How to Link One Windows 365 Account to Multiple Devices

For those who are still trying to work out the best option to use Word or PowerPoint on your machines, we dive into Microsoft 365. Formally known to all as Office 365, Microsoft changed the name but thankfully not the features.

In this article, we offer insight into where to find your Microsoft 365 license, how to confirm which license you are using, and which is the best option for you. We also take you through the steps to download your particular license on several machines.

How to Install Microsoft 365 on Multiple Machines With One License

First things first, if you aren’t sure which version of Microsoft 365 you own, or which one you should purchase if you’re still looking, we take you through the steps to confirm the particular features of these versions.

1. Log into your Microsoft account using your credentials.
2. Click on the Services & subscriptions tab on the blue ribbon found at the top of the page. This will take you to Microsoft’s Services page.
3. Next to the Microsoft logo in the center of the page, you will see the subscription you currently own.

Installing Microsoft 365 Personal Edition

You can install Microsoft 365 Personal edition on five personal devices, including PCs, laptops, mobile devices, Xbox consoles, and HoloLens. However, unlike Microsoft 365 Family edition, each device will only show your personal information, and you cannot personalize this to another person and their information.

1. Ensure you are working on the machine you want the license activated on.
2. Once signed into your Microsoft 365 account, head to the Devices tab found on the blue ribbon at the top of the page.
3. Here you will see a list of the devices you currently have the Microsoft 365 Personal license for. If you aren’t sure of the name of your computer, you can take a look at this article on finding your computer name to assist.
4. Towards the top right of the page, just under the blue ribbon, you will see a + symbol with the words “Register device.” Click on this, and it will take you to this screen:

   

5. Select your region from the drop-down list. It should default to the correct region, as this is how you have set it up on your primary machine.
6. Enter your hardware serial number in the display block listed below the region. Microsoft has added a helpful link to help you find this – click on the link that says “Help me find my serial number,” and it will take you to a drop-down list of all the devices you might be using. Once this is complete, click on the box to accept their terms and conditions, and you’re ready to go. ​​

Installing Microsoft 365 Family Edition

If you want family or friends to use your Microsoft 365 Family license, then you are allowed to invite up to five additional people. Six people can use the Family license, so don’t forget to add yourself to that list.

Something that Microsoft wants to make a note of here is that the Microsoft 365 Family license has product keys that you shouldn’t share. Instead, they urge you to make use of the following steps:

1. Sign in to your Microsoft account page. If you have multiple Microsoft accounts, then navigate to the Microsoft 365 Family subscription.
2. Click on the button marked Start sharing. If you don’t see this button, it’s possible you aren’t an owner of the Microsoft 365 Family license, and you can check this by going to the Services & subscriptions tab on the blue ribbon at the top of the page.
3. A pop-up will display Share your subscription. You can now invite someone via email or instead send an invitation link. If you want to share this subscription with multiple people in one sitting, you will have to share a new link for each person.
4. Your family will need to accept the invite to continue. From here, they can sign in using their own Microsoft account information and will be able to install Office on their device.

How Is Microsoft 365 Family License Different From a Microsoft 365 Personal License?

To make it easier to see which option is best suited for you, as well as what you might already currently own but don’t know yet, we have broken down Microsoft 365 Family and Microsoft 365 Personal for you below:

Benefits of Having an Online Microsoft 365 Account

Without having to pay anything extra, each person using the Microsoft 365 license will receive these excellent benefits:

• So long as the machine or device that the license is for meets the system requirements, all Office apps for PC, Mac, and Android machines and devices will be the latest version available.
• You have 1TB of free storage in OneDrive, which you can find in your File Explorer folder—this means that you no longer need to click the Save button on documents every few minutes, as you only need to enable AutoSave.
• Each person’s OneDrive account is private and linked only to their own Microsoft account.
• Every person will get 60 Skype minutes per month.
• You will be able to enjoy an ad-free Outlook.com experience, which also gives everyone real-time warnings about any phishing or malware attacks.

• You can manage your subscriptions all from one web browser location, including adding someone to your Microsoft 365 Family account or adding a new device to your Microsoft 365 Personal account.
• You can track your renewal date and manage your payment options.
• If you are having trouble locating your device, there is an option to Find my device, which lets you locate any device you are signed in to.
• Enjoy cloud syncing across devices that allow back-ups.
• Review and manage apps and games downloaded on your devices.

How to Make the Best of Your Microsoft 365 License

Knowing what you have and what is available can help you make the best use of your Microsoft 365 subscription. Hopefully, you can now use all the optional extras Microsoft provides to boost your productivity.