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The PIN entered was not recognized as a valid PIN. Please check the characters entered and try again when trying to obtain your Product Key for Office for Mac

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Article ID: 2454253 - Last Review: August 29, 2011 - Revision: 4.1

"The PIN entered was not recognized as a valid PIN. Please check the characters entered and try again" when trying to obtain your Product Key for Office for Mac

SYMPTOMS

When you enter your 27 character alpha-numeric PIN to obtain your product key on the getmicrosoft.com web site, you may receive an error message:

The PIN entered was not recongnized as a valid PIN. Please check the characters entered and try again. Without a valid PIN you cannot retrieve your Product Key. PINs can only be activated at the store where Office for Mac was purchased. Return to the store with your receipt or proof of purchase to activate your PIN.

RESOLUTION



Verify the PIN was entered correctly. A pin is not case sensitive and is alpha-numeric. 

Retype the PIN. Make sure that you type the correct characters. The following characters are frequently mistaken for one another:

Collapse this tableExpand this table
•B and 8
•G and 6
•U and V
•Q and O
•The letter O and the numeral 0 (zero)
•The letter L and the numeral 1

Make sure the PIN has not already been used to obtain an Office for Mac Product Key. A PIN can only be used once to obtain a Product Key. If the PIN has already been used, you can log into your account with your Windows Live ID to access your Product Key or you can check your email for the confirmation mail you received when the PIN was first consumed to access your Product Key.

If nothing worked, contact Microsoft Customer Support at 1-877-274-7594.

MORE INFORMATION

Frequently Asked Question

https://officeformac.getmicrosoftkey.com/macoffice-support-faq.aspx (https://officeformac.getmicrosoftkey.com/macoffice-support-faq.aspx)

APPLIES TO
  • Microsoft Office for Mac Home and Business 2011
  • Microsoft Office for Mac Home and Student 2011
Keywords: 
dftsdahomeportal KB2454253
       

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