I bought new tablet that was supposed to come with Microsoft Office 365 (free 1 year subscription). I'm hoping the latest Word has a number of problems fixed that I have experienced in Word 2010 and 2013.
I'm trying to use office, but I keep getting prompted to activate it. I'd like to use an offline registration method to avoid sharing any data with Microsoft or the need for a Hotmail account. Or I would like to modify the registry and add the "activated bits" (or whatever they are using to indicate activated).
How do I activate Office without contacting Microsoft or utilizing a Hotmail address?
Related, why was a product key or license key not provided during packaging/installation or the point of sale?
Best Answer
The tablet you purchased came with Office 365 Personal. Office 365 requires an internet connection in order to activate. Every version of Office requires you to activate your license. Specifically Office 365 Personal is a subscription based service, that allows you to always have the current version of Office installed, for the length your subscription is active.
This is how Costco describers Office 365 Personal on the product page for the Microsoft Surface Pro 3 Bundle which comes with Office 365 Personal as
Here is the product website for the two consumer versions of Office 365.
Is Internet access required for Office?
Here is Microsoft explaining the difference between Office 2013 and Office 365
You cannot It is not possible. All you actually need is a Microsoft Account, but since all Microsoft Accounts, even those connected to another email service come with an Outlook Mail account both are not possible.
The product page at CostCo has a footnote that explains what is meant by the free 1 year subscription.
License Agreements have been upheld in court numerous times. If you want to be able to use Office without a Microsoft Account, the only thing I can suggest is to, purchase the full version of Office 2013.
English - Office 365 Personal - License