These tools are typically simple batch files ( .cmd or .bat ) hosted on GitHub repositories. They utilize the , a legitimate technology Microsoft created for corporate environments to activate software in bulk.

It uses the ospp.vbs (Office Software Protection Platform) script, a native Microsoft tool, to input a volume license key and set the KMS host address.

Since KMS activations usually expire every 180 days, some scripts create a scheduled task to automatically renew the activation every few days. Popular Repositories and Methods GitHub hosts several projects that facilitate this process:

Many modern versions, such as the popular Microsoft-Activation-Scripts (MAS) on GitHub, offer a "one-click" experience via a command prompt menu. How the Scripts Work (Technical Overview)

The command cscript ospp.vbs /act is executed to finalize the process.

It navigates to the Office installation folder (e.g., C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16 ).

The script must be run as an administrator to modify system-level licensing files.

The scripts replace the installed retail key with a volume license key and point the software to an emulated or external KMS server.