Processes in Microsoft 365 for setting up Office apps, redeeming product keys, and activating licenses.
Install Office on each intended PC from the Microsoft account that holds the 23 entitlements, select one of the two affected Office Home & Business 2024 licenses when prompted, and complete telephone activation if online activation reports that the activation limit was reached.
Transfer the two licenses
Office Home & Business 2024 is a one-time-purchase license for one computer, but it may be transferred to another computer that belongs to you. Transfers are limited to once every 90 days, except following hardware failure.^1^
Since Office and its keys have already been removed from the two incorrect PCs, proceed as follows:
- On the first correct PC, sign in to Services & subscriptions at
https://account.microsoft.com/servicesusing the Microsoft account under which all 23 keys were redeemed. - Locate Office Home & Business 2024 and select Install.
- Install Office, open Word or Excel, and sign in with that same Microsoft account.
- In Select Office for this device, review the numbered list of Office licenses and select one of the affected licenses, then select Next. Microsoft documents this selection window specifically for managing multiple one-time-purchase Office licenses under one account.^2^
- Repeat the process on the second correct PC, selecting the other affected license.
- In an Office application, verify the result under File → Account → Product Information.
Do not redeem the product keys again. After redemption, the keys are associated with the Microsoft account; installation and activation should use that account rather than the original keys.[^3^](https://support.microsoft.com/microsoft-365-activation-licensing/this-product-key-has-already-been-used-error-in-office ""This product key has already been used" error in Office | Microsoft Support")
If online activation is rejected
If Office reports maximum number of activations reached or does not accept the selected entitlement:
- Choose the telephone activation option shown by the Office activation wizard.
- Follow the automated prompts and provide the installation ID displayed by Office.
- Enter the returned confirmation ID to finish activation.
Microsoft’s Office 2024 transfer instructions specify telephone activation when moving a qualifying perpetual Office license to another computer.^4^
If telephone activation is unavailable or refuses the transfer, contact Microsoft Support at https://support.microsoft.com/contactus/:
- Select Office.
- Select Get Home Support.
- Enter Transfer license.
- Sign in with the Microsoft account containing the 23 licenses.
- Ask Support to identify and unlink the two previous Office 2024 device activations.
- Have the purchase invoices, the two intended computer names, and any activation error or installation IDs available.
This escalation route is documented for Office 2024 installations that remain associated with a previous device on Microsoft’s activation systems.^5^
There is no documented self-service button for manually “revoking” an individual Office 2024 perpetual activation from this account. The supported path is license selection during activation, followed by telephone activation or Microsoft Support if the server-side record must be cleared.
References
- Transfer your Office license to another device or another person | Microsoft Support
- Manage multiple one-time-purchase Office installs that use the same Microsoft account
- "This product key has already been used" error in Office | Microsoft Support
- Activate Office after reinstalling or installing on a different device | Microsoft Support
- Office 2024 activation - Microsoft Q&A