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Microsoft 365 Admin Center: How to Locate and Access Your On-Premises (Desktop) Products

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Contents

 

Overview

The following article covers how to locate you licenses within the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, including troubleshooting steps to take if you run into an issue.

Please note, the Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC) has been discontinued and is no longer used to house Microsoft licenses.

Learn how to download and install, or activate, a Microsoft on-premises license.

 

Requirements to View and Access Products in Microsoft 365 Admin Center

It is not uncommon for organizations to run into issues locating their on-premises (desktop) products within the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.  You will need to have certain things in place to be able to view and access your Microsoft for Nonprofit products acquired through TechSoup.

Learn how to meet the requirements to view and access products in Microsoft 365 Admin Center.

 

How to Locate License(s) in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center

The following instructions will guide you on where to locate your licenses, including the download links and keys, when the product requires them.

Products WITHOUT Software Assurance

  1. Login to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center ( https://admin.microsoft.com/ )
  2. Select Billing
  3. On the Products tab, in the Software section, select the software that you want to download.
  4. On the subscription details page, in the Downloads & keys section, choose the Product version, Language, and CPU & file type, then select Download.
  5. To download the key, select Copy key to clipboard.
  6. In the right pane, select Copy, then close the pane.
  7. Paste the key in a file in a secure location and then enter it as instructed during the software installation. The key is needed to activate the downloaded software.

Products WITH Software Assurance

  1. Login to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center ( https://admin.microsoft.com/ )
  2. Select Billing 
  3. Select Your products 
  4. Select  Volume licensing 

From the Volume licensing page you should be able to access the following features:

  • Downloads & Keys under Products and Services
  • License Summary - under "Contracts"
  • Relationship Summary - included in "Contracts"
  • Open program Online Service Activation
  • Enterprise program Online Subscription Reservation
  • Manage Role assignments - previously "Manage users".

For information about Software Assurance benefits check out Software Assurance Benefits Included with Microsoft Products and How to Use or Renew Your Software Assurance Benefits.

Licenses Formerly Housed in the Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC)

In 2023, Microsoft discontinued the Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC).   All premises licenses purchased through Microsoft, a commercial reseller, or TechSoup before 2023 have been migrated to Microsoft 365 Admin Center.

If you do not see your on-premises licenses that were previously housed in the VLSC, please sync your permissions in your Microsoft 365 Admin Center.  This should make the licenses that were previously in the VLSC available in your Microsoft 365 Admin Center.

  1. Login to the Microsoft 365 Admin Center ( https://admin.microsoft.com/ )
  2. Select Billing 
  3. Select Your products 
  4. Select  Volume licensing 
  5. Select Preferences
  6. Select Edit preferences (if available)
  7. Select Sync Permissions.

In rare cases where user accounts were not migrated from VLSC to Microsoft 365 admin center, the volume licensing admins can add the user via the Manage Role assignment function.   Learn more in Microsoft's Administering Volume Licensing FAQ.

 

Keys

There are two types of Microsoft keys available for products that require them for activation.

  • MAK key (Multiple Activation Key)
    • MAK keys are used for one-time activation
  • KMS key (Key Management Service)
    • . KMS keys are used for volume activation.

Products WITHOUT Software Assurance

Since the offer does not include Software Assurance, only MAK keys are available

KMS keys are not available when Software Assurance is not included.

Products WITH Software Assurance

Software Assurance allows organization's the option to access either a KMS or MAK keys.

For information about Software Assurance benefits check out Software Assurance Benefits Included with Microsoft Products and How to Use or Renew Your Software Assurance Benefits.

Products WITHOUT Download Files or Keys

Not all Microsoft on-premises products require a download file and key to be installed or activated.  These products will still be listed in your Microsoft 365 Admin Center, but they will not have a download link or key listed.  Instead, they will link you to a Microsoft deployment tool, serializer, or activation wizard to activate the product.

Office for Mac

Microsoft's Volume License Serializer is used to activate Office LTSC for Mac 2024, Office LTSC for Mac 2021, or Office 2019 for Mac as a Volume Licensed version.

Review Microsoft’s Overview of the Volume License (VL) Serializer and special deployment tool instructions on how to download and install Office applications to your Mac.

Client Access Licenses (CAL)

A Client Access License (CAL) is not a product, but a license that gives a user privileges to access the server. You don’t need a software download file or 5*5 product key to activate a CAL. The CAL is activated and installed through the activation wizard directly from your machine.

Learn more about the Microsoft CAL Suites.

Review how to install Client Access Licenses (CAL) and how to license your RDS deployment.

 

Download Files

Some Microsoft licenses do no require a download file or key to be activated.  See Products WITHOUT Download Files or Keys above for more information.

Download files can only be access for 5 days after Microsoft populates them in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center.  It can take up to 36 hours from when TechSoup fulfills your request for Microsoft to create and populate your license(s) in you Microsoft 365 Admin Center account.  Contact TechSoup Customer Service if you are outside the 5 day window for further assistance.

 

Support

Microsoft Support

For assistance locating and accessing your license(s), open a support ticket within your Microsoft 365 Admin Center.

If you are unable to open a ticket within your Microsoft 365 Admin Center, open a ticket with Microsoft for Nonprofits Support. Access the Microsoft for Nonprofits support request form by typing a brief description under How can we help? and then selecting Get Help.

TechSoup Support

If you have followed all of the instructions and troubleshooting in this TechSoup Support article, and already contacted Microsoft Support and are unable to locate or access your license(s), contact TechSoup Customer Service.  Make sure to include in your Live Chat message what steps you followed and what Microsoft Support said when they were unable to assist you.

Your organization may also be interested in the following TechSoup Services offers:

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