How to Switch from Pirated Office to Licensed Version Without Losing Data

You can safely transition from a pirated version of Microsoft Office to a licensed one while preserving all your data. Microsoft does not block user data when switching to a legal subscription, even if pirated software was previously used. The main thing is to activate the new subscription through the same Microsoft account that was used for OneDrive, and keep your data in the cloud before activating the license.

Table of Contents

• Current situation with pirated software
• Step-by-step transition to a license
• Data security in OneDrive
• Microsoft account policies
• Recommendations for a safe transition
• Timeframes and expectations
• Conclusion

Current situation with pirated software

Using a pirated version of Microsoft Office activated through AutoKMS creates certain risks and limitations. As noted in Microsoft’s official documentation, the corporation does not actively seek out users of pirated software, but during updates, the system may detect an illegal version and disable certain functions.

Important: When using pirated software, you violate the end-user license agreement and expose your data to risk, as cracked versions often contain modified code that can cause crashes and data loss.

Main issues you may encounter:

• Lack of security updates
• Possible application malfunctions
• Limited access to cloud services
• Risk of account blocking during license verification

Step-by-step transition to a license

To safely transition to a licensed version, follow these steps:

1. Create a backup of critical data

   • Export all documents, spreadsheets, and presentations
   • Back up your Office profile settings
   • Save templates and macros

2. Check your current OneDrive status

   • Ensure all your files are synchronized
   • Verify data availability through the OneDrive web interface
   • According to Microsoft, you remain the owner of your data even in the cloud

3. Purchase a Microsoft 365 subscription

   • It’s recommended to use the same Microsoft account linked to OneDrive
   • Choose a suitable plan (Personal, Family, Business)

4. Activate the subscription

   • Sign in using the same account
   • Follow the activation instructions
   • Allow data synchronization

5. Verify functionality

   • Open existing documents
   • Ensure OneDrive accessibility
   • Check for updates

Data security in OneDrive

Your data in OneDrive remains secure when transitioning to a licensed version. Research shows that data ownership remains with the user even when changing license status.

Key OneDrive security points:

• Data is not automatically deleted when changing licenses
• You retain access to files through the same account
• Microsoft does not block user data without valid reasons
• Data remains accessible for 30 days even after losing the license

Important: As stated in Microsoft documentation, “as long as the account remains the same and not too much time has passed since the last login, you should be safe when changing the license key.”

Microsoft account policies

Microsoft does not block user accounts solely for previous use of pirated software. Main corporate policies:

• Focus on current status: Microsoft pays more attention to the current license status than to usage history
• Flexibility in activation: As noted in discussions, the corporation allows using existing accounts to activate new licenses
• 30-day data retention period: Even if an account becomes unlicensed, data is retained for 30 days

According to Microsoft’s new 2025 policy, the company is tightening requirements for unlicensed accounts, but this does not affect active users transitioning to legal versions.

Recommendations for a safe transition

For maximum data security during transition:

1. Preparation before purchasing a license

   • Ensure all files are synchronized with OneDrive
   • Create an additional backup on an external drive
   • Export important data to formats independent of Office (PDF, ODT)

2. Secure activation

   • Use the official Microsoft website for purchase
   • Activate the license immediately after purchase
   • Do not remove the pirated version until the new one is fully activated

3. Verification after transition

   • Open several documents to verify correctness
   • Ensure availability of all Office features
   • Check OneDrive synchronization

4. Long-term planning

   • Set up automatic backup
   • Consider using two-factor authentication
   • Regularly update your subscription

Timeframes and expectations

When transitioning to a licensed version, expect:

• Instant activation: New Office features become available immediately after activation
• Data synchronization: OneDrive continues to work without interruptions
• 30-day buffer: Data remains accessible even with temporary license issues
• Security updates: You gain access to the latest protection updates

According to Microsoft’s new 2025 rules, unlicensed accounts will be moved to read-only mode on April 25, 2025, and then archived on May 16, 2025. However, this will not affect active users who are transitioning to legal versions.

Conclusion

Transitioning from a pirated version of Microsoft Office to a licensed one is safe and will not result in data loss with the right approach:

1. Your data in OneDrive is protected and will remain accessible when changing licenses
2. Microsoft does not block accounts of users for previous use of pirated software
3. It’s recommended to use the same Microsoft account to activate the new subscription
4. Create a backup of important files before transitioning for additional security
5. Activate the subscription immediately after purchase for uninterrupted operation of all features

The main thing is to activate the subscription through the same account used for OneDrive, and not to remove the pirated version until the new license is fully verified. This will preserve all data and provide access to updates and Microsoft 365 cloud features.

Sources

1. Microsoft Learn - regarding pirated version of ms office
2. Microsoft Support - How OneDrive safeguards your data in the cloud
3. Microsoft Q&A - Onedrive Data when I use a new license key
4. DryvIQ - Microsoft 365 Unlicensed Account Updates 2025
5. CoreView - Manage Unlicensed OneDrive Accounts 2025
6. SuperUser - Extend OneDrive Personal Account with Office 365 license