Office KMS Activation

Problem:

  • Office fails to activate for the user against the Key Management Service (KMS)

Environment:

  • Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10
  • Office 2010, 2013 and 2016

Resolution:

  • Run a command prompt as an administrator
    • Locate the Office installation folder
      • cd “C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office##”
        • 32-bit installations on 64-bit operating systems (most common)
        • Tab completion is your friend
      • cd “C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office##”
        • 64-bit installations
        • 32-bit operating systems will only have c:\program files\
      • ## will represent the version of Office
        • Office14 = Office 2010
        • Office15 = Office 2013
        • Office16 = Office 2016
      • You will be in the correct folder when you find a file called ospp.vbs
        • Run dir ospp.vbs
    • Check the activation status
      • From the command prompt in the Office installation directory, run
        • cscript ospp.vbs /dstatus
          • Check LICENSED STATUS: line
    • Set the KMS server and port
      • Default KMS server should be dc1.win.uthscsa.edu
        • Run the following two commands
          • cscript ospp.vbs /sethst:dc1.win.uthscsa.edu
          • cscript ospp.vbs /setprt:1688
    • Activate Office
      • Run the following command
        • cscript ospp.vbs /act
      • You should receive a <Product activation successful> for each Office product activated.
        • If it fails, you can try other KMS servers
          • dc2.win.uthscsa.edu 
          • dc2v.win.uthscsa.edu
            • KMS port should always be 1688
      • Checking the DNS for KMS servers
        • Run the following command
          • nslookup -type=SRV _vlmcs._tcp.win.uthscsa.edu

        

Cause:

  • The KMS servers may be changed from time to time. Sometimes it is necessary to manually change them.

Additional notes:

  • There is a canned script in Bomgar that will automate this process for you
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Details

Article ID: 17002
Created
Mon 10/3/16 12:51 PM
Modified
Tue 11/1/16 2:38 PM