How to activate Office 365 on my Android phone

Question

I have had MS Office on my android device for some years. I now have a subscription to Office 365. I have tried to follow the instructions here to upgrade my office apps to oFfice 365 but the instructions do not work. For example, I do not have the option to "Sign In" as I am already signed in.

Answer 1

Hi, I'm John! I will help you with this.

Can you confirm which Microsoft 365 subscription you have?

Some features and availability can depend on the subscription type.

For example, qualifying plans include:

• Microsoft 365 Family
• Microsoft 365 Personal

Non-qualifying plans include:

• Microsoft 365 Basic
• One-time purchase versions, such as Office Home & Student, Office Home & Business, or Office Professional.

Reference: "What you can do in the Microsoft 365 apps on mobile devices with a Microsoft 365 subscription" https://support.microsoft.com/office/what-you-can-do-in-the-microsoft-365-apps-on-mobile-devices-with-a-microsoft-365-subscription-9ef8b63a-05fd-4f9c-bac5-29da046833ea

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Click "Add comment" to let me know.

Regards,

John J.D.

Answer 2

On Android, the Office/Microsoft 365 apps automatically use whatever account is signed in; there is no separate “activation” button like on Windows or Mac. To ensure the subscription is applied on the phone, use these steps:

1. Confirm the subscription type
   • Go to https://account.microsoft.com/services and verify that the subscription is a Microsoft 365 plan that includes mobile app benefits (for example, Microsoft 365 Personal or Family), not Microsoft 365 Basic, which only provides OneDrive storage and web apps and does not unlock premium features in the mobile apps.
2. Make sure the correct account is used in the Android apps
   • Open an Office app on the Android device, such as Word, Excel, or the Microsoft 365 Copilot app.
   • In the app, go to Settings or the profile icon.
   • Check which account is signed in. If it is not the same account that shows the active Microsoft 365 subscription on the Services page, add or switch to that account:
     • Choose Add account or Add a place (wording can vary by app).
     • Sign in with the Microsoft account or Microsoft 365 work or school account that has the subscription.
3. Install or update the correct apps
   • If using the combined Microsoft 365 Copilot app, install it from the store using the same account and sign in when prompted. The app supports both free Microsoft accounts and Microsoft 365 work or school accounts, and a qualifying subscription unlocks extra features.
   • If using individual apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), ensure they are updated to the latest version and signed in with the subscription account.

Once the correct subscription account is signed in, the Android apps are considered “activated” and will automatically enable any extra features included with the Microsoft 365 subscription.

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References:

• Install and set up the Microsoft 365 Copilot app on an Android
• Set up Microsoft 365 or Office apps and email on Android
• Upgrade to Microsoft 365
• Why do I need an account to sign in to Microsoft 365 or Office?
• No license associated with my email account - Microsoft Q&A