Activating Office 365 on Windows is a crucial step to ensure that you can access all the features and functionalities of the software suite. While the typical method involves using the graphical user interface (GUI), there are scenarios where activating Office 365 via the Command Prompt (CMD) can be more efficient or necessary, such as in automated deployments or remote management situations. This article will guide you through the process of activating Office 365 using CMD, providing you with practical examples and commands to streamline the activation process.

Examples:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator:

• To perform the activation, you need to run CMD with administrative privileges. You can do this by searching for "cmd" in the Start menu, right-clicking on "Command Prompt," and selecting "Run as administrator."

2. Navigate to the Office Installation Directory:

• The default installation path for Office 365 is usually within the "Program Files" directory. Use the following command to navigate to the correct folder:
  

   cd "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16"

  
  

  Note: The path may vary depending on your Office version and installation settings.

3. Retrieve the Last Five Characters of the Product Key:

• Before activating, you might want to check the last five characters of the installed product key to ensure you are working with the correct license. Use the following command:
  

   cscript ospp.vbs /dstatus

  
  

  This command will display the current license status and the last five characters of the product key.

4. Activate Office 365:

• To activate Office 365, you need to use the product key. Replace "XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX" with your actual product key in the following command:
  

   cscript ospp.vbs /inpkey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX

  
  

  After entering the product key, execute the following command to complete the activation:

  
  

   cscript ospp.vbs /act

5. Verify Activation Status:

• To confirm that Office 365 has been successfully activated, you can check the activation status using:
  

   cscript ospp.vbs /dstatus

  
  

  This command will display the current activation status and any relevant details about the license.

By following these steps, you can efficiently activate Office 365 on a Windows machine using the Command Prompt, which can be particularly useful in environments where GUI access is limited or for automation purposes.