Removing License Key from Office 2008 for Mac

I figured out something today. I’m using one of works license keys for Office 2008 for Mac and accidently used the same key that one of our Sys Admins is using. I dreaded having to completely uninstall and reinstall office. I figured out a go around for removing the information about the keys so the next time you start Office 2008 (for Mac) you will be prompted again to insert a new license key.

There are two files on your Mac you will have to delete:

1. Library -> Preferences -> Microsoft -> Office 2008 -> Microsoft Office 2008 Settings.plist
2. HD -> Applications ->Microsoft Office 2008 -> OfficePID.plist

Now just start up any of the office apps and enter in your new key!

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17 Comments »

Comment by AC
2008-05-05 22:08:57

Thanks!

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Comment by Jen
2008-05-05 22:38:54

No problem!

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Comment by Anonymous
2008-05-09 15:35:16

Thanks that was a great help!

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Comment by Mark
2008-05-27 10:48:39

Thank you. Saved me a ton of time considering I couldn’t get the old “uninstall office” + hold some command key trick to work on the newer version.

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Comment by Bruno
2008-07-03 20:45:56

Thanks, works perfectly…

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Comment by Norm
2008-07-07 08:02:21

Is there another way to remove the Microsoft Office 2008 Settings.plist, I do not have this file on my Macbook.

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Comment by Marco
2008-07-16 19:21:52

Man this was a LIFE SAVING advice….

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Comment by cool1o
2008-08-20 14:19:19

Great post, thanks! God bless the hackers

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Comment by Skipper
2008-08-21 11:16:32

That was absolutely amazing! It only took about two minutes!

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Comment by Hallo
2008-08-21 11:22:40

On MacBook, you only need to delete the OfficePID.plist file (although I only wanted to change the person to whom it was registered, not the registration key altogether).

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Comment by mako
2008-09-05 17:24:57

I can find the OfficePID.plist but I can’t find the Office 2008 Settings.plist. In fact, i don’t even have an Microsoft folder in the Preference folders.

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Comment by Wienke
2008-09-06 08:34:01

I also can’t find the Settings.plist. And after removing OfficePID.plist I get prompted for automatic update settings.

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Comment by Dan
2008-09-06 20:20:25

Thank you! I could not figure this out on my own!

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Comment by Office User
2008-09-10 10:33:43

If you just want to change the name of the person that the program is registered to, all you need to do is to open the OfficePID.plist file in textedit and change the name. You’ll see the old name seven lines down within the section…write the new name in, save and your done.

Takes five seconds.

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Comment by Oliver
2008-10-26 01:37:14

awesome tip! thanks a lot

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Comment by Kwesi Springer
2008-11-10 13:47:20

Worked like a charm had no problems with this soloution.

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Comment by brian
2009-01-02 15:23:05

awesome…thanks so much for your help. i thought i was going to have to call MS to get this figured out…..you ROCK!

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