unable to log in /activate my microsoft 365 subscription to use excel

Question

unable to log in /activate my microsoft 365 subscription to use excel. When I enter my user id which is my email ID, it keeps spinning with no option to enter password.

Answer 1

If you're experiencing issues logging in or activating your Microsoft 365 subscription to use Excel, here are some troubleshooting steps you can try:

1. Check Your Internet Connection: Ensure that you have a stable internet connection as this can affect the login process.
2. Clear Cache and Cookies: Sometimes, clearing the browser's cache and cookies can resolve login issues.
3. Use the Correct User ID: Make sure you are entering your Office 365 user ID correctly, which should be your user principal name (UPN), typically in the format of your email address (e.g., ******@contoso.com).
4. Check for Updates: Ensure that your Microsoft 365 apps are up to date. You can check for updates by opening Excel, going to File > Account > Update Options > Update Now.
5. Sign Out and Sign Back In: If you are already signed in, try signing out and then signing back in. To do this, open Excel, click on your name or profile picture at the top, select Sign out, and then sign back in using your work or school account.
6. Enable TLS 1.2: If you are using Windows, make sure that TLS 1.2 is enabled. You can do this by going to Control Panel > Internet Options > Advanced settings and checking the TLS 1.2 option.
7. Remove Office Credentials: If you have stored credentials for Microsoft Office, you may need to remove them. Go to Credential Manager, find any entries related to Microsoft Office, and remove them.
8. Check for Proxy Settings: If you are behind a proxy server, you may need to adjust your proxy settings. You can do this using the Command Prompt with administrative privileges.

If these steps do not resolve the issue, you may need to contact your Microsoft 365 administrator for further assistance.

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References:

• Sign in issues when activating Microsoft 365 Apps
• Account or subscription verification errors activating Microsoft 365 Apps

Answer 2

Please try signing in first through a browser instead of the Excel app. Go to https://www.microsoft.com/microsoft-365/account and check if your subscription shows as active. If it works in the browser, fully close Excel, reopen it, then go to File, Account, and select Sign in. If the screen still spins, try a different browser like Edge or Chrome, or open a private or incognito window. You can also clear cached credentials by signing out of all Microsoft apps, then restarting the computer. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/activate-office-for-windows-5bd38f38-db92-448b-a982-ad170b1e187e

If the issue only happens inside Excel, it may be caused by a proxy, VPN, antivirus, or outdated Office build. Temporarily disabling VPN or security software and making sure Office is fully updated can help. https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/account-billing/i-can-t-sign-in-to-my-microsoft-account-475c9b5c-8c25-49f1-9c2d-c64b7072e735