MS Office Pro on desktop & laptop (Local Account) shows on NEW PC

We have 4 computers at home. I have a desktop and laptop and wife has a desktop and laptop, ALL with local account (no password) since we live in rural area, no neighbors. Wife just bought new HP 15-dy2132wm laptop from Walmart (local), and i set it up. I did not realize about the disconnect from internet in setting it up and proceeded to set it up with log in with Pamela's Microsoft Account.

Now the odd thing is a short while back she bought 2 copies of Microsoft Office Professional for her desktop and her older HP laptop (still using her old laptop)
That old HP-15f100dx has an issues with shift keys not working and a pain to haul around an extra bluetooth keyboard to her present work.

So, she bought this HP laptop at Walmart and I set it up. But, interestingly when she was looking at the "Office" applications it appears that it has MS Office Pro 2021 on there now, and she was given a choice which other computer would be the one for giving up the Office application for the new laptop.
Now NONE of our computers, including her older laptop and desktop (both running Windows 10 Pro, are signed into Microsoft account as they are ALL "Local Account" laptops with no log in passwords. How is it that the new Laptop can now use one of her old installs of MS Office Pro 2021, since they are both "Local Account - Administrator" computers?

IF we set up the new HP Laptop from Microsoft Account to Local Account, will she loose the ability to use her Microsoft Office Pro 2021 ?
That is the main question, but wanted to provide a "base" as to what we have and our unique situation.
Also, she does not want her computers "synched" as she is just using this new laptop for business purposes and it has a lot smaller HD as well.

Thanks!!

If she had a Microsoft Account with that licensing info in it, the new computer or any computer signed in with that account is going to get licensed under the license(s) stored in said account.

Vern,

I run Office 2021 using a local account. I had to sign in to an MSAccount for the download but the local account uses it without any problems.
- I do not yet know if I will get routine Office updates whilst logged in to the local account all the time.
- MS do warn that maintaining Office activation requires an Office 2021 application to be used every so often whilst the computer is connected to the internet.
- But they do not say how often and they don't say if the type of account makes a difference.
- And they don't say if the same factors apply to getting Office updates.

All the best,
Denis

bro67 said:

If she had a Microsoft Account with that licensing info in it, the new computer or any computer signed in with that account is going to get licensed under the license(s) stored in said account.

I thought it was odd that the new HP laptop would show Microsoft Office in the "Program Files" with all the files. When I installed MS Office Pro on her desktop and laptop, it took a while and the registry additions were pretty extensive. I believe the new HP 15-dy2132wm came with a trail of Office 365. Curious how all those files for Office 2021 Pro ended up in all the right area.
We were planning on buying new copy of MS Office Pro 2021 for the new computer, but when she was looking at it, it did ask which computer she would like to use for the programs. She selected her old laptop, but all those files still exist on it.

Try3 said:

Vern,

I run Office 2021 using a local account. I had to sign in to an MSAccount for the download but the local account uses it without any problems.
- I do not yet know if I will get routine Office updates whilst logged in to the local account all the time.
- MS do warn that maintaining Office activation requires an Office 2021 application to be used every so often whilst the computer is connected to the internet.
- But they do not say how often and they don't say if the type of account makes a difference.
- And they don't say if the same factors apply to getting Office updates.

All the best,
Denis

For MS365, you are required to check in once every 30 days but in practice can be a bit longer. There is a regedit for business users that extends this period up to 6 months. It is not relevant if using local or MS account.

cereberus said:

It is not relevant if using local or MS account.

Thanks for that. I could not find it written down anywhere.

All the best,
Denis