Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5)
Review:
I bought a product key for MS Office 2013 to revive an old Windows 8.1 laptop. The key arrived instantly via email, and it activated without any issues. For basic Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, it's perfectly functional.
The good:
The bad / What you must know:
Verdict:
Only buy this if you need a very cheap, offline-only office suite for an air-gapped or isolated PC. For daily use with internet, spend a bit more on Office 2021 or 2024 (or use LibreOffice for free).
Tip: Download the official Office 2013 ISO from Microsoft’s archive before buying the key. Many sellers just send a key without installation files.
For Microsoft Office 2013, a product key is a unique 25-character code required to activate the software suite. Because Microsoft ended official support for Office 2013 on April 11, 2023, you can no longer obtain keys directly from Microsoft, though existing installations will continue to function. Where to Find Your Product Key
If you already own the software, your key is typically located in one of the following places: product key for ms office 2013 top
Physical Packaging: If purchased in a box or as a product card, the key is on a sticker inside the manual, on the disc sleeve, or on the card itself.
Microsoft Account: For online purchases, sign in to your Microsoft account page. Under the "Services & subscriptions" section, select "View product key" for Office 2013.
Email Receipt: Check the inbox of the email address used during purchase for a digital receipt containing the key.
Computer Sticker: If Office came pre-installed, a holographic sticker on your device may list the key (ensure it is the Office key, not the Windows key). Purchasing a Key
You can still find keys from third-party retailers and marketplaces:
Microsoft Office 2013 Professional Plus: Available for approximately $42.00 at Mr Key Shop, which users report as reliable for smooth installation.
Microsoft Office 2013 Home and Business: Retail product key cards are available on eBay for about $84.49 $129.99. Rating: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (3/5) Review: I bought a product
Microsoft Word 2013 (Standalone): A lifetime license for just the Word application is available for $24.99 at DigitalProductkey. How to Retrieve an Installed Key
If Office 2013 is already installed but you've lost the paper record, you can retrieve the last five characters of the key to help identify it: Open the Command Prompt as an administrator.
Navigate to your Office folder (usually C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office15). Run the command: cscript OSPP.VBS /dstatus.
Websites like SoftwareKeep, StackSocial, and ProSoftStore often sell genuine, unused MS Office 2013 Professional Plus keys. Look for:
Once you have your legitimate key, follow these steps to activate the "top" edition:
Did Office 2013 come pre-installed on an old Dell, HP, or Lenovo laptop? The key is often printed on a Certificate of Authenticity (COA) sticker attached to the computer case. If the sticker is faded, use a free tool like ProduKey (by NirSoft) to extract the key from the registry of the old machine. You are legally allowed to transfer a retail license to a new computer, provided you uninstall it from the old one.
A defining feature of the Office 2013 licensing model—which changed from previous versions like 2010—is its strict adherence to the "one-way street" installation policy. The bad / What you must know:
Historically, if you bought a copy of Office on a disc, you could install it, uninstall it, and move it to a new computer freely. With Office 2013, Microsoft tightened the reins. The Product Key is often tied permanently to the first hardware it is activated on.
While you can technically uninstall the software, the key itself is often "spent." Moving it to a new computer frequently requires a phone call to Microsoft Support to plead your case, proving the old installation is defunct. This was a controversial shift toward treating software licenses more like hardware components—once installed, they stay there.
As Office 2013 ages out of mainstream support, it has become a prime target for grey-market sellers. Online marketplaces are flooded with keys sold for a fraction of the retail price.
These are often volume keys intended for enterprise use, sold illicitly to individuals. While they may work initially, they carry a high risk. Microsoft frequently deactivates these blocks of keys once they detect unauthorized use, leaving the user with software that suddenly demands activation again—months or years after purchase.
Many users bought a digital copy of Office 2013 but lost the email confirmation. Log into account.microsoft.com/services and check your "Order History." If you purchased a digital license, the product key is often stored there under "Install" or "View Product Key." This is the safest method—100% legal and free.
A valid product key follows this format: XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX. It is unique to the edition you own (Home & Student, Home & Business, or Professional Plus). You cannot use a key for Office 2010 or 2016 on Office 2013.
When searching for a product key for MS Office 2013 top results, you must ensure the key matches your specific version and bit architecture (32-bit vs. 64-bit).