Office 2016 - Is the Microsoft Account Required?

[AdiosVista]

I recently bought a new 5K iMac and am setting up apps. I was limping along on Microsoft Office 2008 and decided to buy Office 2016 for the new machine.

I'm immediately turned off by the fact that I had to create a Microsoft account to install the software (using a key card bought from Amazon). Furthermore, Office keeps trying to get me to use OneDrive online storage. I don't need any of my documents online, I have no need for them there and don't like it from a security standpoint.

My question is: can I safely DELETE my Microsoft account now that I have the apps downloaded and installed? Or is the Microsoft account required to 1) keep using the apps and 2) keep receiving updates? I do not want anything to do with my online Microsoft account, I just want to use Word/Excel and save files locally.

 

[posguy99]

Did you buy an Office 365 subscription, or did you buy the software outright? If you bought the software outright, you should not need the account to run the software. Not sure about the updates, but I would assume not. If you bought the monthly subscription, the software checks in periodically and it will stop working if it can't validate you.

 

[Orbsandoz]

I just purchased a standalone Mac Office 2016 and my software activation required signing in with a Microsoft account.

 

[AdiosVista]

Did you buy an Office 365 subscription, or did you buy the software outright? If you bought the software outright, you should not need the account to run the software. Not sure about the updates, but I would assume not. If you bought the monthly subscription, the software checks in periodically and it will stop working if it can't validate you.

I bought a key card for Home & Student Office 2016, not the 365 subscription. I purposely chose the version I did to avoid any kind of subscription. Unfortunately, the key card required me to first sign up for a Microsoft account, download the installer, then use the key card code to activate. Now I'm stuck with a Microsoft account that I'd really like to delete but I want to know if it will affect my Office apps.
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I just purchased a standalone Mac Office 2016 and my software activation required signing in with a Microsoft account.

Correct, that's the same situation I'm in. My question is: after activation, is it ok to delete the Microsoft account and still use the software? Or is there a drawback, like not receiving updates to the apps?

 

[maflynn]

You still may be required to have a MS account to activate the software. I have an office 365 subscription so I can't tell you if the stand alone needs it, but I wouldn't be surprised.

 

[Steve121178]

Just create a MS account (or use an existing Hotmail account) to sign in and activate your software. I honestly don't see what the issue is or why you are concerned?

OneDrive is 'integrated' into Office 2016 but you don't need to use it if you don't want to & you can still choose to keep your files locally if you want.

 

[Rigby]

OneDrive is 'integrated' into Office 2016 but you don't need to use it if you don't want to & you can still choose to keep your files locally if you want.

You can also log out of the Microsoft account in the Office apps. If you do, you won't even be presented with Onedrive as a possible storage location. This works with Office 365 as well as perpetual licenses.

 

[chscag]

I don't see what the problem is with having a MS account? You do need the account for initial activation but not after that unless you intend to use OneDrive. I also use Word on my iPhone so the free OneDrive account comes in handy to store documents and have them readily available when I'm away from home.

 

[AdiosVista]

You can also log out of the Microsoft account in the Office apps. If you do, you won't even be presented with Onedrive as a possible storage location. This works with Office 365 as well as perpetual licenses.

Thanks, this is the most helpful answer so far.

To everyone asking what's the problem, I'm not a fan of creating unnecessary accounts that I don't need purely for security reasons, especially ones that are possibly related to my personal documents being online. Plain and simple, I just want the Office apps, and it annoys me that Microsoft forces you to create any account just to install them.

 

[highlystrange]

Thanks, this is the most helpful answer so far.

To everyone asking what's the problem, I'm not a fan of creating unnecessary accounts that I don't need purely for security reasons, especially ones that are possibly related to my personal documents being online. Plain and simple, I just want the Office apps, and it annoys me that Microsoft forces you to create any account just to install them.

I know exactly what you mean. Before signing up for Office 365, I didn't want to bother with subscriptions and such. All I needed was the software. However I did eventually cave; got the account and now use Onedrive and it works OK. Basically, Microsoft wants to move from supplying a software product to supplying a service (the subscription). Or at least this is what I've heard.

 

[GerritV]

Thanks, this is the most helpful answer so far.

To everyone asking what's the problem, I'm not a fan of creating unnecessary accounts that I don't need purely for security reasons, especially ones that are possibly related to my personal documents being online. Plain and simple, I just want the Office apps, and it annoys me that Microsoft forces you to create any account just to install them.

When it comes to security, I have just as much/little trust in Apple than I have in Microsoft.
About OneDrive, "it just works" - iCloud not so much. YMMV

 

[maflynn]

Thanks, this is the most helpful answer so far.

To everyone asking what's the problem, I'm not a fan of creating unnecessary accounts that I don't need purely for security reasons, especially ones that are possibly related to my personal documents being online. Plain and simple, I just want the Office apps, and it annoys me that Microsoft forces you to create any account just to install them.

Its not like you're providing any personal info, and if you don't want to use OneDrive, you don't have too.

At work, I have the latest version of Visio but my company does not allow OneDrive, so I use the app, but I do not have the onedrive software on my workstation.

 

[PDJ-SF]

I know exactly what you mean. Before signing up for Office 365, I didn't want to bother with subscriptions and such. All I needed was the software. However I did eventually cave; got the account and now use Onedrive and it works OK. Basically, Microsoft wants to move from supplying a software product to supplying a service (the subscription). Or at least this is what I've heard.

Different people have different levels of concern about online privacy and how to protect themselves. As for the move from permanently licensed software to the service subscription model, many, many vendors including Oracle and Microsoft as well as smaller vendors and for some Mac software such as MacScan are making that change. For both your personal and professional / commercial use, you will likely see fewer permanently licensed options in the years ahead.