Unable to Activate Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2016 After Windows Upgrade

vikrant joshi 0 Reputation points
2026-09-01T09:01:33.7366667+00:00

Hello Microsoft Support,

I purchased Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2016 for 1 PC in 2019 through an online marketplace. I successfully installed and used the software on my laptop for several years.

Recently, after upgrading/reinstalling Windows, I reinstalled Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2016 using the original installation media. However, when I try to activate Office using the product key provided at the time of purchase, I receive the following error message:

“This product cannot be activated because the product key is not valid.”

The product key was previously used successfully on the same PC before the Windows upgrade/reinstallation.

I would like to understand why the product key is now being rejected and whether there is any legitimate way to reactivate my Office installation.

I can provide proof of purchase, the original order details, and other information if required.

Please help me verify the status of my product key and advise whether it can be reactivated.

Thank you

Microsoft 365 and Office | Install, redeem, activate | For business | Other
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  1. DaveM121 (2) 16,065 Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2026-09-01T09:37:00.57+00:00

    Office Professional Plus 2016 was a volume licence version of Office used by large organizations, it is not a correct consumer Office licence and that is causing the problem if you are a private home user, you will not be able to reactivate that type of Office licence, retailers should not be selling that type of Office licence to the general public.

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