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Cannot edit Excel on my iPad Mini 7

Jon Wayne 10 Reputation points
2025-08-09T12:42:37.47+00:00

I just bought a new iPad Mini 7. I was able to use Excel on my iPad Mini 5 previously. After I transfer everything from my old mini5 to the new mini7, I cannot use Excel to edit documents anymore. I’ve signed in with the same account on my old mini5 & new mini7. The mini7 screen size is only 8.3 inch.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Excel | For home | iOS
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  1. Chen1018 13,870 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-08-11T09:21:11.0233333+00:00

    Hi Jon,

    That's correct Jon coz' iOS devices like your iPad won’t manually appear in the Devices tab the same way Xbox or Windows PCs do. They register automatically when the Microsoft apps detect and validate your sign-in. Since Excel is still in view-only mode despite meeting the free-tier screen size rule, this points to a license detection glitch. At this stage, contacting Microsoft support is the best route so they can refresh your account’s activation flags on their end.

    Warm regards,

    Cherrelyn

    1 person found this answer helpful.
  2. Chen1018 13,870 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-08-11T05:23:54.85+00:00

    Hi Jon,

    If no devices are listed, it means your iPad hasn’t been registered to your Microsoft account yet. Try signing out of Excel, then sign out from the iPad’s iOS “Accounts” settings if your Microsoft account is saved there. Restart the iPad, open Excel, and sign in again this should trigger the device registration. After a few minutes, check the “Devices” tab online again. If it still doesn’t appear, it may be an account-side sync issue, so waiting 24 hours or contacting Microsoft support https://support.microsoft.com/ to manually register the device would be the next step.

    Warm regards,

    Cherrelyn

    1 person found this answer helpful.
  3. Chen1018 13,870 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-08-11T05:01:52.9033333+00:00

    Hi Jon,

    Since you’re under the 10.1-inch limit and on the free tier, this sounds like Excel isn’t recognizing your device type correctly. Please try to delete and reinstall the Excel app on the iPad to refresh its app data. Reset device recognition by going to your Microsoft account online - Devices - remove the mini7 from the list, then sign back in on the iPad. If it still locks to view-only, it may be a temporary bug on Microsoft’s side sometimes signing in again after 24 hours clears it.

    Warm regards,

    Cherrelyn

    1 person found this answer helpful.
  4. Chen1018 13,870 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-08-11T03:41:58.3133333+00:00

    Hi Jon,

    Sorry for the late reply.

    If reinstalling didn’t help, it might be a licensing issue. On iPads, Excel editing is free only for screens 10.1 inches or smaller, but it still needs your Microsoft account to recognize that. Try signing out on all devices, then sign back in on the mini7 first. If it still won’t edit, check your subscription status in the Microsoft account page sometimes it defaults to view-only mode if the license isn’t detected.

    Warm regards,

    Cherrelyn

    1 person found this answer helpful.
  5. Chen1018 13,870 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2025-08-09T13:18:04.6366667+00:00

    Hi there,

    I'm Cherrelyn, and I'm here to help.

    Please try signing out of Excel on the new iPad, force close the app, then sign back in with your Microsoft account. If that fails, reinstalling Excel often clears up activation glitches after a device transfer.

    I hope this will help and if you have any question please feel free to ask.

    Warm regards,

    Cherrelyn

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