Office 365 versions for shared computer activation: click here 

https://getconnectedtechnologies.com/blog/2018/10/16/office-365-installation-with-shared-computer-licensing/




What is Shared Computer Licensing?:

Microsoft recently created a new form of licensing for Office 365 called “Shared Computer Licensing”, allowing you to use office 365 on a computer or server that is shared by multiple people. When a user logs into a server or computer, they are logging into their profile. Their profile has an associated key which keeps office activated.

When a user logs into office on their profile for the first time, they are prompted with a window that says “Office Product Activation”. They must select sign in and login with their email address and password. Microsoft validates that the user has an office 365 license and assigns them a key which is stored on their user profile.

Next time the user logs in, office will already be activated for that user because they have the key on their account. If for some reason a user changes their password, a prompt will show for the user to login to office again to validate their license is still good, which assigns them a new key.

Instead of having the software activation tied to only 1 users activation, this method uses the license from each users account to make sure office is active for users who have a valid license on the shared computer or server. Shared Licensing works great when you have multiple users using a terminal server (RDS Server). Below I outline how to install office with shared computer licencing.

Steps for Setup:

  1. Check office 365 Admin Center and see what licenses are on each users account
  2. Verify that all users have at least a pro plus license or higher (Do not Proceed if users do not have correct licensing)
  3. Login to the affected terminal server and open the control panel
  4. Open Programs and Features and check to see if office 365 is installed (If Office is installed, uninstall office 365)
  5. Download the Office Deployment Tool onto the terminal server (https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=49117)
  6. Once downloaded, create a folder in the root of the C drive called “Office”
  7. Run the Office Deployment Tool you downloaded and select the “C:\Office” location. The tool will extract three files into the Office folder.
  8. Open File Explorer and go to “C:\Office” Remove the two text files and leave the setup.exe file
  9. Open a browser on the terminal server and go to the following website: https://config.office.com/
  10. Type the Client Name in the Organization name field at the top. Select the 32-bit option then select Add
  11. Scroll Down and under the software section, click the pull down and select “Office 365 ProPlus”. Unselect the OnceDrive (Groove) unless the client uses it. Click Add
  12. Scroll down some more and under the languages section, click the pull down and select “English (United States)”
  13. Scroll up and select “Installation and Update settings”. At the top under installation, select “Monthly Channel” from the pulldown
  14. Click on the “Licensing and Activation” tab on the left. The following options NEED to be selected. “Display Level: Full, allowed shared computer Activation: On, automatically accept the EULA: On, Logging: Standard”
  15. Scroll to the top and select “Export” on the top right of the page
  16. Save the file into the “C:\Office” location
  17. Open a Command Prompt Window as Administrator
  18. Run the following command: “cd C:\Office
  19. Run the following command: “setup.exe /download configuration.xml” (Command prompt will show a flashing cursor for several minutes. Wait until it prompts for input)
  20. Run the following command: “setup.exe /configure configuration.xml” (A office screen will pop-up and show the install progress)
  21. Once done, all users should be able to open office applications and activate office with their email address and password.
  • Note: If a user is having activation issues, the most common cause is they have not logged into office with their email address and password. Have them go to file -> Account in any office application and select the sign in option to sign them into office with their account. Office should then activate, and the red activation bar should go away once office is closed and re-opened.