---
title: "Enter your product key for a Microsoft business product or service"
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author: cmcatee-MSFT
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description: "Learn how to redeem a product key to activate or extend your Microsoft business subscription." 
ms.date: 08/04/2025
---

# Enter your product key for a Microsoft business product or service

Check out all of our small business content on [Small business help & learning](https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?linkid=2224585).

A *product key* is a 25-character alphanumeric code that represents a prepaid license for a Microsoft business product or service. If you bought a Microsoft business product or service from a partner or a retail store, you use the product key to activate your new subscription. If you buy a prepaid license for a product that you already own, you can [use the product key to extend the expiration date](#extend-the-expiration-date-for-an-existing-subscription) of your subscription. You can also [use a product key to add more licenses to your subscription](licenses/buy-licenses.md#add-licenses-to-a-prepaid-subscription-by-using-a-product-key). To reduce licenses on your subscription, you must wait for your current active subscription to expire. Then you can create a new subscription with the desired number of licenses.

**Need something else?**

- **For help with Microsoft 365 Family or Microsoft 365 Personal**, see [Using product keys with Microsoft 365](https://support.microsoft.com/office/12a5763a-d45c-4685-8c95-a44500213759).
- **Volume licensing customer?** If you bought a Microsoft business product or service through a [Microsoft Open License Program](https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkID=613298), see the article, [Enter your product key purchased from Microsoft Open](purchases-from-microsoft-open.md).
  
## Before you begin

If you're an existing customer, you must be at least a Billing Administrator to do the tasks in this article. For more information, see [About admin roles](../admin/add-users/about-admin-roles.md).

## Activate a new subscription

1. Go to <a href="https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?LinkId=839911" target="_blank">https://microsoft365.com/setupbusiness</a>.

2. Enter your product key, then select **Next**.

3. Enter your name, work email address, business phone number, company name, and country/region, then select **Next**.

4. Enter a phone number to receive either a text or call to verify your identity.

5. You can get a new domain, use a domain name you already own, or add a domain later. The steps can vary, so follow the prompts, depending on which option you choose.

    > [!NOTE]
    > If you want to make sure that your subscription is automatically extended at the end of its term, you can add a credit card or bank account, and then [change the recurring billing setting](subscriptions/renew-your-subscription.md#change-the-recurring-billing-setting) for that subscription.

6. When you're finished, go to the <a href="https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?linkid=2024339" target="_blank">Admin center</a> to manage your subscription.

## Extend the expiration date for an existing subscription

To extend the expiration date for your prepaid subscription, you must use a new, unused product key for the same Microsoft plan. Entering your original product key won't work because a key that has already been redeemed can't be used again.

1. Go to the <a href="https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?linkid=2024339" target="_blank">Microsoft 365 admin center</a>.

    - If you're using the **Simplified view**, select **Billing**.
    - If you're using the **Dashboard view**, go to the **Billing** > <a href="https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?linkid=842054" target="_blank">Your products</a> page.

2. Select the subscription that you want to extend.

3. On the subscription details page, in the **Subscription and payment settings** section, select **Extend end date**.

4. On the **renew or add user licenses** page, select **Use a new and unused product key**, then select **Next**.

5. Enter the product key, then select **Next**.

    > [!NOTE]
    > If you have more than one product key, you can select **Add another product key** to enter them.

6. Review your order details, then select **Redeem**.

## Next steps

If you're new to Microsoft 365 for business, learn how to [set up Microsoft 365](../admin/setup/setup.md).

Check out this list of common product key errors and solutions: [Problems with your Microsoft 365 for business product key?](product-key-errors-and-solutions.md)
  
Or, [call Microsoft Support](../admin/get-help-support.md).

## Related content

[Upgrade or change to a different Microsoft 365 for business plan](subscriptions/upgrade-to-different-plan.md) (article)\
[What happens to my data and access when my Microsoft 365 for business subscription ends?](./subscriptions/what-if-my-subscription-expires.md) (article)\
[Understand subscriptions and licenses in Microsoft 365 for business](licenses/subscriptions-and-licenses.md) (article)