Microsoft Office 2010/2013/2016 (running on Microsoft Windows platforms) is activated in one of two ways: Key Management Service (KMS) or Multiple Activation Key (MAK).
For CSU-owned computers, the preferred, and default, activation method is KMS. KMS works well for computers that will be connected to the campus network (either physically on campus or through VPN) at least once every 180 days. For those systems that will not be connected as such, MAK is more appropriate. MAK keys may be obtained from the RAMtech store.
KMS Activation Of Office 2010/2013/2016
Office 2010/2013/2016 activate automatically with CSU’s KMS servers. No manual intervention is required, as long as the following are true:
- The computer is connected to the CSU network (either physically or via VPN)
- The media used to install Office 2010/2013 was acquired from the CSU RAMtech store
- The computer is joined to one of the many campus Active Directory domains (check with your local IT support personnel to verify)
If #1 and #2 above are true, while #3 is not, follow the instructions below to manually activate Office 2010/2013/2016 via the KMS method.
- Connect to the campus network physically or via VPN
- Make sure any Office applications are closed
- As an administrator of the local system, open an Administrative command prompt (accessed by typing “cmd.exe” in the Start menu search box, then right-clicking the result that appears in the start menu, then selecting “Run as administrator”)
- At the command prompt, type the following command, pressing the “enter” key afterward (Note: for Office 2010, use “office14”, for Office 2013, use “office15”, for Office 2016, use “office16”):
For Office 2010:
cscript “c:\program files\microsoft office\office14\ospp.vbs” /sethst:ms-kms-1.colostate.edu
For Office 2013:
cscript “c:\program files\microsoft office\office15\ospp.vbs” /sethst:ms-kms-1.colostate.edu
For Office 2016:
cscript “c:\program files\microsoft office\office16\ospp.vbs” /sethst:ms-kms-1.colostate.edu
Note: in the above command, double quotes are necessary because of the space in the path; if you have 32-bit Office installed on 64-bit Windows, then you need to change “program files” to “program files (x86)”
- Next, at the command prompt, type the following command, pressing the “enter” key afterward (Note: for Office 2010, use “office14”, for Office 2013, use “office15”, for Office 2016, use “office16”):
For Office 2010:
cscript “c:\program files\microsoft office\office14\ospp.vbs” /act
For Office 2013:
cscript “c:\program files\microsoft office\office15\ospp.vbs” /act
For Office 2016:
cscript “c:\program files\microsoft office\office16\ospp.vbs” /act
Note: in the above command, double quotes are necessary because of the space in the path; if you have 32-bit Office installed on 64-bit Windows, then you need to change “program files” to “program files (x86)”
After issuing the above commands, the second command should result in output similar to what appears below, representing a successful activation attempt:
—Processing————————–
—————————————
Installed product key detected – attempting to activate the following product:
SKU ID: 6f327760-8c5c-417c-9b61-836a98287e0c
LICENSE NAME: Office 14, OfficeProPlus-KMS_Client edition
LICENSE DESCRIPTION: Office 14, VOLUME_KMSCLIENT channel
Last 5 characters of installed product key: H3GVB
—————————————
—————————————
—Exiting—————————–
KMS Troubleshooting Tips
- KMS activation is sensitive to variances between the local computer’s time and the KMS server’s time. Please ensure that the time and date reported by the computer to be activated is accurate
- You must be an administrator of the computer you are activating. If you are not, you need to enlist the assistance of your local IT support personnel.
- You must connect to CSU’s network, either physically or via VPN, at least once every 180 days to reactivate a KMS-activated system. Note, however, that once KMS activation has taken place initially, the reactivation should happen automatically with no need for the manual steps outlined above.
- If you have trouble with activating Microsoft Office, please contact the ACNS Windows team by sending e-mail to: windows@colostate.edu