Microsoft Office Frequently Asked Question (FAQ)
Table of Contents:
- How to activate Microsoft 365
- How to activate one-time purchase Office Home & Business (ex: Office 2021 or 2019)
- How to uninstall Office programs
- Troubleshooting - Office programs cannot start
- Troubleshooting - When using the Office products, it shows "Unlicensed Product" message or Activation Error
How to activate Microsoft 365
Applicable Products: Notebook, Desktop, All-in-One PC, Gaming Handheld
This article describes how to activate Microsoft 365, you also can refer to the Microsoft’s Activate Office topic. Before activating Microsoft 365, please check below Office regulations from Microsoft.
Note: If you had activated Office already and you need to reinstall it, please click here.
- Before you activate Office applications, Windows OS must be activated on your device.
- You need to activate Office within 180 days from the time the Windows OS is activated. (For one year subscription version only)
- You need to sign in with a Microsoft account. (The Office authority will be linked to your Microsoft account.)
There are two Microsoft 365 activation versions on ASUS devices, free trial and 1 year subscription. Please go to the corresponding instruction based on your need:
Microsoft 365 free trial
- When you start an Office app for the first time, the system will prompt you to sign in with a Microsoft account①. If you don’t have a Microsoft account yet, please select Create Account.
- After signing in to your Microsoft account, please select [Start your free trial]②.
- You will be directed to the Microsoft 365 official website, please select [Try 1 month free]③.
- Click [Next]④.
Note: You are asked to provide credit card information to help ensure that you do not experience any interruptions with your service once your trial ends. Your credit card will not be billed until the end of the trial period. You can cancel any time during the trial period. Please refer to Microsoft 365 frequently asked questions for more details. - Choose a payment method you want⑤.
- Enter your payment information, and then click [Save]⑥.
- Confirm payment information, and then click [Subscribe]⑦.
- You have subscribed to Microsoft 365 successfully, please click [Continue]⑧.
- Please click [Refresh]⑨.
- Please click [Accept]⑩ to agree to the Microsoft Office license agreement.
- After that, please follow the on-screen prompts to confirm your privacy, and then Microsoft 365 will be activated and ready for you.
Microsoft 365 one year subscription
- When you start an Office app for the first time, the system will inform 「You’ve got Office」. Please sign in with a Microsoft account①. If you don’t have a Microsoft account yet, please select Create Account.
Note: After you sign in, your product is added to your Microsoft account, so that you can reinstall it later, or manage your new subscription, without a product key. Please must remember your Microsoft account and password, otherwise, you won't be able to activate Office again if you forgot the account. - After signing in to your Microsoft account, please click [Accept]② to agree to the Microsoft Office license agreement.
- After that, please follow the on-screen prompts to confirm your privacy, and then Microsoft 365 will be activated and ready for you.
Q1: If I reset my device and the Office program is missing (or, I deleted it), how can I download it back?
A1: If you had activated Office, please click here and sign in to your Microsoft account, which is linked to Office program. You can find the Office program on the Products you’ve purchased field, and then install it again.
If your problem is not worked out with above solution and information, please contact ASUS customer service center for further information.
How to activate one-time purchase Office Home & Business (ex: Office 2021 or 2019)
Applicable Products: Notebook, Desktop, All-in-One PC, Gaming Handheld
This article describes how to activate a one-time purchase version of Office Home & Business (ex: Office 2021, 2019, etc.), and you also can refer to the Microsoft’s Activate Office topic. Before activating Office, please check below Office regulations from Microsoft.
Note: If you had activated Office already and you need to reinstall it, please click here.
- Before you activate Office applications, Windows OS must be activated on your device.
- You need to activate Office within 180 days from the time the Windows OS is activated.
- You need to sign in with a Microsoft account. (The Office authority will be linked to your Microsoft account.)
The following activation process takes Office 2021 as an example:
Note: ASUS device bundles with Microsoft 365, and if you have a one-time purchase of Office Home & Business (ex: Office 2021 or 2019), please follow the following steps to upgrade Microsoft 365 to Office 2021.
- Open an Office program, such as Word.
- When you start an Office app for the first time, the system will inform 「You’ve got Office」. Please sign in with a Microsoft account① to activate it. If you don’t have a Microsoft account yet, please select Create Account.
Note: After signing-in, your product will be added to your Microsoft account, so that you can reinstall it later, or manage your new subscription without a product key. Please must remember your Microsoft account and password, otherwise, you won't be able to activate Office again if you forgot the account. - After signing-in to your Microsoft account, you will get a confirmation whether you want to link Office 2021 activation to your Microsoft account. Select [Next]②.
- You need to agree to the Microsoft Services Agreement. Please read it and then select [Confirm]③.
- Office 2021 has been linked to your Microsoft account successfully, and then please click [Get started]④.
- Before activating Office 2021, you may receive a notification that Office needs an update. Please click [Update Now]⑤.
- Office is downloading updates.
- To complete Office updates, select [Continue]⑥ to close the Office program.
- The updates have been installed, please click [Close]⑦.
- After that, you need to activate Office 2021 as well as upgrade the program from Microsoft 365 to Office 2021. Open an Office program, and then select [File]⑧ at the upper-left corner of the toolbar.
- Select [Account]⑨, and then click [Activate Product]⑩.
- Click [Update Now]⑪.
- Office is downloading updates.
- To complete Office updates, select [Continue]⑫ to close the Office program.
- The updates have been installed, please click [Close]⑬.
- You will receive a notification that your account has Office 2021, please click [Get started]⑭.
- Please click [Accept]⑮ to agree to the Microsoft Office license agreement.
- The Office 2021 activation has been completed and is ready for you. You can also check the status on the Product Information of Account.
Q1: If I reset my device and the Office program is missing (or, I deleted it), how can I download it back?
A1: If you had activated Office, please click here and sign in to your Microsoft account, which is linked to Office program. You can find the Office program on the Products you’ve purchased field, and then install it again.
If your problem is not worked out with above solution and information, please contact ASUS customer service center for further information.
How to uninstall Office programs
Applicable Products: Notebook, Desktop, All-in-One PC, Gaming Handheld
This article describes how to uninstall Office program from your Windows device.
The step to uninstall Office depend on the type of installation you have. The most common installation types are Click-to-Run and Microsoft Windows Installer (MSI). The other type is an Office installation from the Microsoft Store app.
If you are not sure which type of install you have, please refer to How to confirm the installation type of my Office programs.
Note: Uninstalling Office only removes the Office applications from your device, it doesn’t remove any files, documents, or workbooks you created using the apps.
How to confirm the installation type of my Office programs
Note: If you can’t open an Office program to check your installation type, try the more common Click-to-Run or MSI uninstallation steps first.
- Open the Office program, and then select [file] at the upper-left corner①. (The following takes Excel as an example.)
- Select [Account]②, find the [About] button under Product Information and then check for the following③:
- Click-to-Run: Click-to-Run installation has a version and build number, and include the phrase 'Click-to-Run'. Please refer to The uninstallation steps of Click-to-Run or MSI to uninstall Office programs.
- MSI: An MSI installation doesn’t have a version or build number. Please refer to The uninstallation steps of Click-to-Run or MSI to uninstall Office programs.
- Microsoft Store: Microsoft Store installation has a version and build number, and include the phrase 'Microsoft Store'. Please refer to The uninstallation steps of Microsoft Store app to uninstall Office programs.
- Click-to-Run: Click-to-Run installation has a version and build number, and include the phrase 'Click-to-Run'. Please refer to The uninstallation steps of Click-to-Run or MSI to uninstall Office programs.
The uninstallation steps of Click-to-Run or MSI
If your Office program is Click-to-Run or MSI installation type, please refer to below uninstallation steps.
- Type and search [Control Panel] in the Windows search bar①, and then click [Open]②. (The left-side search illustration below is in Windows 11, and the right-side is Windows 10.)
- In the Programs field, select [Uninstall a program]③.
- Choose the Microsoft Office program you want to uninstall④, and then select [Uninstall]⑤.
Note: If Office isn’t listed in the Control Panel you could have a Microsoft Store installation type. Please refer to The uninstallation steps of Microsoft Store app to uninstall Office programs. - Microsoft will ask you whether you ready to uninstall, select [Uninstall] to start the uninstallation process⑥.
- The Office programs uninstallation is completed, please click [Close]⑦.
The uninstallation steps of Microsoft Store app
If your Office program is Microsoft Store app installation type, please refer to below uninstallation steps.
- Type and search [Installed apps] in the Windows search bar①, and then click [Open]②. (The left-side search illustration below is in Windows 11, and the right-side is Windows 10.)
Note: If you use Windows 10 devices, please search [Apps & features]. - In Installed apps, select the Microsoft Office programs you want to uninstall③, click the [More]
icon④ nex to the app, then select [Uninstall]⑤.
Note: If Office isn’t listed in the Apps & features you could have a Click-to-Run or MSI installation type. Please refer to The uninstallation steps of Click-to-Run or MSI to uninstall Office programs.
Note: If you use Windows 10 devices, please click [Uninstall] directly. - Microsoft will ask you whether you ready to uninstall, select [Uninstall] to start the uninstallation process⑥.
- The Office programs uninstallation is completed, please click [Close]⑦.
The above information is from Uninstall Office from a PC by Microsoft. If you can’t uninstall your Office programs via the above method, you can refer to the Microsoft document to learn more uninstallation methods.
You can also refer to the Microsoft support site to read more Office support documentd.
Troubleshooting - Office programs cannot start
Applicable Products: Notebook, Desktop, All-in-One PC, Gaming Handheld
If your device has been upgraded to Windows 10 version 20H2 or later, and you encounter the error message shown below while running Microsoft 365 or One-time purchase Office Home/Business editions (such as Office 2021, 2019), please refer to the troubleshooting steps in this article.
Note: If you are unsure of your device's operating system version, please refer to this article: How to Check the Operating System Version.
Microsoft has confirmed that this is an issue within their product. For more details, please refer to Microsoft's official statement.
- Type and search [Control Panel] in the Windows search bar①, then click [Open]②. (The left-side search illustration below is in Windows 11, and the right-side is Windows 10.)
- Click [Uninstall a program]③ in the Programs category.
- Select [Microsoft 365]④, and then click [Change]⑤.
Note: If you are using a one-time purchase version of Office Home/Business (such as Office 2021 or 2019), please select that specific Office application. - Select [Quick Repair]⑥, and then select [Repair]⑦.
- Select [Repair]⑧ to start repairing your Office programs.
- When repair process is completed, please click [Close]⑨ and use Office programs again to check whether it is running normally.
Note: You may have to restart your device after the repair process is completed. - If the problem persists after you use the Quick Repair option, you can try to use the Online Repair.
Note: Your device needs to connect to the internet before using the Online Repair option.
If your problem is not worked out with above solution and information, please contact ASUS customer service center for further information.
Troubleshooting - When using the Office products, it shows "Unlicensed Product" message or Activation Error
When using the Office products, it shows "Unlicensed Product" message or activation error, please refer to the following troubleshooting steps in order.
Example:
- Office Home & Student 2019 (Office Home 2019)
- Office Home & Business 2019 (Office Home & Business 2019)
- Microsoft 365
- Please try to update your Office product, here you can learn more about the instruction steps of Install Office updates Microsoft provides.
(Below screenshot is the example with “Newer version” Office. Please choose your own Office version.)
After the updating process is completed, please click [Activate Product].
※ Note: If you use the Office products for the first time without any Office update, the Office will be automatically updated 24 hours after your computer is connected to the Internet.
If you need to download or install the Office products, please refer to the Microsoft Official Website for information:Download and install or reinstall Microsoft 365 or Office 2019 on a PC or Mac - You can also refer to the troubleshooting steps of Unlicensed Product and activation errors in Office Microsoft provides.
- If the problem still persists, please try to use the repair tool “cssemerg97275” Microsoft provides. Execute this tool after downloading, and then select Next to repair.
cssemerg97275 download link: https://microsoftdownload.oss-cn-shanghai.aliyuncs.com/Tools/cssemerg97275.diagcab
If the problem cannot be solved after following the above steps, please patiently wait for 2 to 3 days, and Microsoft will schedule to fix problem.
If the problem still persists after 3 days, please contact ASUS service center for further information.