Unsuccessful install of Office 2024 on Mac Laptop

Question

Yesterday, I uninstalled Microsoft 2019 from my mac laptop and installed Microsoft 2024. For some reason, when I open up a previously created Word document, I can not edit it. Nor can I create a new document. Also, an error message appears at the top of a new Word document indicating, "Activate Microsoft 365 to Create and Edit." What is the problem?

Answer 1

Hi Adrienne Heile,

This is due to the license files from the 365 license still being present.

First, remove 365 and 2024 Install from Mac using these steps:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/uninstall-office-for-mac-eefa1199-5b58-43af-8a3d-b73dc1a8cae3

Second:

1. Open Finder → press Command + Shift + G.
2. Go to: /Library/Preferences/
3. Delete the following files if present:
   • com.microsoft.office.licensingV2.plist
   • com.microsoft.office.licensingV2.helper.plist
4. Press Command + Shift + G again and open: /Library/Group Containers/
5. Locate and delete the folder: UBF8T346G9.Office
6. Then check the user Library:
   • Go to: ~/Library/Group Containers/
   • Delete: UBF8T346G9.Office
7. Empty the Trash.
8. Restart the Mac.
9. Open any Office app again and sign in with the correct Microsoft 365 account to activate.

Step 3:

Reinstall MS office from https://account.microsoft.com/services page.

I hope this information helps. If you have any more questions, don't hesitate to reach out.

Otherwise, please take a moment to rate the answer. Wishing you good luck!

Answer 2

The problem is that the Mac is still using the old Microsoft 365/Office 2019 licensing information, so Office 2024 is opening in view‑only mode and asking to “Activate Microsoft 365” instead of activating the new standalone Office 2024 license.

To fix this, remove the old Office license data and then sign in/activate with the account or key that belongs to Office 2024 Home for Mac:

1. Completely uninstall the existing Office apps and their data:
   • Quit all Office apps.
   • In Finder, go to Applications and move all Microsoft Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote) to Trash.
   • In Finder, select Go > Go to Folder and open ~/Library/Containers/.
   • Delete the folders starting with:
     • com.microsoft.Word
     • com.microsoft.Excel
     • com.microsoft.Powerpoint
     • com.microsoft.Outlook
     • com.microsoft.OneNote
   • Go back to the Library folder and open Group Containers.
   • Move these, if present, to Trash:
     • UBF8T346G9.ms
     • UBF8T346G9.Office
2. Reinstall Office 2024 for Mac:
   • Download and install Office for Mac again using the Office 2024 purchase (not any old Microsoft 365 link).
   • Follow the standard Mac install steps (open the Microsoft Office installer.pkg, choose Continue, Agree, Install, and enter the Mac password when prompted).
3. Activate with the correct license:
   • Open Word.
   • When prompted to sign in or activate, use the Microsoft account or product key associated with the Office 2024 Home purchase, not the old work/school Microsoft 365 account.

Once the old Microsoft 365/2019 licensing is removed and Office 2024 is installed and activated with the correct account, Word documents can be created and edited without the “Activate Microsoft 365 to Create and Edit” banner.

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References:

• Download, install, or reinstall Microsoft 365 or Office 2024 on a PC or Mac
• What to try if you can't install or activate Office for Mac
• Why does office 2024 home for mac require activating microsoft 365 subscription? - Microsoft Q&A
• Microsoft Office apps for Mac quit unexpectedly - Microsoft Q&A