JUNE 2018

Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center

Downloads, Keys, Subscriptions

and Online Services
2 | Downloads, Keys, Subscriptions and Online Services

Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center ........................................................................................ 3

Using the Downloads and Keys page .................................................................................................... 3

To search for a software product .................................................................................................................................................. 4

To download a product and obtain the keys ........................................................................................................................... 4

To view a product description ........................................................................................................................................................ 6

To download a software product .................................................................................................................................................. 6

To activate an online product......................................................................................................................................................... 7

To locate a product key .................................................................................................................................................................... 7

Product Key options ........................................................................................................................................................................... 7

Accessing product keys by Licensing ID in the VLSC ............................................................................................................ 8

Accessing product keys by organization in the VLSC ........................................................................................................... 8

Finding a Part Number in the VLSC ............................................................................................................................................. 9

Using the Services and Subscriptions page......................................................................................... 9

Visual Studio subscriptions............................................................................................................................................................ 10

Online Service Activations and Reservations .................................................................................... 11

Activate your online services (Open program customers) ................................................................................................. 11

Sign in with your work account ................................................................................................................................................... 13

Microsoft Software Assurance ................................................................................................................ 13

Using the Manage Software Assurance Benefits page ....................................................................................................... 14

To manage Software Assurance benefits ................................................................................................................................. 15

Getting help .................................................................................................................................................. 16

3 | Downloads, Keys, Subscriptions and Online Services

Microsoft Volume Licensing

Service Center
The Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center (VLSC) is the primary site where
Microsoft Volume Licensing customers can view and manage their licensing
agreements.

You can perform many tasks in the VLSC. Some of the main tasks are downloading
software products, obtaining keys and managing subscriptions to online services.

Using the Downloads and Keys page

In order to access VLSC Downloads, end users must have at least one of the
following roles associated with a license ID within their profile.

 Administrator
 Download
 Software Assurance Manager

If you have Open License agreements, then the products you have purchased are
displayed for download where available. If you have a Select, Select Plus,
Enterprise, Campus or School Agreement, then you can view the entire Volume
Licensing product catalog.

You can use the product search filter to find your products and product keys. In the
Filters pane, you can type the product name or use the check boxes to narrow your
search results. You can also control how many products are displayed on the page
by using the paging control at the bottom of the page. You can change the filter
settings to display more products on a single page and reduce the page count of
your search results. The default value of this control is 16.

This page allows you to do the following:

 Download products
 View a product description
 View a description for a key
 Determine which products need keys
 Locate the correct key for a product
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To search for a software product

1. On the main navigation bar, select Downloads and Keys.
2. In the Filters panel, type a product name into the Product text box. The
Product text box displays possible suggestions as you type. You can select
the suggestion to populate the text box. By default, the All Products check
box is selected. You can clear this box to narrow your search results.
3. If you do not know the name of your product, or if no suggestion
appears in the Product text box as you type, then type the name of the
product into the Product search box and select the Search icon.
4. On the Product panel, select the product you want. If the search results
are more than one page, then use the arrows at the bottom of the Product
panel to advance to the next page of search results.

To download a product and obtain the keys

1. On the main navigation bar, select Downloads and Keys.
2. Search for a product by typing a product name into the Product text box,
or filter products using the product type check boxes.
3. Select the product from the results and view the description.

Determine whether the product to be installed requires a product key.

Select Key to view the type of product key for a product.
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4. Select Download to download the product.

 Filters: Type a product name into the Product text box, or use the sort list to
limit your search by product type. The Product text box displays possible
suggestions as you type. Select the suggestion to populate the text box.

By default, the All Products check box is selected. You can clear this box to
narrow your search results. If you do not know the name of your product, or if
no suggestion appears in the Product text box as you type, enter the name of
the software into the Product search text box, and then select the Search icon.

NOTE If you select a specific product family such as, Windows Server, and you
type a product name into the filter box belonging to a different product family
and select Enter, no search results will appear.
 Product: In the search results, select the product. If your search results are
more than one page, use the arrows at the bottom of the page to advance
to the next page of search results.
TIP To view more search results on the page, select the Items per page control
at the lower right of the Product column.
 Description: Select a product Description link to view the version, release
date, and product description.
 Downloads: Select a product Download link to view special instructions,
download settings, including the download method, language, and the
operating system type.
 Key: Select a Product Key link to view information about
 Product keys
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 License ID number
 Organization
 License Key
 Type
 Number of Activations remaining from an initial number
of activations for the Volume Activation.
 Online Service Keys will display Number of Seats instead
of Number of Activations, and the Status of the key.
If there are service packs for the products, these are included below
the Product Keys information.

You can select the Export all keys link above the Product column to open
the product keys list in a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

To view a product description

1. On the Download and Keys page, select either the Product name or the
Description link for the desired product.
2. The Description panel opens, providing the Version, Release Date, Product
Description, and System Requirements for the product selected.
3. Select the Product name or Description again to close the drop-down list.

To download a software product

After you search for and find your product, select the Download link for that
product.

1. In Download Settings, select Download. Select the following options from

the drop-down menus.
 For the Download Method, select the down arrow, and then
select a menu item from the list. There are two download methods:
i. Download Manager is a software application used to
download content. When using the Download Manager,
you can pause, stop, and resume downloads later.
ii. Web Browser is an embedded download feature
within your web browser to download content.
 For the Language, select the down arrow, and then select
the language from the list.
 For the Operating System Type, select the down arrow, and then
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select a menu item from the list (if available).

2. Select Continue. The Product section expands to show the Product,
OS, Size, and Format in the lower area of the Product section.

3. In Files, select Download, and then follow the download and

installation instructions.

To activate an online product

See the section in this guide titled Online Service Activations and Reservations.

To locate a product key

If the product that you have installed requires a product key, or if you need a
product key to activate an online service, you can obtain the product key from
the VLSC. If you have problems with a product key or require assistance to
activate your product, contact your local Microsoft Licensing Activation Center.

1. On the Downloads and Keys page, select the Key link for that product.
The Product Keys drop-down panel shows the total number of available
keys for this product.

2. Select the Display All button to display all of the keys.

A popup window displays the available keys by License ID,
Organization, Key, Type and Activation.

3. You have the option to select the Export all keys: CSV link above the
Product panel to open the product keys list locally in a spreadsheet.

4. To locate a key by organization, see Accessing product keys

by organization in the VLSC.

Product Key options

If product keys are not available, you will see one of the following messages in
the product keys drop-down panel:

1. No Product Key assigned - The product you have selected requires a

product key for activation. To obtain your product key, contact your
local Microsoft Licensing Activation Center.
2. Online Service Activation (OSA) Key - This single-use product key is used
to activate subscriptions to Microsoft Online Services. OSA Keys are
distributed electronically via the VLSC and can be redeemed at Office 365
Open activation or Azure Open activation.
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3. No Key Required - This product does not require a product key.

Accessing product keys by Licensing ID in the VLSC

When you need to view a product key for a product that you have purchased in
a licensing agreement, you can access the product keys that are associated to
your License ID by viewing the License Key information on the Enrollment
Summary page. The Product Keys tab allows you to view all product keys
associated with each product in the selected agreement.

1. On the VLSC main navigation bar, select Licenses, and then

select Relationship Summary.
2. On the Relationship Summary page, select the Licensing ID link for the
enrollment.
A Licensing ID may be an Enrollment (Enterprise or Select programs), an
Affiliate (Select Plus program), an Agreement (Open Value program), or
a License (Open License program). This depends on the Microsoft
Volume Licensing program the Licensing ID is used with.

3. On the Enrollment Details page, select the Product Keys tab.

The Product Keys tab shows the product keys that are associated
with each product on the selected agreement.

4. If you have an Online Service Activation key, activate this service by

going to Office 365 Open activation or Azure Open activation. This will
require you to establish a new account for either Office 365 or Azure
using your organizational ID.
After you activate the service, you will be able to manage user access
to product keys.

Accessing product keys by organization in the VLSC

If you purchased an Enterprise Agreement, you can track your product keys by the
organization and sort them in the open Microsoft Excel file in the Organization
column.

1. On the VLSC main navigation bar, select Downloads and Keys.

2. On the Downloads and Keys page, locate the Export all Keys: CSV link.
3. Select CSV to download the product keys.
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4. At the prompt, select Open to view the file in Excel.

5. Use the Organization column to sort the keys by organization.

Finding a Part Number in the VLSC

Use the Downloads and Keys page to locate a Part Number in the VLSC. The part
number is the last nine characters in the product download file name.

Using the Services and Subscriptions page

You can also manage certain kinds of subscriptions in the VLSC. The Services and
Subscriptions page of the VLSC provides information about managing your online
services and subscriptions.

If you ordered an Office 365 subscription or Azure for Open, go to the

Relationship Summary page or Downloads and Keys page in the VLSC to
find your keys.

• Once you have obtained your Online Service Activation (OSA) Key, you will
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be directed to Office 365 Open Activation or Azure Open Activation to

activate your Office 365 service.
• On this site, enter the key(s) to manage user access and keys.

Visual Studio subscriptions

Visual Studio Subscriptions (formerly MSDN Subscriptions) offer essential
tools, cloud services, resources, downloads, training and support for all
developers targeting all platforms and devices.

The Visual Studio Subscriptions license agreement does not allow you to use your
software in a business production environment. However, you can activate as many
copies as you need for your development purposes.
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Online Service Activations and Reservations

Activate your online services (Open program customers)
Microsoft has simplified and streamlined the process Open program customers
use to activate their online services. You no longer need to copy an activation key
for every new online service.

Under the new simplified system, Open program customers can activate their new
12 | Downloads, Keys, Subscriptions and Online Services

online services (except Azure) with just a few steps in a new section of the VLSC for
them named Online Service Activations.

NOTE Customers with Enterprise agreements will not see the Online Service
Activations link in the top navigation menu. They can learn how to create and
manage online services reservations in the VLSC User Guide to Online Services.

The VLSC will remind you if you have online services you have not activated.

Customers who only activate online services without purchasing other

software products can activate them using an express method that does not
require the VLSC.

To learn more about how to activate your online services, go to the VLSC
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/Licensing/existing-customer/vlsc-training-and-
resources.aspxTraining and Resources page and select the tab titled Online service
activations.
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Sign in with your work account

After you activate your Microsoft online services such as Office 365, you and
other users in your organization will need to sign in to those services with your
work account.

Microsoft Software Assurance

Select Software Assurance on the main navigation bar to navigate to the
Software Assurance Summary page. This page provides a list of your Software
Assurance Benefits (SAB). You can select a benefit to view and manage eligible
license IDs for the benefit using the Manage Software Assurance Benefits page.
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 To access the Software Assurance for Microsoft Volume Licensing page,

select the link that says New customers without current Software
Assurance Benefits click here to learn more.
 Select the link for any Benefit to open the Manage Software Benefits page.

Using the Manage Software Assurance Benefits page

The Manage Software Assurance Benefits page allows you to select a Licensing
ID associated with each Software Assurance benefit.

• Filter View: Use this menu to select a benefit option.

• Licensing ID: Select the product licensing ID to view the benefit
summary for the selected product.
• Organization: View the organization for the selected Software
Assurance benefit.
• City: View the where the selected Software Assurance benefit was signed.
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To manage Software Assurance benefits

1. On the main navigation bar, select Software Assurance.
The Software Assurance Summary page appears, showing a list of linked
Software Assurance Benefits.

2. Select a benefit link to view details on a particular benefit. The Manage

Software Assurance Benefits page appears.
3. Select the Licensing ID.
4. The Benefits Summary page opens. You can select the linked benefit to:

o View your activated benefits

o Activate a benefit
o View your expired benefits
For further details and instructions for using your Software Assurance benefits,
download the VLSC Software Assurance Guide. It will help you accomplish the
following tasks:

• Get to Know Your Benefits

• Establish Software Assurance Managers
• Claim Your Benefits Using the VLSC
• Get Help in the VLSC
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Getting help
Select the Help link on the main navigation bar to view a drop-down menu with
two options: See FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) or Training & Resources. You
do not have to be signed into the VLSC to view and use the VLSC FAQs or Training
and Resources.

The Help link in the footer at the bottom of every page in the VLSC also points
to the FAQs page. There is a Contact Us link at the bottom of the FAQs page
that points to information about how to contact Microsoft by phone or email if
you need support. This Contact Us page has three items:

• Support Center Contact Info: This drop-down menu lets you select your
country from the drop-down list to display the Support Center information.

• Interactive map: This lets you select the region to limit the number
of entries in the Support Center Contact Info drop-down list.
• Support Center Contact Info: This displays contact information and
Support Center hours of operation.