How to download and install Microsoft Office, Project, and Visio Retail products

Microsoft Office

Microsoft Project

Microsoft Visio

Prepare the computer

Uninstall existing Office, Project or Visio

Save your work and close every Microsoft app. Removing incompatible or older installations first helps prevent setup and activation conflicts.

Important for Mac users: Microsoft’s complete removal procedure can include Library folders and may affect Outlook data. Back up important data and follow Microsoft’s official Mac uninstall article before removing those folders.

Secure the licence

Create or confirm your Microsoft account

The account used during redemption becomes the account you will use to download, activate and reinstall the product later.

• If you already have an Outlook, Hotmail, Xbox, Skype or Microsoft account, confirm that you can sign in.
• If you need a new account, create one using a new Outlook address or an existing email address.
• Add recovery information and store the sign-in details securely.
• Choose the account carefully—do not redeem the key under a temporary or inaccessible email address.

Use the official destination

Open setup.office.com and sign in

Type setup.office.com into your browser or use the button below. Sign in with the Microsoft account you want permanently associated with the product.

• Confirm the address bar shows an official microsoft.com, office.com or microsoft365.com domain.
• A redirect from setup.office.com to Microsoft’s current Microsoft 365 setup page is expected.
• Do not enter your key on a lookalike website, in a chat message or by email.

Redeem once

Enter the 25-character product key

Find the key in your purchase email, receipt or product packaging. Enter it carefully, then confirm the language and region if Microsoft asks.

• Select Next and complete the on-screen redemption prompts.
• Confirm that the correct Office, Project or Visio product appears before continuing.
• After successful redemption, the licence is recorded against the signed-in Microsoft account.

Protect your key: Never publish a screenshot or send the complete key to an unknown person. A genuine product key normally needs to be redeemed only once.

Get the correct installer

Download your redeemed product

After redemption, select the installation option shown for your product. If you return later, sign in to Microsoft’s apps page with the same account.

• Open the Microsoft apps page and sign in with the account used for redemption.
• Locate the redeemed product under your apps, services or subscriptions.
• Select Install or Install apps.
• On Windows, match the 32-bit or 64-bit architecture of any Microsoft Click-to-Run products you plan to keep.

Complete setup

Install on a Windows PC or Mac

Keep the computer connected to the internet and do not close the installer while files are being downloaded and configured.

Platform reminder: Office editions that support macOS can be installed on a Mac. Project and Visio desktop installers are for Windows; Visio for the web may be available on a Mac with an eligible plan.

Final check

Open the app and complete activation

Launch Word, Project, Visio or another installed app and sign in with the same Microsoft account used when the product key was redeemed.

• Accept the licence agreement and privacy prompts if displayed.
• If several licences appear, choose the one that matches the product you redeemed.
• On Windows, open File → Account and confirm the product shows as activated.
• On Mac, select Sign In when prompted and allow the licence to validate.

Ready to redeem your product key?

Use Microsoft’s official setup page and keep the same account from redemption through activation.

Use the account that originally redeemed the key. It becomes the account record used to download, activate and reinstall that product later.

Microsoft may redirect setup.office.com to its current Microsoft 365 setup experience. Confirm that the destination remains on an official microsoft.com, office.com or microsoft365.com domain.

Do not keep re-entering it. Sign in with the Microsoft account previously used for redemption and check its apps, services or subscriptions for the product and install option.

Uninstalling the applications normally does not remove documents you created. Back up important files and Outlook data before making software changes.

Project and Visio desktop apps are designed for Windows. Eligible Visio customers can use Visio for the web on a Mac; check the features included with your plan.

Check that you signed in with the account used for redemption and that the product appears in that account. Work, school, volume and employer-discount licences may use a different installation route.