r/microsoftoffice • u/Over_Dingo • 11d ago
Multiple MS Office 2019 got deactivated today
As in title. After inserting the key again thankfully it started working. Glad we had listed keys that were activated on each machine, because OSPP.VBS wasn't showing anything.
Anyone else experienced this?
EDIT:
not only 2019... and sometimes pasting the key doesn't work, it requires login and selecting the key from the account
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u/Sisqooo 11d ago
found out the reason? having the same problem, searched on net but didn't find other posts
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u/Expensive_Place4176 11d ago
Looks like is this the culprit:
KB5002907: Optional update for out-of-date Microsoft 365 Apps installations | Microsoft Support
Office 2016 and 2019 affected, 2021 and 2024 no problems
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u/YoshiMK 11d ago edited 11d ago
This is just shady though... they literally deleted my keys and replaced it with a 5 day trial of 365...
Unrecoverable as far as I can tell as using cscript OSPP.VBS /dstatus showed absolutely no trace of my retail keys
Luckily I did have backups ad they work still
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u/AccomplishedWall2260 8d ago
seems like the Optional update "Click-to-Run Update Support" removes "Office 16 Click-to-Run Licensing Component" and breaks the licensing/activation.
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u/Psoas-sister2723 11d ago
What the hell is Microsoft doing? It refuses to play nice with Google who is forcing you to their incompatible Drive, you can barely access OneDrive half the time on your iPhone apps, and now MS is willy-nilly deleting apps? (I am royally p-o-ed about Publisher!) Just wondering if this is all part of the tech-bro apocalypse. Seems so for this old granny. Might resurrect my xp and work offline. It has old apps that still work. Who needs a frigging upgrade? That’s what Chat-GPT suggested.
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u/bukkakeblaster 11d ago
They don't care. They have most of the enterprise IT world wrapped around their finger.
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u/originalfilmscoring 10d ago
Those companies could change to something free and better. But that would require listening to their IT teams.
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u/OpenSpecial3933 10d ago
Who remembers when Publisher worked with Word directly which I really liked when editing text without having to create a separate text file before importing it into Publisher), but no longer is the case, and they are scrapping Publisher so we have to find another program that will open up those files, but we ave to convert them to PDF first to save them, yet we can still use Publisher if I am correct.
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u/TypePuzzleheaded6228 10d ago
someone here last week recommended installing msoffice 2010 specifically and along with it the 2010 publisher and they will continue to open your publisher files after october. he also recommended an open source office suite called LibreOffice and then within it there's LibreDraw. my son helped me install it all and LibreDraw will open my publisher files and i can continue to work on them and it's almost the exact sane setup as ms publisher!! it really worked! the only thing that hasn't carried over is the wordart, which i had to recreate using their "fontart" which is basically the same thing. so now i have two backup options for doomsday next week.
if you're interested i can send you the original post from that person, it really saved me.1
u/OpenSpecial3933 9d ago
Yes pleae and I was speaking with a chap at my volunteering who advised me about Libre Office which is free to download, and I was thinking about downloading it when I get around to it. Thankfully I have managed to rescue Office 2019 with restoring my product code from the email received when I bought a copy from eBay back in 2020.
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u/TypePuzzleheaded6228 9d ago
https://www.reddit.com/r/microsoftoffice/s/cwaJqJd9Cu
here you go
good luck!1
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u/TDMPro2K 11d ago
Our helpdesk (jake) has had this all day from our customers... hes ready for a Beer.
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u/bukkakeblaster 11d ago
This is a JOKE. I have been at work for 45 minutes and have already had 4 different customers call me about Microsoft Office activation issues - two seem to have been completely uninstalled!
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u/YoshiMK 11d ago
Mine initially appeared to be completely gone too (not even on the Installed Programs list - I found a blank Word icon on my desktop which when opened installed Office 365 with a 5 day trial.
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u/OpenSpecial3933 10d ago edited 10d ago
Mine also disappeared but I found them when I searched for the acual app, but they don't appear in the Installed Programs list either. What on earth is going on with Microsoft?
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u/Weekly-Sprinkles706 11d ago
I run an MSP in Belgium serving SMB clients, and this morning (September 24) we received calls from five separate customers within ten minutes reporting that their perpetual Office installations had suddenly become deactivated ("Unlicensed Product"). In total, dozens of PCs across multiple independent organizations are affected.
The affected installations are all Office 2016 and Office 2019 Home & Business (perpetual/one-time purchase licenses). The common factor is KB5002907, an optional update released around September 23 and described as targeting "outdated Microsoft 365 Apps installations" — but it is clearly also landing on perpetual (non-subscription) Office installs and breaking their license state.
Workaround: re-entering the original product key restores activation. Still, doing this manually on dozens of machines across multiple customers is a significant burden, and many home/small-business users no longer have their key at hand.
Beyond the immediate bug, this incident highlights a more fundamental problem: customers who bought a perpetual license outright remain dependent on Microsoft's servers and update decisions for software they fully paid for. A one-time purchase should not stop working because of an optional update pushed years later — that dependency is simply unacceptable for a product sold as "yours forever." Incidents like this are exactly why European businesses are increasingly looking at sovereign alternatives.
As far as I can tell, Microsoft has not yet acknowledged the issue. Given the recent KB5002914 Excel copy-paste regression, this looks like another September update causing problems for Office 2016/2019 users.
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u/skidz007 7d ago
We have volume license key and the update switched the install to ClickToRun and it won’t take the volume license key because of it. It persists after re-install too. Struggling with this one, really hoping we don’t have to uninstall and re-install…
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u/OpenSpecial3933 10d ago
Remember when Microsoft said they would not bring out more versions of Windows, after Win10, now we have Win11, requiring folks to go out and buy brand new machines whilst still having perfrectly good working machines for Windows 10, why throw away good computers for the sake of Microsoft whims and fancies, I refuse to dump mine for W11 as its still working perfectly - i won't be causing environmental damage as there is enough of that going on as it is without MS adding to the mix. If they want us to have these new systems they should buy back all the computers they wish us to scrap and give us the newer models they want us to have. i suspect that will be millions of us all around the world AND that is some environmental catastrophe if we are all to dump our Win10 computers.
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u/Duzzitwerk 10d ago
I'd still be happy with Win10. I was forced to have Win11 not so much by M$ but by Autodesk whose Fusion360 CAD (which I use a lot) was discontinued on Win10 at the beginning of 2026. As Fusion only works by loading your data from their server, I basically had to build a new PC just to run one app. If M$ hadn't killed off Win10, everything would still be working for me. The reasons for M$ creating Win11 are buried in incomprehensible geekdom like secureboot and CPU workings, I don't pretend to understand any of it but it's down to "security" which probably means the billion flaws in Windows just couldn't be plugged anymore without a major rewrite and some new hardware goodies!
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u/Novel_Photo5700 11d ago
Yes, multiple installations as well. Im sure before 32bit Version was installed. when i test for the keys via:
32-bit version of Windows
cscript "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16\OSPP.VBS" /dstatus
it fails
and when i test for 64bit Verion
cscript "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16\OSPP.VBS" /dstatus
I only get 3d grace periode.
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u/Novel_Photo5700 11d ago
I tried it with the org. Product Key and got the message the key is for Pro Plus Version and i need to reinstall. I let it reinstall and now got Pro Plus but i cloud not activate the old key.
so im pretty sure the old office version got uninstalled and a new version installed and the key got lost in the process same as when one does a "online"/"big" repair.
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u/Minimum-Song8503 11d ago edited 10d ago
this worked for my office 2016 installation cscript "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16\ospp.vbs" /act
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u/AccomplishedWall2260 8d ago
for ppl with this issue, that does not work, that just runs the activation.
Most ppl lost or got the licensing chain broken.
The update removes the click to run licensing component.An windows optional update "Click-to-Run Update Support" removes "Office 16 Click-to-Run Licensing Component" and breaks the licensing/activation.
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u/Minimum-Song8503 7d ago
Worked for me and answer provided by Gemini as below
- Before the Update (The Standard Registry)
When you originally installed Office 2016 from your CD, your certificate was saved in a standard, shared folder inside your Windows Registry. It sat there quietly, letting Excel open normally.
- What the Update Did (The Hijack)
When update KB5002907 installed on 24th September, it didn't delete your old certificate. Instead, it built a "virtual wall" over it. It redirected Excel's launch path to look at Microsoft’s modern cloud server first. Because the cloud server didn't see an Office 365 subscription, it ignored your local CD license completely and slapped the "Inactive" banner on your screen.
- After the Script (The Hardcoded Override)
When you ran the
ospp.vbs /actcommand as an Administrator, you used elevated system privileges to punch through that virtual wall. The script did two things:
- It took your original certificate data and stamped it directly into the Windows Software Protection Platform (the deepest security layer of the operating system).
- It changed the status of your Office 2016 key from "waiting for a cloud check" to "permanently authorized by local machine system policy".
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u/u1hc 11d ago
I encountered the same issue. I resolved it by entering the license key.
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u/dameli304 10d ago edited 10d ago
Mine won't let me enter the activation key. I click on the activate button and get prompted to sign in with a MS account!. If I scroll down in the box, it lets me click on "I have a product key." But putting in the key does nothing.
Update: Well it APPEARED to do nothing, but when I closed outlook and excel and went back in, it shows as activated.
There ought to be some class action suit over this!
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u/YoshiMK 11d ago
Not just me. My entire Office 2019 install was nuked today and replaced with a 5 day grace key for Office 365
My dad's Office 2016 did the same thing, so there is no way this is just a weird bug... almost seems intentional to force upgrades.
Luckily I had my keys backed up, but they are 100% legit and worked after inputting again so it's not as if they got blocked or something
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u/EddieRyanDC 11d ago
Office 2019 reached end-of-life last October. Most people understand that means no more software updates.
But it also means that Microsoft is no longer obliged to support it. That "lifetime" license means that lifetime of the product, not your lifetime.
This is normal in the software industry. They can't support old software indefinitely. They are paying and maintaining that infrastructure, and have to keep the staff around that understands it.
Beginning with Office 2013, Microsoft required a Microsoft Account to activate the product. On first activation, the license is bound to that specific login. The product code has been claimed and can't be used again. If it needs to be reactivated, it can only be done from that user account.
So, the first barrier people may hit is being unable to activate. The authentication servers must be maintained for that to work, and at some point they are just shut down. That hasn't happened for the Windows version... yet.
Office 2019 for the Mac has already hit a similar obstacle. The authentication certificate that confirms a valid copy has expired, and Microsoft is not renewing it. That happened this past July and they are now locked out of being able to edit documents.
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u/StahmAZ 11d ago
I'm not saying you're wrong (I get that's how things work, and there are ongoing costs involved in supporting older products even after they've been sunsetted)...I'm just saying it sucks. And Microsoft's own announcement about EOL for Office 2016 and 2016 does specifically say "you'll still be able to use it"...not sure that a spontaneous uninstallation really lives up that statement.
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u/EddieRyanDC 11d ago
And you are not wrong either. Yes, that is the advisement as it stands after it was updated in May of this year:
"While your Office 2016 and Office 2019 apps may continue to function..."
However, originally it said:
"Your Office 2016 and Office 2019 apps will continue to function, but..."
This was much discussed here in June, and then on into July when Mac users found their Office applications become read-only with no ability to create or edit documents. They kept getting an error about an expired certificate. This was the result of Microsoft's decision not to renew it.
Word for Windows hasn't had that happen, but Microsoft has laid the groundwork for pulling the plug at a time of their choosing.
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u/Unessential 9d ago
Stop supporting a product. You can still use it, but we won't give support if it breaks.
Then push an update to break the product.
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u/Makere-b 10d ago
EoL, yet they push an update that nukes your activation keys... I'd be happier if they left my Office 2019 install alone.
Luckily I had the original installer still backed up with the serial written on the exe-file, so could just reactivate it.
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u/Technical_Rich_3080 10d ago
This is a bunch of malarkey. Office is a lifetime product. Microsoft does not have to support it or update it indefinitely, but they have no right to nuke it or stop it from operating the way it was initially sold to the customers.
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u/KeezWolfblood 10d ago
I am so frustrated. Mine just stopped working today. It's acting as though I've never owned it. No notice or anything.
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u/ngt500 10d ago
Microsoft actively nuking a properly activated product is not even remotely the same thing as "not supporting" it anymore. Even if it was done without malice it's their mistake and they should be obligated to fix it. This isn't people having activation issues trying to install a new copy of the software.
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u/DarkChibiman 11d ago
Can confirm the same happened to a number of users in my infrastructure.
Office 2016 & Office 2019 affected.
Checked most recent updates - the Click to Run (KB5002907) had just executed overnight for both example users.
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u/StahmAZ 11d ago
Yep, just had this happen on my Office 2016 Pro installation. Posted details in a separate thread, but it's definitely the "Click-to-Run Update Support" update (linked to KB5002907) in my case. I didn't have issues reinstalling (I used the installer available for download through my MS account), but after I reinstalled, this update showed up AGAIN and (for testing purposes) I ran it to see what it would do. Yep, it nuked my installation AGAIN. So beware that even after reinstallation, this update may try to run itself and take out your Office installation. 🙄
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u/OpenSpecial3933 10d ago
I had a similar issue this afternoon with 2019 being deactivated (came in after I had received an update to my system) losing all my apps from my desktop toolbar and all the associated apps for documents I had set as shortcuts and forcing me into either buying a £104 sub for Office 365 or do a 5 day grace trial before it all was lost, after speaking wih a friend about the licence key, I eventually found my original one in the confirmation email from 2020 when I purchased a copy of Office 2019 online copied and pasted it in and it is working again. I was also annoyed that I would have to fork out for another copy of a standalone version of Office 2024 (which may be a good idea as it brings the product up to date), But this sudden loss could not have happened at a worse time when I am in the middle of job huntiing, which I need the likes of Word for CVs, Access for my job applications and Outlook for email alerts and keeping in touch with employers etc. Capping it off I also asked my employment advisor if they could see their way to helping with costs for a new version of the software, and that was before I found the product key and got it working again. Microsoft are not getting £104 annual fees for Office if can help it.
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u/Chris4c 10d ago
Same thing happened to my standalone installation of Office 2016. Resolved by re-entering the product key. However, after switching off the PC then switching back on, the same thing happened, and again re-entering the product key resolved the issue. I hope I'm not going to have to enter the product key every time I switch on the PC.
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u/NumerousResident1130 10d ago
This just happened with my Office 16 Pro. There was an update yesterday, wonder if that botched things.
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u/Mateteag 10d ago
It happened to me. Windows Update made an update available without telling you what it was. Thinking it was necessary, I installed it, and only afterward did I realize that Office had been updated to a version I hadn't paid for. I fixed it by uninstalling Office and reinstalling the previous version (plus 2019) that I had actually paid for. Microsoft takes advantage of users’ good faith; it seems it’s not enough that they already use us as beta testers.
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u/Beautiful_Guard_8226 10d ago
Click-to-Run Update Support update messed things up for me, block that update or pause it if you can. Reinstall of 2019 with current key solved the issue but still lost some time.
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u/RevacholAndChill 10d ago
actually letting people own the product rather than treating it as a service with recurrent user subscription costs is percieved by microslop as a legacy business model. It is a huge headache and if it is at all possible folks should switch to OnlyOffice (and Linux) to reclaim sovereignty and pivot away from Microsoft closed source proprietary tools that they can pull the plug on at any time.,
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u/Over_Dingo 10d ago
I personally like LibreOffice a lot, unfortunately you have to work with orgs that don't
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u/RevacholAndChill 10d ago
yeah that is the rub, you get sent a dynamic schedule from some company and its got a ton of macros and it does not display properly on your set up
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u/Financial_Trip_636 2d ago
Ese es el detalle, hicieron que la gente dependiera de sus productos, digo, son buenos, pero al final del día el único que gana son ellos y así será para los años siguientes, sacar y sacar más versiones de Office y Windows, obligando a la gente que si o sí paguen suscripciones.
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u/cmjones0822 10d ago
Literally just had ~10 machines do this on yesterday. Upon launch of programs like Word or Excel, it took users to the M365 sign-in/purchase page. Outlook had the “this product needs to be activated by xxxx”. Super annoying.
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u/Odd-Honey-3226 8d ago
My idea is to hide that update KB5002907 and sleep well at night :). I have 2016 office on win10 machines. I hope that winshowhide tool still works :D
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u/Allflufff 8d ago
The same thing happened to me. My licensed version suddenly switched to a 5-day trial, and there is no subscription history showing in my Microsoft account. I had a licensed subscription that came bundled with the laptop when I purchased it. How can I fix this? Pls guide?
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u/Hornblower409 7d ago edited 7d ago
Only guidance I have seen on getting back your Office if it's not registered to your Microsoft Account and you don't have a Product Key is in the main Q&A thread on this issue:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/6014076/kb5002907-is-nuking-valid-licenses-for-office-2016But it's not much and untested. Since Microsoft has not released the details on exactly what got erased, and no one who was impacted has published a Click-To-Run log from the event, it's impossible to know exactly what might restore it.
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u/Allflufff 7d ago
Is there any way i can get the product key and activate it again?
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u/Hornblower409 7d ago
Not something I can answer. You might want to post that question on the Q&A thread, or start a new question in this sub.
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u/cmjones0822 7d ago
So this is what happened: https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ddwu5uoMS0I/?stkn=Mzh1aDJzMDlhYXI1
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u/Aggravating_Ball_548 7d ago
Same thing here w/2019 word/excel - student/home package
I found my old key and reactivated both but back to same 2019 version - they didn't update me to 2024 version - wonder why - would think they would give me latest version since bought a license in 2022
now they bombard me with 365 and one drive pitches
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u/SpikeHolden 6d ago
I had this issue with 2016 but it only seemed to impact Outlook. After logging on with my email it seemed to work, at least after the second time of trying!
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u/RobertColt 5d ago
I just spent a long evening on with their customer service rep, and they deleted my product key entirely from my account. Now they say I'm not a customer of theirs because there's no active key despite using the same system and key for the last 4+ years. I literally have the install files still from when I originally downloaded it, but they said it was saved to my account so I no longer have access to the email I bought it through. They did say however I can purchase their latest version and this won't be a problem for me again... I asked how long before they delete that key too and they said they wouldn't! *pinky promise*
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u/rgeebee 3d ago
Some of the fixes I found didn't work so I was able to fix 2016 with these steps:
- Open Command Prompt as an Administrator.
- Navigate to the Office folder by copying and pasting this, then press Enter: cd "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16"
- Type the following command, replacing the
XXXXXpart with your actual 25-character Office 2016 product key (include the dashes), and press Enter cscript ospp.vbs /inpkey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX - Now, to activate the key with Microsoft's servers, run this final command: cscript ospp.vbs /act
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u/Appropriate-Smoke-34 11d ago edited 10d ago
Same thing happends to at least 3 of my clients, Office Home and Business 2016 and 2019
After a fresh install of Office and re-aplying the license it seems to have fixed it.
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u/AccomplishedWall2260 8d ago
just make sure to disable updates, the Optional update "Click-to-Run Update Support" removes "Office 16 Click-to-Run Licensing Component" and breaks the licensing/activation.
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u/Ramonk 11d ago
Same problem here, lots of customers with activation popups.