Project Professional 2024: Download, Install & Activation Guide

Project Professional 2024 is Microsoft's current one-time-purchase version of its desktop project management software. It runs on Windows only and gets security updates until 9 October 2029. Microsoft supplies it in two ways: a retail edition that you link to a Microsoft account, and a volume (LTSC) edition that you deploy with the Office Deployment Tool. Softkeyworld sells keys for both. This guide covers each route step by step, so first check which key type is on your order.

Which Project 2024 key do you have?

The key type decides where you download Project from and how it activates. Before you begin, find your key type in the table below.

Key type	How it is installed	How it activates	Best for
Project 2024 Professional LTSC – 1 PC	Office Deployment Tool (ODT) using ProjectPro2024Volume and the PerpetualVL2024 channel	Volume (MAK-style) key, entered in the ODT XML or with ospp.vbs, then activated online or by phone	One Windows PC, no Microsoft account needed
Project 2024 Professional LTSC – 3 PC	Same ODT method, repeated on each PC	The same volume key activates up to three PCs	Small teams or one user with several workstations
Project 2024 Professional Bind key	Redeem at setup.office.com, then download from account.microsoft.com/services	Retail key, permanently linked to your Microsoft account. Activates when you sign in	Anyone who wants easy reinstalls from their account

If you are still choosing between versions, our comparison of Microsoft Project 2024 vs 2021 for teams explains what changed and who benefits.

What you need before you start

• Your 25-character Project Professional 2024 key from the Softkeyworld order email
• A 64-bit or 32-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11 PC (Windows Server 2019 and later are also supported) with administrator rights
• A stable internet connection, because the installer streams files from Microsoft's content delivery network
• For Bind keys: a Microsoft account (Outlook, Hotmail or Live address) that you will keep using
• For LTSC keys: the free Office Deployment Tool from Microsoft

System requirements

Component	Minimum requirement
Operating system	Windows 11, Windows 10, Windows Server 2019 or later
Processor	1.6 GHz or faster, 2-core
Memory	4 GB RAM (2 GB for 32-bit)
Disk space	4 GB available
Display	1280 × 768 resolution
Graphics	DirectX 10 graphics card for hardware acceleration
Other	Internet access for installation and activation

Project uses Click-to-Run technology. It must use the same architecture (32-bit or 64-bit) as any Office already installed, and some Office, Project and Visio combinations cannot share a PC. Microsoft's page on installing different versions of Office, Visio and Project on the same computer lists the supported combinations. Microsoft 365 Apps (Version 2408 or later) and Office LTSC 2024 both work with Project 2024.

Step 1: Download Project Professional 2024

Option A: Bind (account-linked) key

1. Go to setup.office.com and sign in with the Microsoft account you want the licence linked to.
2. Enter your 25-character key, choose your country or region and language, and confirm. The licence is now permanently attached to that account.
3. Go to account.microsoft.com/services. Project Professional 2024 appears under your services and subscriptions.
4. Click Install, choose the language and 64-bit or 32-bit version, and download the small setup file.

Option B: LTSC 1 PC or 3 PC volume key

1. Download the Office Deployment Tool from the Microsoft Download Center and run it. It extracts setup.exe and sample XML files. Extract them to a folder such as C:\ODT.
2. In that folder, create a text file called configuration.xml with this content (replace the key placeholder with your key):
   <Configuration><Add OfficeClientEdition="64" Channel="PerpetualVL2024"><Product ID="ProjectPro2024Volume" PIDKEY="XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX"><Language ID="en-us" /></Product></Add><Display Level="Full" AcceptEULA="TRUE" /></Configuration>
3. Change OfficeClientEdition to 32 if the PC already runs 32-bit Office, and change the Language ID if you need another language (for example en-gb).
4. Optional: to download the files once for several PCs, open Command Prompt as administrator in C:\ODT and run setup.exe /download configuration.xml.

Step 2: Install Project Professional 2024

Bind key installation

1. Run the setup file you downloaded from your Microsoft account and accept the User Account Control prompt.
2. Wait while Click-to-Run streams and installs Project. This usually takes 5–15 minutes, depending on your connection.
3. When you see "You're all set", open Project from the Start menu.

LTSC volume key installation

1. Close all Office apps.
2. Open Command Prompt as administrator and go to the ODT folder: cd C:\ODT.
3. Run setup.exe /configure configuration.xml. The installer window appears because Display Level is set to Full.
4. When installation finishes, open Project Professional 2024 from the Start menu.
5. For a 3 PC key, repeat these steps on each workstation with the same configuration file.

Step 3: Activate Project Professional 2024

Activating a Bind key

1. Open Project and sign in with the same Microsoft account you used at setup.office.com when prompted.
2. Activation completes automatically because the licence is already on your account.

Activating an LTSC 1 PC or 3 PC key

1. If you included the PIDKEY in the XML, Project usually activates online on first launch. Check under File > Account.
2. If it is not yet activated, open Command Prompt as administrator and go to the Office folder: cd "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16" (on 32-bit Office on 64-bit Windows, use C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16).
3. Install the key: cscript ospp.vbs /inpkey:XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX
4. Activate it: cscript ospp.vbs /act
5. If online activation fails, open Project and use the activation wizard's telephone option. Our software download and activation help page covers the phone route and other tips.

Project 2024 uses the Office16 folder like every Click-to-Run Office release since 2016. That is expected and does not mean an older version was installed.

Useful Office Deployment Tool options for LTSC keys

The basic XML above is enough for most single PCs. A few optional changes help when you install for a team or need a specific setup:

• Offline or shared installs: add SourcePath="C:\ODT\Source" (or a network share) to the Add element. Run setup.exe /download configuration.xml once, then /configure on each PC, so Project is downloaded only once instead of on every machine.
• Removing old MSI Office first: add <RemoveMSI /> inside the Configuration element. Setup will then remove older Windows Installer versions of Office, Project or Visio (2016 and earlier) that would otherwise block the install.
• More languages: add another line inside the product, such as <Language ID="fr-fr" />.
• Silent install: change Display Level="Full" to Display Level="None" to install without on-screen prompts, which is useful when deploying the 3 PC key remotely.
• Updates: Project installed on the PerpetualVL2024 channel updates itself from Microsoft's CDN with security and quality fixes. No new features are added, which keeps the interface stable for the life of the product.

Moving Project 2024 to a new PC

With a Bind key, uninstall Project from the old PC, sign in to account.microsoft.com/services on the new one and install again. The licence follows your Microsoft account. With an LTSC key, uninstall from the old PC first, then repeat the ODT install and activation on the new machine. If online activation then reports that the key's limit has been reached, telephone activation usually solves it. If it doesn't, our support team can help.

Verify activation

• Open Project and go to File > Account. Under Product Information it should say Product Activated and show Microsoft Project Professional 2024 (or Project Professional LTSC 2024).
• For volume keys, run cscript ospp.vbs /dstatus from the Office16 folder. Look for LICENSE STATUS: ---LICENSED--- and the last five characters of your key.
• For Bind keys, Project Professional 2024 should also be listed at account.microsoft.com/services.

Troubleshooting common errors

Error or message	What it means	Fix
"This product key can't be used" at setup.office.com	You entered a volume (LTSC) key on the retail redemption page	Only Bind keys redeem at setup.office.com. Install LTSC keys with the Office Deployment Tool method above.
0xC004F050	The key is invalid for the installed product	Check that the ODT XML uses ProjectPro2024Volume (not Standard or 2021), then re-enter the key with /inpkey.
0xC004C003 or 0xC004C060	The activation server rejected the key	Check the key for typos (B/8, O/0). If it still fails, email support@softkeyworld.com with a screenshot.
0xC004C008	The volume key has reached its activation limit	Try phone activation, or contact support. This can happen if a 1 PC key is reused on a second machine.
0xC004F074	Office is trying to reach a KMS server	A generic KMS key is installed. Replace it with your own key: cscript ospp.vbs /inpkey: then /act.
"We can't install the 64-bit version of Office because we found the following 32-bit programs"	Architecture mismatch with existing Office	Set OfficeClientEdition="32" to match, or uninstall the other Office version first.
Project won't install next to existing Office	Unsupported combination, for example older MSI Office or mixed channels	Check Microsoft's compatibility list linked above. Remove older MSI Office or use matching versions.
0x80070005 when running ospp.vbs	Access denied	Re-open Command Prompt with Run as administrator.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between Project 2024 LTSC and Bind keys?

LTSC keys are volume keys. You install them with the Office Deployment Tool and they activate per device, with no Microsoft account needed. Bind keys are retail keys that you redeem at setup.office.com. They link permanently to one Microsoft account, so you can reinstall from account.microsoft.com/services at any time.

Can I install Project 2024 alongside Microsoft 365 or Office 2024?

Yes. Microsoft supports Project 2024 with Microsoft 365 Apps (Version 2408 or later) and with Office LTSC 2024, provided both use the same 32-bit or 64-bit architecture. Older MSI-based Office versions may need removing first.

Can I install an LTSC key through setup.office.com?

No. Volume LTSC keys are not accepted there. Use the Office Deployment Tool with the ProjectPro2024Volume product ID and the PerpetualVL2024 channel.

How many computers can I use a 3 PC key on?

Up to three Windows PCs. Install Project on each with the same ODT configuration and activate with the same key.

Does Project Professional 2024 work on a Mac?

No. Project desktop is Windows only. Mac users need a Windows virtual machine or a Windows PC.

How long is Project 2024 supported?

Microsoft's lifecycle lists Project 2024 as supported until 9 October 2029. It receives security updates until then and is a one-time purchase with no subscription.

Ready to get started?

Whichever route you take, Softkeyworld emails your genuine Project Professional 2024 key as soon as payment clears, and our team can help at support@softkeyworld.com if activation gets stuck. If you also need the rest of the suite, our Office 2024 Pro Plus installation guide follows the same deployment steps, so you can install both together.

Get your Project 2024 Professional key