Can’t authenticate Office 2024 Pro Plus on windows 11 – seems to be a dummy product code still listed under cmd prompt. How to replace or change it with new paid license key?

Troubleshooting Office 2024 Pro Plus Activation Issues on Windows 11: Replacing a Dummy Product Key with a Valid License

Activating Microsoft Office 2024 Pro Plus on Windows 11 can sometimes present challenges, especially when the system appears to recognize a placeholder or invalid product key rather than your genuine, paid license. If you’ve recently purchased Office 2024 Pro Plus and are experiencing difficulties verifying your license, this guide will help you understand the issue and walk you through the process of updating your product key to ensure proper activation.

Understanding the Activation Challenge

After installing Office 2024 Pro Plus, you might check the product key via Command Prompt and find that it displays a generic or dummy key, not the one associated with your recent purchase. This is often a placeholder key that Microsoft uses for trial versions or initial installs, and it may not reflect your actual license status.

Confirming Your Office License Status

The first step is to verify whether your Office installation recognizes your valid license. You can do this easily through the Office applications:

1. Open any Office application such as Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
2. Click on File in the top menu.
3. Navigate to Account or Office Account (depending on your Office version).
4. Under the Product Information section, look for your license details:
5. It should display as Licensed with your associated Microsoft account or product details.
6. If it shows an unactivated or trial version, further action is needed to activate with your purchased key.

Updating the Product Key

If your Office application does not display your correct license or prompts for activation, you can manually enter your valid product key:

1. In the same Account or Office Account section, locate the option to Change Product Key.
2. Click on Change Product Key.
3. Enter your legitimate 25-character product key provided upon purchase.
4. Follow the prompts to activate Office with your new key.

Potential Delay in Activation

After entering the product key, Office may take a few moments to process the activation. It’s advisable to:

• Restart Office applications.
• Check the license status again under the Account section.
• Confirm that your license now shows as Licensed with your account details.

Verifying via Command Line

Sometimes, the system’s command-line tools provide insight into the activation status:

• Open Command Prompt elevated