I purchased an annual subscription, but it asks me to purchase again.

Question

I downloaded MS 365 after signing up for a one-month free trial (essentialy a purchase). I then downloaded the program using the link on the MS website. When I try to open a document, it tells me that I can only read it and I will have to purchase again to be able to edit.

Answer 1

Hello David Burch,

Thank you for posting your question in the Microsoft Q&A forum!

I understand that you are having issue with Microsoft 365 subscription activation. I truly understand how you feel. Let me assist you go through this situation.

When Word or Excel opens in read‑only mode and asks you to purchase again, Microsoft explains that this means Office is unlicensed or not activated on that device. In this state, you can open and print files, but you cannot edit them.

The most common reasons are:

• You’re signed into Office with the wrong Microsoft account
• The trial ended, but the paid subscription was never activated on the desktop apps
• Office was installed before the subscription was fully attached to your account
• There are multiple Office versions installed, causing activation conflicts

1. Verify your subscription is active

The first step is to confirm that the subscription exists on your Microsoft account.

1. Go to https://account.microsoft.com/services
2. Sign in using the exact email address you used to start the trial / purchase
3. You should see Microsoft 365 Personal or Family listed as Active

If you don’t see it, Office will stay read‑only.

2. Sign in to Office with the correct account

Office must be signed in with the same account that owns the subscription.

1. Open Word
2. Select File > Account
3. Under User Information, check the email shown
4. If it’s wrong:
   • Select Sign out
   • Close all Office apps
   • Reopen Word and sign in with the correct Microsoft account

Using the wrong email causes Office to say “We couldn’t find any Office products” or stay unlicensed.

3. Restart Office apps completely

After signing in, Microsoft says you must close and reopen all Office apps to remove the purchase / activation warning.

4. Check for multiple Office installations

Having more than one Office version installed can prevent activation.

1. Open Control Panel
2. Select Programs and Features
3. Search for Office
4. If you see more than one version: Uninstall the one you’re not using
5. Restart the computer
6. If it still shows “Unlicensed Product”

I recommend running the Microsoft 365 Activation Troubleshooter on the same PC.

This automatically fixes:

• Account mismatch
• Corrupted activation tokens
• Trial‑to‑paid upgrade issues

I hope this will help with your situation. Please feel free to reach back if you have further update or more questions.

Best Regards,

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Answer 2

In Word (for example), if you click File > Account, does the product indicate that it is deactivated? Do you see the correct e-mail address, that is, the one you used for your order?

Note that you will be charged, unless you cancel the trial in time.

Answer 3

It sounds like you may be experiencing an issue with your Microsoft 365 subscription activation. When you sign up for a one-month free trial, it typically allows access to the full features of Microsoft 365, but you may need to ensure that your subscription is properly activated after the trial period. Here are some steps you can take to resolve the issue:

1. Check Subscription Status: Go to https://account.live.com and verify that your subscription is active.
2. Sign In Correctly: Make sure you are signed in with the correct account that has the subscription. You can do this in the apps by going to Files > Accounts.
3. Update License: In the app, try clicking on "update license" and log in again to refresh your subscription status.

If the problem persists, you may want to contact Microsoft support for further assistance.

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References:

• When opening Word or Excel, getting a 'subscription canceled' message but I have renewed my Office subscription - Microsoft Q&A
• Try or buy a Microsoft 365 for business subscription
• Why am I getting billed for Microsoft 365 after I activate the benefit?
• Contact Microsoft 365 Support
• Get support - Microsoft 365 admin | Microsoft Learn