If you're responsible for managing MS Office installations within your organization, you may already be familiar with Volume Licensing. Volume Licensing offers a cost-effective way to manage and activate multiple Microsoft Office software across your network. It is particularly useful for businesses and institutions that need to install and activate software on a large number of computers or devices within their network.
However, it is worth noting that the Volume License Serializer facilitates the licensing process, making it more efficient and cost-effective. Unfortunately, some users don't know what Volume License Serializer is and how to download it. So, what actually is VL Serializer, and how does it work? This article will give a comprehensive review of the tool.
Volume License Serializer is a tool that activates Office LTSC for Mac 2021 or Office 2019 for Mac as a volume-licensed version. It's a package (.pkg) file that you execute on a Mac running Office. This package includes the binary executable "Microsoft Office Setup Assistant." This executable is what effectively triggers the volume license.
VL Serializer supports both Apple Silicon and Intel-based Macs natively. The volume license can be found in the file /Library/Preferences/com.microsoft.office.licensingV2.plist. The VL Serializer's license plist contains data that has been encrypted using the serial number of the boot drive on the device where it was generated. The plist is decrypted upon each Office application launch using the current boot drive serial number as the decryption key.
If the data cannot be decrypted (for example, the boot drive serial number is different), MS Office will automatically become unlicensed. Because the licensing plist file is encrypted with information from the device on which it is installed, you cannot copy it to another device to activate Office.
There is also a single VL Serializer package with a single key shared by all volume-licensed client installations. The VL Serializer package includes the binary executable "Microsoft Office Setup Assistant." This package file is responsible for activating the volume license and is compatible with mobile device management (MDM) services like Jamf Pro and FileWave.
Here are some key features and functions of a Volume License Serializer:
Centralized Activation: It allows organizations to activate software licenses centrally, reducing the need for individual activation on each computer. This is especially important when dealing with a large number of licenses.
License Management: The tool helps organizations keep track of their software licenses. Thereby, ensuring compliance with licensing agreements and avoiding potential legal issues.
Mass Deployment: It simplifies the process of deploying software across multiple devices or computers simultaneously. This is often done through network deployment or other automated methods.
Updates and Maintenance: Some Volume License Serializers also assist in managing software updates and maintenance tasks. This ensures that all installations remain up-to-date.
Reporting: Many Volume License Serializer tools provide reporting capabilities that allow administrators to generate reports on license usage, activation status, and other relevant data.
Cost Savings: With VL Serializer streamlining the software license management process, organizations can potentially save money on administrative costs and reduce the risk of over-purchasing licenses.
Security: In addition to the above perks, these tools often come with security features to protect license keys and ensure they are not misused or stolen.
Common examples of Volume License Serializers include tools provided by software vendors like Microsoft's Volume Activation Management Tool (VAMT) for managing Windows licenses or Adobe's Volume License Deployment (VLD) for Adobe Creative Cloud products.
Therefore, a Volume License Serializer is an essential tool for organizations looking to efficiently manage and activate multiple software licenses in a centralized manner, saving time and resources while ensuring compliance with licensing agreements.
How to Download Volume License Serializer for MS Office
Beginning with Office 2019, all perpetually licensed Office products for Windows employ Click-to-Run technology rather than the old Windows Installer technology. The Office Deployment Tool (ODT) is used to distribute eternally licensed versions of Office 2019 or later products to users in your business.
To download Office products, you'll need a broadband Internet connection with download speeds of at least 20 Mbps. It should be noted that Office products require Windows 10 or later and will not work on previous versions of Windows. With that in mind, below are the steps to download Volume License Serializer for MS Office:
Step 1: Register at the VLSC and Accept Your Software Agreement (Products with Software Assurance Only)
To begin, you'll have to register at the VLSC and accept your software license agreement if you requested discounted Microsoft items with Software Assurance.
Here's how to register at the VLSC website;
Navigate to the VLSC website and click Sign In. If a sign-in screen appears, select Sign in with a Work Account.
Enter your organization's email address and follow the on-screen steps to create your account.
You will receive an email in which you will be welcomed to the Volume Licensing Service Center and asked to authenticate your information. Wait 15 minutes before clicking the link in this email to validate your email address. You'll have to wait at least this long because the VLSC takes time to make the terms and conditions public.
You should be signed in on the VLSC website after clicking the link in the welcome email to authenticate your email address. If not, go to the VLSC website on your browser and sign in before continuing.
Next, you'll be asked to sign and accept the Open License Agreement's terms and conditions. In addition, each time you request Microsoft software, you'll be asked to accept a new agreement
Step 2: Get Your Office Product Key
If you requested discounted Microsoft products with Software Assurance, you'll get your product key from the VLSC site. Likewise, if you requested donated or discounted products without Software Assurance, you'll get your key through the Microsoft 365 admin center. So, follow the instructions for the products you've requested.
Here are the VLSC instructions to follow for products with software assurance;
Sign in to the VLSC website and navigate to the Downloads and Keys section.
Locate your Office product in the list and select the Key link.
Find your product key in the Key column in the table beneath the product name. This key's Type column should be MAK, not KMS.
Note: Office suites use different configuration keys for online features such as web apps. These keys are not the same as MAK product keys and cannot be used for the volume activation of desktop products.
Next, copy the product's unique key from this table and paste it into a text editor like Notepad, or click Export all keys. All Volume License keys connected with agreements in your VLSC profile are outlined in this list.
Microsoft 365 Admin Center Instructions (Products with No Software Assurance)
Navigate to the Microsoft 365 admin center and sign in with the Microsoft for Nonprofits account you created.
Next, in the left navigation menu, select Billing > Your Products
You'll see a list of products available for download under the Software heading. Now, you'll have to click the product you requested.
After that, you'll be headed to the download page for the product you selected. Choose the appropriate Product version, Language, and CPU & file type using the dropdown menus.
Proceed by clicking the Show activation keys (next to the Download button) to display your key. Afterwards, click Copy key to clipboard and paste the key into a blank text document. Save the file somewhere you can have access to it later.
Step 3: Download the ODT Tool and Unzip It
Go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=49117 and click the [Download] button to download the ODT tool. After downloading, double-click to select the unzip location, you will get a red icon setup.exe and some sample xml files. All you need is the setup.exe. file.
If the above link doesn't open, try the link below:
Step 4: Configure the Office tool you want
Configuration file generated: https://config.office.com/deploymentsettings
Open the above website provided by Microsoft Office to DIY the Office you want. Below are some key points to note:
Select the version with the word Volume License and not the one with the word SPLA. (Note: If you want to install Visio and other components, the LTSC version will conflict with the personal version of OFFICE. Also, if you have a personal version of OFFICE on the computer that causes installation conflicts, please do not choose the version with the word LTSC.)
You are free to choose the components and languages to install, be it Word, Excel or PowerPoint.
During licensing and activation, turn on the automatic acceptance of EULA and tap the KMS option.
After DIY your preferred configuration, you can click the Export button. If you ask about the default file format click [Keep Current Configuration].
You'll need to download a configuration file in xml format, and you can rename it to office.xml for the convenience of subsequent operations.
Step 5: Install your Favourite Office
Put the setup.exe you got in step 1 and office.xml you got in step 2 in the same directory. Next, type cmd in the address bar of the current directory to open the command prompt window, after which you input the following command to execute the installation:
setup.exe /configure office.xml
You don't need to keep any large installation package and care patch. Every installation is networked to install the latest version of Office you setup. If you want to know more about ODT tools, such as using ODT to download Office, etc., you can refer to the official Microsoft documentation:
https://learn.microsoft.com/zh-cn/deployoffice/overview-office-deployment-tool
Why Use WPS Office?
WPS Office, compared to Microsoft Office, does not require that you go through the hurdles of downloading this series of things to activate it. It is very easy to download the most recent version of the software for free. It's also applicable to the functionalities of other office software and facilitates the download of computers with low specifications.
Here are some fascinating features of WPS Office that make it suitable for office suites compared to MS Office;
Price
Cost is one of the most important factors when selecting productivity software. Some software is expensive, while others are free or low-cost. However, the WPS Standard version is entirely free to use. It satisfies your regular office and study needs. It supports around 47 popular document formats. It has all the essential features and comes with 1 GB of free storage.
To access more advanced features such as PDF editing, file format conversion, 20GB of cloud storage, cloud collaboration, ad-free, and so on, you must subscribe to the WPS Premium plan. WPS Premium costs $29.99 per year or $18.99 for each six-month subscription. Also, you can use the WPS Premium accounts on up to 9 devices (3 PCs and 6 mobiles) at the same time.
Compatibility
Another notable reason to go with WPS is its broad compatibility. WPS Office, like Microsoft Office, is compatible with Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android but also works with Linux. Even if your device is low-end, WPS is not resource-demanding, allowing it to work smoothly and quickly on both old and new devices.
Features
WPS Office includes a wide range of features that users will find handy in their daily tasks. These tools include Writer, Spreadsheet, Slides, PDF, and a couple of others. With this Office Suite, you also get to access the OCR tool for extracting text from images, smart forms, an amazing template library, and more.
User-friendly Interface
WPS and Microsoft Office have comparable user interfaces in appearance and presentation. WPS Office offers a simpler user interface. From the current ribbon appearance to opening documents in a tabbed manner, many users will find it easy to use the WPS Office.
FAQs
How do I activate the volume license for Office for Mac?
To activate a volume-licensed version of Office for Mac, you'll have to use the Volume License (VL) Serializer. To begin, signing in to the Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC) gives you access to download the VL Serializer, after which you run it on your device. By doing so, you will not encounter any activation prompts when you initially launch Office on your Mac device.
How do I activate volume-licensed versions of Office by using KMS?
For you to configure the KMS host computer to activate Office, you must be an administrator. You can then sign in to the Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC) and get the KMS key for each product and version of Office that you want KMS to activate.
Download the necessary Office Volume License Pack from the Microsoft Download Center and install it on the KMS host PC. Then, open the executable file for the Office Volume License Pack. The Volume Activation Tools wizard will be launched after running the executable file, which installs the Office Volume License Pack on the KMS host computer.
Follow the instructions provided in the Volume Activation Tools wizard. Whenever prompted, enter your KMS key. Make sure port 1688 is open on your firewall if you have one. This is to ensure that the KMS host service can pass through.
Summary
The Volume License Serializer is an easy activation method that activates the Office on your PC using a volume license key. Typically, this method is used by organizations and enterprises. You should consider trying this to activate Microsoft Office, particularly if you're a Mac user.
WPS Office is your best bet if you need an alternative to Microsoft Office! The Office suite has amazing features that help users enhance their productivity. Currently, WPS Office offers 7 days of free access to its features. If this office suit fulfills your needs, you may proceed to buy its premium version.
