transferring my microsoft suite to a different pc

An OEM copy of Microsoft Office that came preinstalled with the old computer cannot be transferred to the new laptop; the license remains with the original computer and may be transferred to another person only together with that device.^1^

Uninstalling Office from the old computer does not convert the OEM license into a transferable license. For the new laptop, the supported options are:

• Purchase a new one-time Office license for that laptop.
• Purchase Microsoft 365 and install the desktop apps by signing in with the subscribing Microsoft account.
• Use the free web versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint through a Microsoft account.

If Office was actually purchased separately

If Office did not come with the old computer and is instead Office 2021 or Office 2024 purchased at retail, it may be transferable to another computer that belongs to you. Microsoft requires removal from the previous computer, and transfers are generally limited to once every 90 days unless hardware failure requires an earlier transfer.^2^

For an eligible retail copy:

1. Uninstall Office from the old PC.
2. On the new laptop, sign in to the Microsoft account originally associated with the purchase.
3. Open Services & subscriptions, locate Office, and select Install.
4. Open Word or Excel and sign in with the same account to activate it.

Most Office 2019, 2021, and 2024 editions are activated through the Microsoft account linked to the license rather than by entering the product key again.^3^

Because you identified the existing copy as OEM, the retail transfer procedure does not apply unless the Office license was separately purchased and only happened to be installed on that computer.

References

1. Microsoft License Terms
2. Transfer your Office license to another device or another person | Microsoft Support
3. Change your Office product key | Microsoft Support