Can't access word documents

Question

Hello. Why are all of my word documents in accessibility mode and won't let me edit them? Does this mean that my subscription has expired?

Answer 1

If all Word documents suddenly open in a view‑only mode and cannot be edited, one common cause is that the Microsoft 365/Office license is expired or not activated. When a subscription expires or Office is not properly activated, the apps eventually go into reduced functionality mode: documents can be opened and printed, but not edited or newly created.

This matches what happens when users see subscription or activation notices such as "Unlicensed Product" or other subscription warnings. In that state, Word will not allow editing until the subscription issue is resolved.

To confirm and fix:

1. Check the Microsoft 365/Office subscription status online (for example via the Microsoft account services page) and make sure it is active and not expired or suspended.
2. If the subscription is active, open Word, go to File > Account, and ensure the correct account is signed in and the product shows as activated. If available, use the option to update or refresh the license and sign in again.
3. After the subscription is confirmed as active and Word shows as licensed, close and reopen Word and test editing a document again.

If the subscription is indeed expired, renewing it will restore full editing capability.

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References:

• A subscription notice appears when I open a Microsoft 365 application
• Why did my file open read-only?
• I can't edit my word doc. - Microsoft Q&A

Answer 2

Do you mean that documents display in Compatibility mode? If so, it just means that the documents were saved in a format which is older than the most recent format which your version of Word can manage. You can "update" the file format via the Convert button at File > Info.

If Word indicates that it is unlicensed, check the status of your Office product in https://account.microsoft.com/services.