It means people will be able to install Office as many times as they like on many computers or devices. This change will mostly benefit power or advanced users with multiple computers and devices. They are now using the term ‘device’ to apply to any computer hardware running Microsoft Office Great for advanced users Microsoft is dropping, for Office 365 licencing, the difference between a computer and a device. All Office installs are equalĪlso changing is the difference between Office desktop software (Windows or Mac) and the Office Mobile apps.Ī single user should be able to install and run Office desktop software on five different PC/Mac’s if they wanted to. Most folks have Office software on two or three devices – five is generous. Manual sign out is a prudent step if a device is lost or stolen though the device should have other protections in place (secure device login, Bitlocker etc).įor many people this change won’t matter. Remote sign outs aren’t necessary since Microsoft will sign out for you if the five devices limit is reached. You can remotely disconnect a Microsoft 365 login using the ‘Sign out’ links at right. Scroll down to the ‘Signed in devices’ section. To see which machines are signed into your Microsoft 365 subscription go here in your Microsoft account online. That means you can just sign-in to any device with Microsoft 365 software and let Microsoft’s servers handle the five device limit. It will be the device with the oldest login. Now, if you try to signin to Microsoft 365 software from a sixth device, one of the currently signed in devices will be remotely signed out. Microsoft changed that in 2019, after realising they could manage the limit with less hassle for the customer. To continue you had to logout of another computer/device. If you sign-in to Office with your account on a sixth device, there was a ‘limit reached’ message. – one user who can sign-in to Office software on five devices at the same time. – each of the SIX users can sign-in to Office software on five devices at the same time. – one user who can sign-in to Office software on five devices at the same time. Office will only fully activate on the current five logins you make from the software.

Office software/apps can be installed on as many computers/devices as you like. It will only work in a very limited way (Viewing and Printing) until someone signs-in again. When you sign-out of Office on a computer, that software is deactivated.

If you are a subscriber, then Microsoft will allow your Office software to run with all the features. Office will check with Microsoft’s servers to see if your Microsoft account is linked to a current Office/Microsoft 365 subscription. Microsoft will keep a count on how many sign-in you have at any time.Įach sign-in will activate the Office software. You’ll be able to use Office on up to FIVE devices/computers at a time.

Office 365 install limit