This browser is no longer supported.
Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(262.40000000000003, 22%, 35%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EJM%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
I cannot activate our family Microsoft 365 subscription
on my new MacBook Air 2026
Processes in Microsoft 365 for setting up Office apps, redeeming product keys, and activating licenses.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(185.6, 62%, 27%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EBT%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Hi. I'm Brian and I'll try to help.
Is this a new subscription? Where did you buy the subscription? Did you get it from Microsoft directly or from another source? If the latter, did you get a product key?
It is my husband’s account he purchased a few years ago from Microsoft with the family plan. I was able to use it before on my old MacBook Air 2015 but it aged out. I purchased a new MacBook Air 2026 but it always shows error OxO and I cannot activate.
thank you for your possible help.
Again, how are you trying to activate? If he shared his family plan with you, it's already activated. Log into https://account.microsoft.com/services with the account he shared it with and install it there.
Ok. I will try that. I was activated on my old Mac and transferred all over through migration.
I may not be able to try this for a few days to let you know but thank you for your time!
Also he sent me an invite which I followed and he can see my name added under his account.
That's good. Check the Services page I cited. Let me know what happens, please.
Yes I will. Hopefully next week I will be able to tackle this issue again. I appreciate your advice!
I was activated on my old Mac and transferred all over through migration.
Also he sent me an invite which I followed and he can see my name added under his account.
Transferring the files to your new Mac is of course an important step.
However, as Brian says, you will have to install Office. To install, use the same account you used when installing on the older Mac. You don't need a new invite, unless you want to use a different account / e-mail this time.
Ok! Thank you also. I will be trying to use the link Brian sent me as soon as possible.
I appreciate your time to give an answer!
One thing I forgot to mention: you may have to uninstall it on the old Mac first.If you use the link I mentioned on the old Mac and select Install, you should have an Uninstall button there as well.
Well I have already wiped my old Mac clean. Will that cause a problem?
I do not know positively that it will be an issue.