Office 2013 Professional Plus: Download, Install & Activation Guide

Office Professional Plus 2013 includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Access, Publisher, InfoPath and Lync. It's an older one-time-purchase suite for Windows that some users still need, for example to match a legacy business system, older macros or a training course. This guide is honest about what Microsoft still offers for Office 2013. It explains the legitimate download routes and takes you through installation and both activation methods, including the ospp.vbs command line.

Important: Office 2013 is out of support

Microsoft ended extended support for Office 2013 on 11 April 2023. See Microsoft's end of support for Office 2013 page. Installed copies still work, but there are no security updates, bug fixes or technical support. Microsoft has also closed most public download channels for Office 2013. A product key alone no longer gets you an installer from Microsoft's website, which is why we send the official download link with every order.

Office 2013 also can't connect to Microsoft 365 services such as Exchange Online, and Microsoft never certified it for Windows 11. It usually installs and runs on Windows 10 and 11, but this is unsupported. If you need a newer perpetual licence that runs well on Windows 10 and 11, Office 2016 Professional Plus is the next step up, although it also left support in October 2025. If you want security updates until 2029, see our Office 2024 Professional Plus guide.

What you need before you start

• Your 25-character Office 2013 Professional Plus key and the official download link from your order email.
• A Windows PC with administrator rights.
• Other Office versions removed. Office 2013 doesn't install cleanly alongside newer Click-to-Run Office or Microsoft 365 apps.
• An internet connection for online activation, or a phone for telephone activation.
• Optional: a tool that can mount an .iso/.img file. Windows 8.1, 10 and 11 can do this natively.

System requirements

Component	Requirement
Operating system	Windows 7, Windows 8/8.1, Windows 10 (Windows Server 2008 R2 or later). Windows 11 works but isn't officially supported.
Processor	1 GHz or faster x86 or x64 processor with SSE2
Memory	1 GB RAM (32-bit) or 2 GB RAM (64-bit)
Storage	3 GB free disk space
Display	1024 x 576 minimum
Graphics	DirectX 10 graphics card for hardware acceleration
Other	.NET Framework 3.5 or later for some features

Step 1: Download Office 2013 Professional Plus

There are only two legitimate routes in 2026:

Route A: the official link supplied with your order (most buyers)

1. Open your Softkeyworld order email and select the official Microsoft download link for Office Professional Plus 2013.
2. Choose the 32-bit or 64-bit version. 32-bit is the most compatible with older add-ins. Choose 64-bit only if you work with very large Excel files.
3. Save the file (usually an .iso or .img disc image) to your Downloads folder. If the link has expired or doesn't work, email support@softkeyworld.com with your order number and we'll send a fresh one.

Route B: your Microsoft account (only if you redeemed the key earlier)

1. If you previously redeemed this key to a Microsoft account, sign in at account.microsoft.com/services.
2. If Office 2013 is listed, select Install and follow the prompts. Microsoft has removed Office 2013 from many accounts, so if it isn't there, use Route A.

Please don't download Office 2013 from torrent sites or "free ISO" mirrors. Those files are frequently modified, and an unpatched Office version is the last place you want hidden malware.

Step 2: Install Office 2013

1. Uninstall other Office versions via Settings > Apps (or Control Panel > Programs and Features) and restart.
2. Right-click the downloaded .iso/.img file and select Mount, then open the new virtual drive.
3. Double-click setup.exe and select Yes at the User Account Control prompt.
4. Enter your 25-character product key when asked. A green tick confirms the key format is accepted. Then select Continue.
5. Accept the Microsoft Software Licence Terms.
6. Select Install Now for a default installation, or Customise to choose apps, the install location or file locations.
7. When setup finishes, select Close. You can then eject the virtual drive.

32-bit or 64-bit: which should you install?

The choice matters more for Office 2013 than for newer versions, because many of the reasons people still use 2013 involve older add-ins:

Choose 32-bit if…	Choose 64-bit if…
You use older COM add-ins, Access databases with ActiveX controls, or VBA macros written for 32-bit Office	You work with very large Excel workbooks or Access databases over 2 GB of in-memory data
You connect Office to legacy accounting, CRM or line-of-business software	None of your add-ins or macros depend on 32-bit components
You're not sure (32-bit is Microsoft's own recommended default for Office 2013)	You have 64-bit Windows and at least 4 GB RAM

You can't mix them. If any 32-bit Office program (such as an older Visio or Project) is already installed, Office 2013 setup must also be 32-bit.

First-run settings worth checking

1. When Word first opens, Office 2013 may ask you to choose update settings. Select Install updates only so the final patches are applied.
2. Set your default file formats under File > Options > Save. Office 2013 uses the modern .docx, .xlsx and .pptx formats, which newer Office versions open without problems.
3. In Outlook 2013, add mail accounts with IMAP or POP settings from your email provider. Modern Microsoft 365 mailboxes aren't supported by this version.
4. Lync 2013 was replaced by Skype for Business and Teams and can't sign in to current Microsoft services. You can choose not to install it under Customise.

Step 3: Activate Office 2013

Online activation

1. Open Word 2013. If you entered your key during setup, the Activation Wizard opens, or go to File > Account > Activate Product.
2. If you're asked to sign in to a Microsoft account, you can select I don't want to sign in or create an account for key-based activation.
3. Choose I want to activate the software over the Internet and select Next. You'll see a "Thank you" message when it succeeds.

Telephone activation

1. If online activation fails (for example with 0xC004C008), open the Activation Wizard again and choose I want to activate the software by telephone.
2. Select your country or region. Note the phone number and the nine-block Installation ID.
3. Call the number, enter the Installation ID using your keypad and say that the software is installed on one computer.
4. Type the eight-block Confirmation ID into the wizard and select Next.

The screens are almost identical in later versions, so our Office telephone activation guide also works for Office 2013 if you'd like screenshots.

Command-line alternative (OSPP.VBS)

Open Command Prompt as administrator. Office 2013 uses the Office15 folder. Use cd "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office15" for 64-bit Office, or cd "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15" for 32-bit Office on 64-bit Windows. Then:

• cscript ospp.vbs /inpkey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX installs or replaces the key.
• cscript ospp.vbs /act activates online.
• cscript ospp.vbs /dinstid displays the Installation ID for phone activation.
• cscript ospp.vbs /actcid:CONFIRMATIONID applies the Confirmation ID from the phone line.

How to verify activation

• Open Word and go to File > Account. Under Product Information it should say "Product Activated" and "Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2013".
• Or run cscript ospp.vbs /dstatus in the Office15 folder and check for LICENSE STATUS: ---LICENSED--- with the last five characters of your key.
• Check that the title bar of Word or Excel doesn't show "Unlicensed Product" and that editing isn't restricted.

Keeping Office 2013 as safe as possible

• After activation, turn on Give me updates for other Microsoft products in Windows Update. This installs the final Office 2013 patches, including Service Pack 1, which Microsoft released before support ended.
• Keep Protected View enabled and macros disabled under File > Options > Trust Center.
• Use Office 2013 for local documents and avoid opening attachments from unknown senders in it.
• Keep regular backups of important files.

Troubleshooting common errors

Error	Meaning	Fix
0xC004C008	The key has reached its online activation limit.	Use telephone activation.
0xC004F074	Office is looking for a KMS server, which happens on volume media without your key installed.	Run cscript ospp.vbs /inpkey: with your key, then /act or phone activation.
0xC004F050	The key isn't valid for the installed edition.	Check that you installed Professional Plus 2013 (not Standard or Home & Business) and re-type the key.
0xC004C003	The activation server blocked the key.	Stop retrying and email support@softkeyworld.com with your order number and a screenshot.
Error 1935 during setup	A Windows Installer or .NET component problem.	Restart, run Windows Update, make sure .NET Framework is enabled in Windows Features, then run setup again.
"Setup can't continue because a newer version of Office is installed" or Click-to-Run conflicts	Microsoft 365 or another Click-to-Run Office is on the PC.	Uninstall the other Office versions completely, restart and run Office 2013 setup again.
0x80070005 when running ospp.vbs	Command Prompt isn't elevated.	Re-open Command Prompt with Run as administrator.

Frequently asked questions

Can I still download Office 2013 from Microsoft?

Not from a public download page. Microsoft only offers it through accounts where it was previously redeemed. Softkeyworld customers receive an official download link with their order.

Does Office 2013 still work in 2026?

Yes. Activated copies keep working, but there are no security updates, and modern Microsoft 365 services won't connect to it.

Does Office 2013 work on Windows 11?

It usually installs and runs, but Microsoft doesn't support that combination. Windows 10 is the newest Windows version it was designed for.

Is telephone activation still available for Office 2013?

Phone activation through the Activation Wizard is the standard fallback when online activation reports a limit. Select your country in the wizard to get the current number.

Can I move Office 2013 to another PC?

That depends on the licence. Uninstall it from the old PC first. Reactivation on a new PC often needs telephone activation, and some keys are licensed for one PC only.

Do I need a Microsoft account to use Office 2013?

No. Office 2013 Professional Plus activates with the product key alone, online or by phone. Signing in to a Microsoft account is optional and only adds OneDrive integration. If your order email says your key should be redeemed to an account first, follow that instruction instead.

What's in Office Professional Plus 2013?

Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, Access, Publisher, InfoPath and Lync, all for Windows.

Get Office 2013 Professional Plus

If you need Office 2013 for compatibility, our genuine key comes with the official download link and email support at support@softkeyworld.com. You can read how delivery works on our software download and activation page.

Get your Office 2013 Professional Plus key