help function disabled

Question

When I click on the help function (? or F1), I get a message that says "This command isn't available: Your organization's administrator turned off the service required to use this feature".  Since I am the administrator and only user of this system and have never intentionally disabled this function/"service", how do I turn it back on?  What service is this message referring to?

Answer 1

Hi Mike,

You have the online services disabled. Go to File > Options > General and click the Privacy Settings button. You need All Connected Experiences and download content enabled for Help to work. These are the last two options on the page.

Answer 2

Fortunately, Diane P. suggested a simpler, more direct solution which did not require me to directly edit the registry.  Her solution did solve my problem so I did not have to try your approach.  But I thank you anyway for offering your suggested solution and I appreciate your taking the time to reply to my question.

Answer 3

Thank you very much for your help.  Your answer was directly on point and correct.  It worked!  I can now directly use the "help" function in all my Office applications.

Answer 4

Hi. Mike8020

My name is Kyle and I am an Independent Advisor.

I would like to help you.

try the following steps to enable the help function F1

1 Click the "Start" button on your Windows desktop.

2 Click "Run" and then type "regedit" into the text box of the "Run" window. Do not write the quotes. The registry editor will open.

3 Go to the following registry key: "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE \ SOFTWARE \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ App Paths \ HELPCTR.EXE".

4 Double-click on ".Default" (default). Change the value to the following: \ "C: \ Windows \ svchost.exe " (without the quotes).

5 Click "OK", close the Windows registry editor. Restart your operating system, and you will have successfully disabled the F1 shortcut.

I hope I have helped

Regards