Here’s the clean, supported way to move Office 2021 (one‑time purchase, 1 device) to your new PC. It depends on whether your copy is Retail (transferable) or OEM/preinstalled (not transferable).
First, check what you have
- If you redeemed a 25‑character key into your Microsoft account when you first installed Office 2021, it’s almost certainly a Retail license and can be moved.
- If Office 2021 came preinstalled on the old PC with no key card (often called “Digital license” or OEM), it’s usually tied to that device and can’t be transferred.
- In Office on the old PC: open Word > File > Account. Under Product Information, note the email shown (“Belongs to …”). If it shows your Microsoft account, that’s the account you’ll use below.
If yours is Retail (transferable): do this
1) On the old PC (optional but tidy)
- Open any Office app > File > Account > Sign out.
- Uninstall “Microsoft Office 2021” from Settings > Apps.
2) On the new PC
- Sign in at account.microsoft.com/services with the SAME Microsoft account you used to redeem Office 2021.
- Find your Office 2021 product under “Services & subscriptions” and click Install. Download and run the installer.
- When prompted, sign in with that same account to activate. If you’re told you’ve reached the install limit, choose the option to “Deactivate” or “Remove” the old device, then retry the install.
If you never redeemed the key before
- Go to setup.office.com (or microsoft365.com/setup), sign in with your Microsoft account, enter the 25‑character key, and redeem it to your account. Then install on the new PC from your Services & subscriptions page as above.
If yours is OEM/preinstalled (non‑transferable)
- You won’t be able to move it. You’ll need to purchase a new Office 2021 license (or consider Microsoft 365).
Optional: double‑check license type via command line (advanced)
- On the old PC, run one of these in an elevated Command Prompt (path depends on your Office bitness):
- 64‑bit Office: cscript "%ProgramFiles%\Microsoft Office\Office16\OSPP.VBS" /dstatus
- 32‑bit Office on 64‑bit Windows: cscript "%ProgramFiles(x86)%\Microsoft Office\Office16\OSPP.VBS" /dstatus
- Look for “LICENSE NAME” and “LICENSE DESCRIPTION” showing Retail vs Volume/OEM. Retail can be moved; Volume keys (e.g., “Professional Plus”) aren’t for personal transfer.
Need help confirming the license or finding it in your Microsoft account? Tell me the exact Office edition name shown in Word > Account (e.g., “Office Home & Business 2021”) and whether you recall redeeming a key to a Microsoft account, and I’ll guide you step‑by‑step.
