doesn’t have a licence, and I get the message “The business email address provided during registration is not affiliated with an Open License and/or Volume License Agreement.” Pls advise, thank you!
Much thanks. This is really helpful.
It worked
Definately.
Really helpful , working 100%
Thanks Boss
For 2016, where do I find the license file that needs to be copied to preferences?
When I do step 2 (for 2016) it says ‘No such file or directory’. Please help.
На Мас 2013 стоял MS 2016. Перенес данные с него на новый Мас 2022г на чипе М2. Не работает ворд и эксель, требует купить или активировать. Скачал MS 2019 по вашей сслыке, не открывал. Скачал GitHub по вашей ссылке. Установил его. Ничего. В вашей инструкции указано, что он автоматически установит Офис. Что делаю не так?