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Overview
This guide provides a clear, step-by-step process for activating Outlook on both Windows and Mac.
Table of Contents
Steps for Windows
When you start an Office app that's not activated, you'll be prompted to sign in to Office. Be sure to sign in using your NetID and Technology Solutions common password.
If the Activation wizard appears, the Office needs your help to activate it. Follow the prompts in the wizard to activate Office.
Steps for Mac
1. Click the
Launchpad icon 
in the Dock to display all of your apps.
Click any Office app, like Microsoft Word to start the activation process. You may need to scroll down to find it.
Note: If you haven't already, you'll need to install Outlook before you can activate.
2. The What's New window opens automatically.
Click Get Started > Sign in.
Note: If there is no What's New window, you may need to activate it from within the Office app. On the top menu, click Word >Activate Office > Sign in.
3. Enter your NetID and click Next.
4. Enter the password associated with the email address you entered, and click Sign in.
Note: This screen may look different depending on your email provider.
5. The system checks if you have a valid license and then will activate the product.
6. You're done! Click Start Using Word, to start using the app.
Mac Troubleshooting:
NOTE: The Activation Troubleshooter app doesn't appear to work on Max OSX 10.14 or newer. In all cases, please see the following link for the newest instructions: How do I activate Microsoft Office on my Mac?
1. Make sure your time is set properly. A clock skew of more than a few minutes will automatically refuse any credentials. Go to System Preferences > Date & Time, and ensure that your time is being automatically set using time.apple.com.
2. Download and run the ActivationTroubleshooter.app .
3. Completely uninstall and reinstall Office. Follow the steps here (dragging the apps to the Trash does not constitute uninstallation): https://support.office.com/en-us/article/uninstall-office-for-mac-eefa1199-5b58-43af-8a3d-b73dc1a8cae3
After each of those steps, try to sign in again. If none of these work, please bring your Mac to the Technical Helpdesk at IDEA Commons in the Richard J. Daley Library. If this Mac is owned by the university, let the service manager know.