Microsoft Office 2016 and Microsoft Office 2013, like all versions of Office and most other programs you pay for, mandates that one enters a unique product key throughout the installation process, proving, to some extent, that you own the software.

So what do you do if you want to reinstall this program but you've lost this important, 25-digit installation code? No doubt you've already tried all of the expected "looking around" but there are some more things you can try that you may not have access to known about.

If you are acquainted with product keys and just how they work, you may assume that the Office 2016/2013 product secret is stored, encrypted, within the Windows Registry, like older versions of Office and many other individuals do.

Unfortunately, Microsoft changed how they handled Microsoft Office product keys beginning with Office 2013, storing only area of the product key in your local computer. Which means that those product key finder programs aren't as helpful as they used to be.

The following should work if you're just looking for the product key for just one person in an Office 2016 and 2013 suite, like Word or Excel, in addition to if you are following the key for a whole suite, like Office Home & Student, Office Home & Business, or Office Professional in 2016 or 2013 versions.

Listed here are the three how to go about digging up a lost MS Office 2016/2013 product key:

Find Your Office 2016/2013 Key in Your Documentation or Email

Should you purchased Microsoft Office 2016 or 2013 inside a box with a disc, or as a product card (digital download) from the retail store, your product key is going to be with that physical purchase-on the merchandise card, on the sticker, on or perhaps in the manual, or around the disc sleeve.

Should you purchased one of these simple versions of Office from Microsoft online, your products key is kept in your Microsoft account online (more about that below) and/or arrived in your email receipt.

If Office 2016 or 2013 came preinstalled on your pc when you purchased it, your product key should be printed around the holographic sticker mounted on your pc. Ensure you make use of the Office 2016/2013 product key and not the Windows product key that's probably also with that sticker.

My prediction is that you've looked those places already before finding yourself on this page. However, there's something that might help you out of trouble, especially if you bought Office online:

As i mentioned already that product key finder tools won't find your Office 2013 product key, many will locate the final five digits, the one thing stored on your computer, which may be helpful in your research.

Here's how you can get it done:

Download Belarc Advisor. This is among the finest system information programs available and also doubles like a product key finder.

Install Belarc Advisor and run it. It takes a few minutes to find out all of your computer's information, including that last a part of your Office 2016 or 2013 product key.

From the Belarc Advisor Computer Profile browser window that opens, tap or click the Software Licenses link within the left margin.

Look for that Microsoft Office 2016 or Microsoft Office 2013 mention within the list.

Belarc Advisor lists the precise suite or program name here, if you just have Word 2016, search for Microsoft - Office Word 2016. If you have a full-blown suite, search for Microsoft - Office Professional Plus 2013. You get the idea.

What you'll see is really a number of numbers, accompanied by (Key: ends with AB1CD). Those five characters, anything they might be, would be the final five characters of your valid Office 2016 or Office 2013 product key.

The characters prior to that sentence aren't your products key. Belarc Advisor isn't able to find the entire Office product key for these versions because it doesn't exist on your computer, in contrast to previous versions of Office.

Now that you have the ultimate a part of your MS Office key, searching your email and computer for your string of characters, hopefully surfacing any digital documentation you've still got in your purchase.

Obviously, that trick isn't helpful if you don't have a digital paper trail of your Office purchase, but it's worth the trouble if you might.

View Your Office 2016 or 2013 Key in your Office Account Page

If you previously registered and activated your copy of Microsoft Office 2016 or 2013, you'll be happy to know that Microsoft has stored for you, and can demonstrate, your original product key.

This is what you must do to see it:

Sign directly into your Microsoft Office Account page.

Tap or click the Install from a disc.

Depending on how you bought the software, and if you've installed Microsoft Office already, you may not have to know or enter your products key whatsoever. Just tap or click the Install button instead and follow the instructions given.

On the page that loads next, tap or click I've got a disc, followed by View your product key.

In the event that works, record your Office 2016/2013 product key and keep it somewhere safe. You don't need to repeat all of this again next time you need it!

Contact Microsoft for any Replacement Office 2013 Product Key

Another option, that you may or might not have probably the most luck with, would be to contact Microsoft directly to request a replacement key.

Microsoft obviously won't just trust that you bought MS Office and browse a valid product key over the telephone. You'll need to find whatever evidence of purchase you can find and have it ready before calling.

You'll find the very best number to call on the Microsoft Support: E mail us page.

I suggest that you read through our How you can Talk to Tech Support guide before calling. As straightforward as calling about a replacement key may appear, I understand from experience on both sides that technical support of any sort could be tricky for everybody involved.

Office 365 & MS Office 2016 & 2013 Product Keys

If you have a duplicate of MS Office 2016 or 2013 placed on your pc that you simply installed via your Office 365 subscription, you don't need to worry about product keys whatsoever!

Just register to your Office 365 account online and follow the menu prompts to download and install the latest form of Microsoft Office 2016.

If you don't know your Microsoft password, you can reset it fairly easily.
Tips & More details

While it might be extremely tempting to utilize a free Office product key you might find in certain list on the web, or to download and employ a key generator program that supports Office 2013, either way is illegal.

Unfortunately, if none of the options I've already mentioned work out, you're playing buying a new copy of Office.

Please realize that key finder tools work perfectly with versions of Office prior to Office 2013.

See our tutorials on finding Office 2010 & 2007 product keys, as well as a separate, more applicable, tutorial on finding keys for older versions of Microsoft Office.