Microsoft Word editing not working on new iPad - told have to move from Microsoft Basic to Personal

Hello, Lis Napier

Welcome to Microsoft Community.   

I realized that only when you switch from Microsoft 365 Basicsubscription to Microsoft 365 Personal subscription can you edit Word documents on your new iPad. I understand the inconvenience this may have caused.

I would like to know what is the screen size of your new iPad?

I would like to explain that:

As you mentioned, Microsoft 365 Basicsubscription indeed let you work on multiple devices.

However, there are screen size limitations when using Office applications on mobile devices.

With a Microsoft 365 Basic subscription, editing available only on screen sizes up to 10.1 inches.

• Your old iPad mini screen size may be not larger than 10.1 inches, so you can edit Word documents.
• Your new iPad screen size may be larger than 10.1 inches, so you can only view Word documents. You can edit Word documents only when you purchase the qualifying Microsoft 365 Personal subscription.

For more information, see: What you can do in the Microsoft 365 apps on mobile devices with a Microsoft 365 subscription - Microsoft Support

If your new iPad is indeed larger than 10.1 inches, then I suggest that you consider purchasing the Microsoft 365 Personal subscription to continue editing files in the Word app on this new iPad.

In the meantime, you can also consider using the Word website in your browser to edit files. This is free.

Here is a link: Word | Microsoft 365 Copilot

Note: Online Word may have fewer features and requires an internet connection to use and it need save files in OneDrive.

I hope my reply will help clarify the situation. Feel free to post back if you need further assistance.

Best wishes, 

Lucia Wu - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Hello, Lis

Thank you for your response.

To avoid unnecessary expenses, you may consider using the free online Office as an alternative to the Office app for editing documents on your iPad until the issue is resolved. 

Here is the link to online Office: https://m365.cloud.microsoft/?auth=1 

Meanwhile, please understand and accept my apologies because as a community moderator, we are not responsible for the development and design of Microsoft products, and our influence on product development is limited. 

To help other users experiencing the same issue quickly understand the situation and find a feedback channel to the development team, please click "Yes" or "No" below to mark this response. Reply marked with a green "Answered" tag will be highlighted for other users' reference.

Issue titile: Only when the user has a Microsoft 365 Personal/Family subscription can the user use Office applications to edit files on iPad mini 7.

Feedback method:

1. Vote for it or add comments on: The Office app cannot be used on the iPad mini 7. · Community
2. In Word app on iPad.

Select your profile picture in the top left. Then, select Help & Feedback from the list, and select Report a problem.

Thanks for your understanding and cooperation.

Best wishes, 

Lucia Wu - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Hi Lucia

Thanks for your reply however my old iPad was a Mini 4 with screen size of 7.9 inches and my new iPad mini 7 is 8.1 inches so I’m still well under this limit. So I still don’t understand why I have the problem.?

Regards

Hi Lucia

Many thanks for the feedback.

I’ve added my comments and vote per your suggestion and also done a submission through Word.

At the moment I am running the one month trial for Microsoft Personal which expires on 5 March, after which I will be hit with AUD16.99 per month just to be able to continue to work on my iPad using Microsoft apps.

Regards

Lis

Hello, Lis Napier

Thank you for sharing more information. 

Based on your description, what you are encountering is a current hot issue.

Recently, some users have been posting in different language sections that they are experiencing a similar situation: Only when the user has a Microsoft 365 Personal/Family subscription can the user use Office applications to edit files on iPad mini 7.

For example: 

Post in English: Why am I asked for subscription on Word when my tablet is 9”? - Microsoft Community

Post in Korean: iPad mini 7th generation Excel can't be registered for free - Microsoft Community

I have already submitted this issue on the feedback platform. 

Here is the link: The Office app cannot be used on the iPad mini 7. · Community

You can also vote for it or add comments on that page. 

The higher the number of votes, the more likely the development team will focus on solving the problem.

Additionally, I sincerely suggest you directly send feedback in Word app on iPad.

select your profile picture in the top left. Then, select Help & Feedback from the list, and select Report a problem.

I’m fully aware of the inconvenience caused to you by this. I hope that the Office development team will fix this problem in the future updates.

Thanks for your understanding and patience during this time.

Best wishes, 

Lucia Wu - MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist