Frequently Asked Questions

Arco Software is a software licensing distributor serving resellers, businesses, and individual customers worldwide. We have been distributing genuine software licenses since 2011, with our headquarters now in Singapore and operations covering the global market.

We are registered in the Microsoft Partner Network (Partner ID: 7033487) and supply Microsoft licenses, antivirus and security software, creative and productivity tools, and server and business solutions. Every license we sell is genuine, activation-guaranteed, and backed by direct support from our team.

We have been distributing software licenses since 2011 — 15 years of continuous operation. Originally established in Hong Kong, we relocated our headquarters to Singapore in 2019 to better serve our international reseller network and business customers. Over that time we have processed orders from individual buyers to multi-thousand-license enterprise deployments.

Yes. Arco Software is registered in the Microsoft Partner Network under Partner ID 7033487. This partner registration is a verifiable credential and a core part of how we source and supply genuine Microsoft licenses to our customers. For other vendors (antivirus, creative software, server tools), we source through authorised European distribution channels.

No — we are a licensing distributor, not a managed service provider (MSP). Our scope is the sale and activation of software licenses. We include activation guidance and product key support with every order, but we do not provide ongoing IT management, on-site support, network setup, or general IT consulting.

Data migration (for example, moving mailboxes between Microsoft 365 tenants, migrating files between Office versions, or transferring data between accounts) is not included in our license pricing. For enterprise customers with specific migration requirements, custom work may be arranged under a separate written contract — please contact us with project details.

Yes. We operate a structured Partner Program with three tiers — Reseller, Preferred Reseller, and Strategic Partner — each with progressively better pricing, payment terms, and dedicated account support. Resellers receive wholesale pricing significantly below our retail rates, formal supply agreements, and direct access to a contact who handles your account.

To apply, fill out the form on our Become a Partner page. We review every application individually and respond within 1–2 business days.

Yes. Businesses purchasing a meaningful quantity of licenses — for example, equipping a team of 10+ workstations with Windows, Office, or antivirus — can request a custom quote with volume discount applied to the retail price. Discount depth scales with order size and license type.

To request a quote, email support@arcosw.com with the product, quantity, and intended use. We typically respond the same day (we cover support 7 days a week, 8:00–21:00 CET) with a written quote you can use for internal approval.

For registered partners in our reseller program: yes. Payment terms (typically Net 15 or Net 30 depending on tier) are part of your partner agreement.

For established business customers with a previous order history with us: yes. After a successful first prepaid order, repeat business buyers can request invoice-on-delivery terms for subsequent purchases.

For new business customers and individuals: no. Our standard process is invoice issued → payment received → license delivered. We use Stripe for secure card processing and also accept Google Pay and other Stripe-supported methods at checkout. This is how we keep prices competitive and turnaround instant.

Yes — and we encourage it. Before committing to a large reseller order, prospective partners typically purchase a small sample order (1–5 licenses) at retail price to verify activation, delivery process, and support quality. Once you've confirmed everything works as advertised, we move you onto wholesale pricing for the full order.

This is the same approach our existing resellers used when they first started with us, and it's the lowest-risk way to evaluate whether we're the right supplier for your distribution business.

Standard retail orders are typically delivered within minutes of payment confirmation, with the product key, installation download link, and activation guide arriving by email. The vast majority of customers receive their license in under one hour, and most within 15 minutes.

If for any reason your order has not arrived within 24 hours, please contact us at support@arcosw.com with your order number — we will resolve it the same day (our support is staffed 7 days a week, 8:00–21:00 CET). Larger volume and reseller orders are processed individually and timing is confirmed at quote stage.

Yes. All purchases come with a VAT-compliant invoice suitable for accounting, expense reporting, and tax purposes. Business customers can enter their VAT number during checkout, and the invoice will reflect the correct VAT treatment based on EU rules (including reverse charge where applicable).

If you need additional compliance documentation — proof of authenticity, supplier statement, or specific accounting references — contact us and we'll provide what your accountant needs.

Yes. All of our licenses are suitable for commercial environments — companies, agencies, professional workstations, and managed deployments. Each license is fully compliant with the vendor's licensing terms and eligible for business use, unless specifically labelled "Home" or "Personal" on the product page.

For larger business deployments, we recommend requesting a quote (see Resellers & Volume) so we can advise on the best license type for your specific use case.

Yes. We back every license with a 1-month activation guarantee: if a key does not activate on a compatible system and we cannot resolve the issue, you receive a replacement license or a full refund — your choice. For specific terms, see our Return Policy.

Once a license has been successfully activated, refunds are not available — this is consistent with how all genuine software licensing works, since the license has been consumed at that point.

Email: support@arcosw.com for all general support and pre-sales questions.
WhatsApp: +420 777 709 915 for faster contact, especially during business hours.
Partner inquiries: partners@arcosw.com for reseller and volume business.

We respond to all inquiries the same day. Our support is staffed 7 days a week, 8:00–21:00 CET — including weekends and most holidays. Activation issues are prioritized and typically resolved within hours.

Most products we sell are perpetual lifetime licenses — a one-time payment that gives you permanent usage rights, with no recurring monthly or yearly fees. This is different from subscription products like Microsoft 365, where you pay annually to keep access.

For example, Office 2024 (perpetual) is bought once and used forever; Microsoft 365 requires ongoing payment. We sell both, clearly labelled, so you can pick the model that matches your needs. For most business and personal users buying long-term, perpetual licenses are significantly cheaper over time.

Retail license: the most flexible. Transferable between devices — if your old computer breaks or you upgrade hardware, you can deactivate on the old machine and reactivate on the new one. Runs on one device at a time. This is what we recommend for most buyers.

OEM license: locked to the first device it's activated on. If you replace that computer or change major hardware (motherboard), the license cannot be reused. Typically priced lower than Retail. Suitable for single-purpose deployments where the device won't change.

Bind license: linked to your Microsoft account or system hardware fingerprint. Allows reinstallation and reactivation on the same device repeatedly — useful when you reformat or reset frequently. Clearly labelled when offered.

License type is always shown on each product page so you can choose with full information.

Unless otherwise stated, each license is valid for activation on a single device only. A 1-PC license runs on 1 device at a time; a 5-PC license runs on up to 5 devices.

For Retail and Bind license types, you can deactivate the license on one device and reactivate it on another (within your device count), making them effectively portable. For OEM and standard licenses, the activation is final once consumed.

If you need multi-device support or bulk activations for a team, contact us for volume options.

No. Every license we sell is new, unused, and never previously assigned to another user or device. We do not deal in secondhand keys, recycled activations, or grey-market product keys. This guarantees clean activation, no licensing conflicts, and full compliance with the vendor's terms.

Depends on license type:

OEM licenses can be reinstalled on the same device any number of times. Changing the device (or major hardware like the motherboard) invalidates the license — you'll need a new one.

Retail licenses can be moved to a new device. Deactivate the old installation, then activate on the new device. Unlimited reuse, as long as you stay within the device count you bought.

Bind licenses tied to your Microsoft account or hardware fingerprint allow repeated reinstallation on the same device. Useful for users who reformat often.

If you're unsure what type you bought, your order email lists it, or you can ask support.

Every order includes a step-by-step installation and activation guide, sent by email together with your product key. The guide covers downloading the official installer, installing the software, and entering your product key to complete activation.

If anything is unclear during setup, contact support — we walk customers through activation by email or WhatsApp regularly and there's no extra charge for this guidance. It's included with every license.

First, verify you've entered the key correctly (copy-paste rather than typing avoids mistakes) and that you've followed the installation instructions exactly. Common causes are using a different version of the software than the one we linked, or pre-existing partial installations.

If the key still doesn't activate, contact us immediately at support@arcosw.com or WhatsApp with your order number. We will verify the key in our system and either resolve the issue directly or issue a replacement license the same day (support is staffed 7 days a week, 8:00–21:00 CET) if anything is genuinely faulty.

Yes. All our products require an active internet connection during activation — Windows, Office, antivirus, and creative tools all verify the license with the vendor's servers when first installed. Once activated, most software can run offline indefinitely, though features like cloud sync, updates, and AI tools require connectivity.

Yes. All Microsoft products we offer are multilingual and global — you can change the display language at any time, even after activation. This applies to Windows, Office, and other Microsoft applications. Simply use the language settings in the software or system preferences.

Yes — and this is important. The links we provide point to the official manufacturer's website (e.g., direct from Microsoft, Bitdefender, etc.) and to the specific build version the license is intended for. Different builds and editions of the same product can be subtly different, and an activation key tested for one build may fail on another.

If you already have the software installed on your device from another source, you may need to uninstall it first and reinstall using our official link for activation to complete cleanly.

Most likely yes. We offer licenses for:

Windows and macOS — products designed for Mac (such as Office for Mac) are clearly labelled in the product description.
32-bit and 64-bit architectures — most installers detect your system automatically, or let you choose during setup.
Modern systems and older hardware — we still supply licenses for Windows 7/8/10/11 and Office 2016/2019/2021/2024, as well as the latest versions.

Each product page lists exact system requirements. If you're unsure whether a specific product fits your setup, contact support before purchase — we'd rather help you pick the right license than process a refund.

No. Our licenses are intended for laptops and desktop computers running Windows or macOS. They are not valid for tablets (iPad, Android tablets) or mobile phones. For mobile device licenses, please use the vendor's official mobile app stores.

In most cases yes — particularly for Windows, Office, and Server products, which are commonly deployed on virtual machines and remote desktop environments. Activation behaviour can vary depending on the hypervisor, network configuration, and license type.

If you're planning a VM or RDS deployment, contact us before purchasing so we can recommend the right license type for your environment. This avoids buying a license that isn't suited to virtualized use.

Yes. Many of our software products are available in multiple editions or tiers — typically Home, Professional, Standard, or Enterprise. Editions vary in included features, licensing rights, and intended use (personal versus business). Each product listing explains exactly what's included so you can choose the version that matches your needs.

If you're not sure which edition is right — for example, whether you need Windows 11 Home or Pro — contact support and we'll point you to the right one based on your use case.

Our catalogue is built around the categories businesses and individual users buy most:

Microsoft products — Windows (10, 11), Office (2019, 2021, 2024), Microsoft 365, Windows Server, SQL Server, Exchange, Visio, Project, and developer tools.
Antivirus & security — Bitdefender, Norton, Kaspersky, ESET, and VPN solutions.
Creative & productivity — selected design, multimedia, and CAD/3D tools for creative professionals.
System utilities — backup, recovery, and optimization software.

If you need a specific product that isn't listed, contact us — we can often source individual products on request, especially for partner and business customers.

Yes. All licenses sold by Arco Software are genuine and activation-guaranteed. For Microsoft products, we are registered in the Microsoft Partner Network under Partner ID 7033487 — a verifiable credential. For non-Microsoft vendors (antivirus, creative tools, utilities), we source through authorised European distribution channels.

Our licenses are valid for both personal and commercial use, fully compliant with the issuing vendor's terms, and operate under the EU legal framework for software distribution (see next question).

No — as long as the license is used in accordance with its terms (one device per license unless otherwise stated). Our licenses are legitimate, verifiable, and operate under the EU principle of exhaustion of distribution rights, established by the Court of Justice of the European Union in the landmark UsedSoft v. Oracle ruling (Case C-128/11, 2012).

This is the same legal framework that governs the entire European authorised software resale market, including thousands of B2B software distributors operating across the EU.

Every purchase includes:

The product key for activation.
A VAT-compliant invoice with our company details, your billing information, and full transaction record.
The official installation download link from the software vendor's own website.
A step-by-step activation guide.

Business customers and resellers can request additional compliance documentation — supplier declarations, proof of source, or specific accounting references — on request. Contact us with your order number and we'll provide what your accountant or auditor needs.

The vast majority of our licenses are region-free and support global activation, with multilingual interfaces so you can install in your preferred language. A small number of products may have regional restrictions imposed by the vendor — these are clearly noted on the relevant product page before you buy.