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Applies to: Volume licensed versions of Office LTSC 2021, Office 2019, and Office 2016 (including Project and Visio)
Activation is the process of validating software with the manufacturer after it has been installed on a specific computer. Activation confirms that the product is genuine—not a fraudulent copy—and that the product key or serial number is valid and has not been compromised or revoked. Activation also establishes a link or relationship between the product key and the particular installation.
Note
If you're a user trying to activate a personal copy of Office at home, see Activate Office instead of reading this article.
Volume activation is the process that Microsoft volume licensing customers use to automate and manage the activation of Windows operating systems, Microsoft Office, and other Microsoft products across large organizations.
There are three different methods that you can activate volume licensed versions of Office, including Project and Visio:
Key Management Service (KMS): Office is activated by contacting a KMS host computer on your network.
Multiple Activation Key (MAK): Office is activated online by Microsoft-hosted activation servers or by telephone.
Active Directory-based: Office on a domain-joined computer is activated through Active Directory.
Which activation method you choose depends on the size, network infrastructure, connectivity, and security requirements of your environment. You can choose to use different activation methods for different versions of Office and for different computers, for example desktops and laptops. Because these three activation methods are also used to activate volume licensed versions of Windows, you might be able to use the same method to activate both Windows and Office. For more information, see Volume Activation for Windows 10 and Volume Activation Overview.
All volume licensed versions of Office, including Project and Visio, have a preinstalled product key, called a Generic Volume License Key (GVLK), that can be used for KMS and Active Directory-based activation. You don't have to enter a product key for each Office installation if you're activating Office by using KMS or Active Directory. If you're activating Office by using MAK, you must enter a product key for each Office installation, but there are ways to automate that.
Key Management Service (KMS) activation of Office
KMS activation is a client-server model in which each client requests activation from a KMS host computer. The keys needed to activate Office are installed on the KMS host computer. The client uses DNS to locate a KMS host computer to request activation.
For more information, see the following articles:
- Configure a KMS host computer to activate volume licensed versions of Office
- Configure DNS for activating volume licensed versions of Office by using KMS
- Activate volume licensed versions of Office by using KMS
Multiple Activation Key (MAK) activation of Office
MAK activation is used for one-time activation through Microsoft-hosted activation services, either via the internet or by telephone. MAK activation requires that a MAK is installed on a client computer and instructs that computer to activate itself against those services.
Each MAK has a predetermined number of allowed activations and is based on your volume licensing agreement. Each Office activation that uses MAK counts toward the activation limit. After Office is activated, no re-activation is required unless the hardware changes significantly.
For more information, see Activate volume licensed versions of Office by using MAK.
Active Directory-based activation of Office
Active Directory-based activation can activate Office installed on domain-joined computers. The product key information, which is the same that is used by KMS, is stored in Active Directory and replicated throughout the forest. If Office can't contact Active Directory for activation, Office tries to activate by using KMS.
For more information, see Activate volume licensed versions of Office by using Active Directory.
I'm well-versed in software activation processes, particularly in Microsoft's volume licensing structures for products like Office, Project, and Visio. Let's break down the concepts covered in the provided article.
Activation Process Overview:
Activation is crucial to validate software legitimacy after installation on a specific computer. It ensures the product's authenticity and verifies the validity of the product key or serial number. This process establishes a relationship between the key and the installation, preventing fraudulent copies.
Volume Activation:
For large-scale deployment in organizations, volume activation is used to automate and manage the activation of Windows OS, Office, and other Microsoft products.
Methods of Activation for Volume Licensed Versions:
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Key Management Service (KMS):
- Clients request activation from a KMS host computer which holds the necessary keys.
- Utilizes DNS to locate a KMS host for activation.
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Multiple Activation Key (MAK):
- Used for one-time activation via Microsoft-hosted activation services (online or telephone).
- Each MAK has a predetermined number of allowed activations based on the volume licensing agreement.
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Active Directory-based Activation:
- Activates Office on domain-joined computers, storing the product key information in Active Directory and replicating it throughout the forest.
- If unable to contact Active Directory, Office attempts activation through KMS.
Considerations for Choosing Activation Method:
The choice depends on factors like network size, infrastructure, connectivity, and security requirements. Different methods can be used for various Office versions and computers (e.g., desktops vs. laptops). Similar activation methods can often be used for both Windows and Office volume licensing.
Generic Volume License Key (GVLK):
All volume licensed versions of Office, Project, and Visio come with a preinstalled GVLK, eliminating the need to enter a product key for KMS or Active Directory-based activation. MAK activation, however, requires entering a product key for each installation, although automation methods exist for this.
Resources for More Information:
Microsoft offers detailed guides on configuring KMS hosts, DNS settings, and activation processes for volume licensed versions of Office using different methods, such as KMS, MAK, and Active Directory-based activation.
This multifaceted approach allows organizations to tailor their activation strategy based on their specific infrastructure, ensuring secure and efficient activation across their systems.
