Office 365 users/machines? License question

[dragontology]

So, when I got my laptop last year, I was offered a year of Office 365 for $50 (normally $70). I knew it was a one-user license, but Office shows up when my wife logs into the computer, and it seems to work (she prefers Google Docs; I've never seen her use any Office programs). I then installed it on my desktop, and it had me log in with my Microsoft account, and it works on the desktop as well. Then I read somewhere that it's licensed not just to one user, but to one user and one machine (plus a mobile device, e.g. my iPhone).

 

I'm not really worried about it this year as Microsoft doesn't seem to be. I'm not doing anything funny with my connection like a VPN. Microsoft should be able to clearly see that I've logged into Office 365 on two different PCs with different names and different hardware configurations. They're both Asus, but the desktop runs a Xeon and the laptop, an i7. I don't think they look alike to Microsoft. I see two different names in Chrome Remote Desktop on my phone.

 

Since I do want to run legitimate, and have no interest in cheating Microsoft, when it comes time to renew in a few months, would I just change to the 5-user license? But then I'm still just the one user, and I'm not going to make a new Microsoft ID for the desktop or the laptop. I have no problem licensing my wife though. If it's like my license covers the laptop and anyone who uses it, and her license covers the desktop and whoever uses it, that makes sense. But if the license is 1 user, 1 machine, what about people who own two machines? Seems like that would fit a lot of people. I feel like I'm on the right side of the license since it's physically impossible for me to use the laptop and desktop at the same time. Well, I mean, I could put them on the same desk and quickly alternate, I guess that's possible, but realistically I'm going to just work on one or the other.

 

I don't mind buying the 5-user license. It's $100 a month as opposed to $70, and if my wife also got 1TB of OneDrive, that's worth it right there, like $50 each for both of us. And we know a few people we could give the remaining 3 licenses to. Not interested in reselling, that's probably a violation of the license. But, like, family members. I know a few people who could really use Office 365, and it wouldn't break my bank to pay for the 5 licenses.

 

So... basically just wondering why I can use Office on two machines and, if that's not allowed, what Microsoft expects people with a desktop and a laptop to do, if anyone knows. Aside from buying the standalone Office product, that is. I wouldn't mind buying Office 2016, but it's an additional cost (I think the basic one with Word and Excel is like $250?) and doesn't come with the OneDrive storage AFAIK. Plus, I really just want Word, and my use case would allow me to just use LibreOffice. I don't NEED Word. I just really like how it looks, and the OneDrive sync is real smooth. I'm a writer (albeit not a published one), so I really just need basic formatting.

[dragontology]

Two weeks and 120 views (possibly including my own when I made the topic). I think I have successfully stumped Neowin, a Microsoft fan site, and well over 100 of its members. That is telling in and of itself.

 

I think I'm in the clear for my Office usage, but if I'm wrong, at least it's over something that not one in the over 100 Neowinians was able to figure out. And if Microsoft audits me or whatever, I suspect there's a straightforward way to move up to the 5 licenses version.

[Clirion]

Long Answer short on this.

 

Go out to Office.com and look at your account.  This will list exactly what Microsoft sees as far as O365 is concerned. 

It will also show you what you really are looking at as far as your connection is concerned.  If your usage is good, then you will be fine as far as Licensing is concerned.

 

It is really about the only answer anyone can give on this.  

 

[zhangm Supervisor]

From the licensing terms:

 

Quote

Office 365 Home: On five PCs/Macs and five tablets, for use only by members of the same household as the
licensed subscriber. 1
Office 365 University: On one PC/Mac or tablet and one additional PC/Mac or tablet, for use only by the
licensed subscriber. 2
Office 365 Personal: On one PC/Mac and one tablet, for use only by the licensed subscriber. 1

At minimum, you purchased the right to install and use the software on 1). your desktop, and 2). your laptop/secondary device. If you believe your license specifies different terms, post the exact wording here.