Digital software can be delivered in different ways. The individual product page must state the actual method used for that offer.
Product key
A product key is an activation credential. It is not, by itself, the complete license or proof of the usage rights.
Account-linked entitlement
Some products are associated with a Microsoft account during purchase or redemption and can later be downloaded from the account's services page.
Subscription provisioning
Microsoft 365 Business products can require customer-tenant and CSP provisioning rather than a generic key or download.
What an offer should state
- Delivery or provisioning method.
- Expected processing time.
- Activation market and term.
- Whether a physical item is included.
- Who provides support for failed delivery or provisioning.
No universal instant-delivery promise applies across the catalog.