How do you enter your MS Account for activation & authentication in Office 2021 & Microsoft 365?

Billiam29 · Aug 24, 2022

Short Version:
In Office 2021 and Microsoft 365, what are the actual steps you go through to enter your Microsoft account credentials? I'm interested in knowing experiences when done under both local account logins to to Windows as well as MS account logins to Windows.

Long Version:
I'm researching the two current consumer-space options for Microsoft Office. The perpetual license Office 2021 and the subscription Microsoft 365. While doing this, one of the most significant questions that comes to mind for me is...

Is one of these options more likely than the other to require you to sign into Windows itself with a Microsoft account at some point in the future?

That's *not* my actual question for this post though.

In order to make my own prognostication and judgement call about the question above, I really need to know what's currently involved with Microsoft Accounts for both options. Specifically in terms of activation/authentication of the software. That information has proven to be practically impossible to find.

All I come across when I see Microsoft accounts mentioned for either of these options is "sign in with your Microsoft account" or "authenticate with your Microsoft account". That's my question. What are the specifics of what those phrases actually mean?

If you are already logged into Windows with a Microsoft account, will Office 2021 or Microsoft 365 recognize that and then automatically use your Windows authentication as part of activating/authenticating Office?

What if you're logged into Windows with a local account? How do the two Office options handle that? Do you enter your MS account credentials in one of the Office apps and then they're shared with the other apps? Is there some sort of centralized "hub" or "dashboard" app for Office in which you enter your MS account credentials?

sygnus21 · Aug 24, 2022

Billiam29 said:
Is one of these options more likely than the other to require you to sign into Windows itself with a Microsoft account at some point in the future?

Since Office is a separate product from Windows, it doesn't matter whether you use a local or Microsoft Account (MAS) to log into "Windows" as it has no bearing on how to activate Office. In other words, it is not required you log into "Windows" to activate/use Office, as it has its own sign-in/activation procedure as explained here - Activate Office

And for the record, I don't use a local account, but do use a Microsoft Account. And even though I'm logged into Windows with that account, I still had to sign into Microsoft to activate Office also explained here - Where to enter your Office product key

Simon Garrett · Aug 25, 2022

sygnus21 said:
Billiam29 said:

Is one of these options more likely than the other to require you to sign into Windows itself with a Microsoft account at some point in the future?

Click to expand...

Since Office is a separate product from Windows, it doesn't matter whether you use a local or Microsoft Account (MAS) to log into "Windows" as it has no bearing on how to activate Office. In other words, it is not required you log into "Windows" to activate/use Office, as it has its own sign-in/activation procedure as explained here - Activate Office

And for the record, I don't use a local account, but do use a Microsoft Account. And even though I'm logged into Windows with that account, I still had to sign into Microsoft to activate Office also explained here - Where to enter your Office product key

I might be wrong, but I think that for Microsoft (Office) 365, you need a Microsoft account and to sign in with that. Office 365 seems to be tied to your Microsoft account. As I say, I stand to be corrected on that. Nothing is straightforward with Microsoft!

Tom_N · Aug 25, 2022

For whatever it's worth:

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/deployoffice/overview-licensing-activation-microsoft-365-apps

Sagittarius · Aug 25, 2022

I have Microsoft Office 365 and I have Microsoft account since I have hotmail address. I am signing in to Windows using local PIN, and I stay signed in Office with my MS account.

--
Best regards

Billiam29 · Aug 25, 2022

Thank you.

I don't know why I couldn't find those Microsoft articles myself. All of my searches were turning up MS articles related to volume licensing and the LTSC corporate editions of Office.

bananahead · Aug 25, 2022

Simon Garrett said:
sygnus21 said:

Billiam29 said:

Is one of these options more likely than the other to require you to sign into Windows itself with a Microsoft account at some point in the future?

Click to expand...

Since Office is a separate product from Windows, it doesn't matter whether you use a local or Microsoft Account (MAS) to log into "Windows" as it has no bearing on how to activate Office. In other words, it is not required you log into "Windows" to activate/use Office, as it has its own sign-in/activation procedure as explained here - Activate Office

And for the record, I don't use a local account, but do use a Microsoft Account. And even though I'm logged into Windows with that account, I still had to sign into Microsoft to activate Office also explained here - Where to enter your Office product key

Click to expand...

I might be wrong, but I think that for Microsoft (Office) 365, you need a Microsoft account and to sign in with that. Office 365 seems to be tied to your Microsoft account. As I say, I stand to be corrected on that. Nothing is straightforward with Microsoft!

You need a Microsoft account for 365 in exactly the same way as you need an Adobe account for their Creative Cloud apps. It is that straightforward,

sygnus21 · Aug 25, 2022

Simon Garrett said:
I might be wrong, but I think that for Microsoft (Office) 365, you need a Microsoft account and to sign in with that. Office 365 seems to be tied to your Microsoft account. As I say, I stand to be corrected on that. Nothing is straightforward with Microsoft!

Please read the links I provided. And yes... you need a Microsoft account to activate Office 365. However, it does NOT need to be used to log into Windows, which is basically what Billiam was asking. You can still use a "Local account" for "Windows" login. The Microsoft will merely record your subscription of Office 365. Again, read the links.

jboyer · Aug 25, 2022

Sagittarius said:
I have Microsoft Office 365 and I have Microsoft account since I have hotmail address. I am signing in to Windows using local PIN, and I stay signed in Office with my MS account.

The OP seems to attach a lot on importance to this login issue.

In my experience, your current email can be used to create a Microsoft Account. The nice thing about this account is that it store all your licenses etc. and when getting a new PC, login into such account will get your PC ready to fast and furious.

I had an MS Account since WWII. Kidding, but for a very long time and I found its benefits to be very advantageous, at no cost. It surely simplifies all your dealings with MS products.

CAcreeks · Aug 25, 2022

Billiam29 said:
Thank you.

I don't know why I couldn't find those Microsoft articles myself. All of my searches were turning up MS articles related to volume licensing and the LTSC corporate editions of Office.

Maybe the search "AI" thought you were an IT expert, which you seem to be, but working for a large corporation.

Anyhow, please let me know if Outlook Web Access (OWA) is available for individuals who subscribe to Office 365. I like OWA a lot.

"What happened to the other 0.24219 day per year?" I ask the same question at Whole Foods.

Billiam29 · Aug 25, 2022

jboyer said:
The OP seems to attach a lot on importance to this login issue.

My train of thought on the matter has proven to be of no concern based on the Microsoft articles Sygnus21 linked above. Regardless, the train of thought that was in my head when I intially posted went something like this....

Perhaps Microsoft 365 "picks up" a Microsoft account being used as a Windows OS login and automatically uses that to activate/authenticate the Microsoft 365 apps.
If Microsoft 365 does this, then it's at least palusible that Microsoft could drop independent "within Office itself" activation/authentication from Microsoft 365 and require you to be logged into Windows with your Microsoft account. After all, the functionality would already be there, they would just be dropping the self-contained "within Office itself" activation/authentication method.
What if Microsoft 365 has the potential to do this but Office 2021 does not, or vice-versa? How does that weigh on my decision of which option I choose?

Again, this is all seems to be a non-issue because...as shown in Sygnus21's Microsoft links... the Office activation doesn't work like that and is the same for both Office 2021 and Microsoft 365. Prior to knowing that, however, I felt it was a plausible item to consider.

Simon Garrett · Aug 25, 2022

sygnus21 said:
Simon Garrett said:

I might be wrong, but I think that for Microsoft (Office) 365, you need a Microsoft account and to sign in with that. Office 365 seems to be tied to your Microsoft account. As I say, I stand to be corrected on that. Nothing is straightforward with Microsoft!

Click to expand...

Please read the links I provided. And yes... you need a Microsoft account to activate Office 365. However, it does NOT need to be used to log into Windows, which is basically what Billiam was asking. You can still use a "Local account" for "Windows" login. The Microsoft will merely record your subscription of Office 365. Again, read the links.

Thanks, I didn't mean to imply you need to log in to Window with a Microsoft account, just that you need a Microsoft account to sign in to Office 365. Sorry if my post didn't make that clear.

sygnus21 · Aug 25, 2022

Simon Garrett said:
Thanks, I didn't mean to imply you need to log in to Window with a Microsoft account, just that you need a Microsoft account to sign in to Office 365. Sorry if my post didn't make that clear.

All good

;-)

And yeah, a Microsoft Account is good for a lot of Microsoft services, not just Windows logins.

sygnus21 · Aug 25, 2022

Billiam29 said:
Perhaps Microsoft 365 "picks up" a Microsoft account being used as a Windows OS login and automatically uses that to activate/authenticate the Microsoft 365 apps.

No. You still have to log into Office to get the product activated. This isn't an automatic thing based on the fact that Windows is logged into with a Microsoft account.

I also know this from experience as I use a Microsoft Account to log into both my Windows 10 and 11 machines. That installing a fresh copy of Office 365, I still had to sign in though the "Office" app to activate. This is shown in the "Activate" link I posted.

From the article...

"When you start an Office app that's not activated, you'll be prompted to sign in to Office. Be sure to sign in using the Microsoft account, or work or school account, that you used to buy or subscribe to Microsoft 365."

And it doesn't matter if you use local or MSA. All that matters is you're signed into "Office 365" through the Office app.

IanYorke · Aug 26, 2022

Billiam29 said:
Short Version:
In Office 2021 and Microsoft 365, what are the actual steps you go through to enter your Microsoft account credentials? I'm interested in knowing experiences when done under both local account logins to to Windows as well as MS account logins to Windows.

Long Version:
I'm researching the two current consumer-space options for Microsoft Office. The perpetual license Office 2021 and the subscription Microsoft 365. While doing this, one of the most significant questions that comes to mind for me is...

Is one of these options more likely than the other to require you to sign into Windows itself with a Microsoft account at some point in the future?

That's *not* my actual question for this post though.

In order to make my own prognostication and judgement call about the question above, I really need to know what's currently involved with Microsoft Accounts for both options. Specifically in terms of activation/authentication of the software. That information has proven to be practically impossible to find.

All I come across when I see Microsoft accounts mentioned for either of these options is "sign in with your Microsoft account" or "authenticate with your Microsoft account". That's my question. What are the specifics of what those phrases actually mean?

If you are already logged into Windows with a Microsoft account, will Office 2021 or Microsoft 365 recognize that and then automatically use your Windows authentication as part of activating/authenticating Office?

What if you're logged into Windows with a local account? How do the two Office options handle that? Do you enter your MS account credentials in one of the Office apps and then they're shared with the other apps? Is there some sort of centralized "hub" or "dashboard" app for Office in which you enter your MS account credentials?

I intended to use SoftMaker Office rather than subscribe to Office. SoftMaker is a paid product rather than open source but it's well supported and has all the capability needed.

SoftMaker Office | The GDPR-compliant alternative to Microsoft Office

SoftMaker Office, the German GDPR-compliant alternative to Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android

www.softmaker.com

However, with Office 365 offering 6 users all with 1Tb of One Drive it was a no brainer to buy Office 365 for £60 from Amazon. Split between us and my son and daughter it means we get 1Tb of storage for £20 / year. No fuss, fully supported and secure software.

Nothing wrong with old software, I still have Lotus suite

on my computer to access old documents.

Ian

Billiam29 · Aug 26, 2022

Well that's a %#(%*&^ good start. :-x

I just wasted over half an hour unsuccessfully trying to create a Microsoft Account so I could purchase Office. Their absurd captcha process to verify you're human just keeps looping over and over and over again.

I went through the "select the mouse that can't get the cheese" as well as the audio "select the animal sound option" process three times each in both Firefox and Edge and the stupid things just keep repeating. I can never get my account created.

Billiam29 · Aug 26, 2022

I was finally able to create my MS Account by installing Outlook for iOS on my phone and creating the new account through that app.

Unlike the non-functional mess I experienced in Firefox and Edge, the captcha process used for account creation within Outlook for iOS was a straightforward selection of a single image that I only had to perform one time.

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How do you enter your MS Account for activation & authentication in Office 2021 & Microsoft 365?

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