If working from home, connect to your company VPN. KMS servers are usually not exposed to the public internet.
The is a common hurdle for users of Microsoft Office 2016, 2019, 2021, and Microsoft 365. This error typically signifies that the Key Management Service (KMS) could not be contacted to verify the software license. 0xc004f074 office activation error
telnet YOUR_KMS_SERVER_NAME 1688
Using a Volume License key on a retail version of Windows/Office or vice-versa. Step-by-Step Fixes for Office Activation Error 0xC004F074 1. Sync System Date and Time If working from home, connect to your company VPN
KMS clients find the server via DNS SRV records. If DNS is wrong, the client doesn't know where to call. This error typically signifies that the Key Management
If you previously installed a trial version of Office or a different edition (e.g., Office 2016 vs. Microsoft 365), leftover license files can conflict.