I cannot edit a word doc on my word app on my ipad. I can edit on other devices.

Question

When asked to sign in (to edit and save, sign in with a subscription--I hit the sign in button), it tells me to buy Microsoft 365 Personal. If I pick use another account and pick the account associated with my microsoft 365 family plan, I get a box that says subscription not found for that email. It's an endless circle.

Answer 1

Follow these steps to break the loop and enable editing on the iPad Word app:

1. Confirm the Family subscription and account
   • In a browser, go to the Microsoft account page for the Family organizer account and verify that Microsoft 365 Family is active.
   • Make sure the email address being used on the iPad is either:
     • The organizer account that owns the Microsoft 365 Family subscription, or
     • A family member account that the organizer has actually shared the subscription with (via the Family sharing feature).
2. Sign out of all Office accounts on the iPad
   • Open the Word app on the iPad.
   • Go to Account (or tap the profile icon) and sign out of all accounts listed.
   • Close Word and any other Office apps.
3. Reset the Office app on iPad
   • Open Settings on the iPad.
   • Scroll down and select Word (repeat later for Excel/PowerPoint if needed).
   • Under RESET, tap Reset Word.
   • Turn on Delete Login Credentials.
   • Close the app completely (swipe it away from the app switcher).
4. Sign in again with the correct subscription account
   • Reopen Word.
   • On the Account screen, tap Sign In.
   • Enter the email and password for the account that actually has the Microsoft 365 Family license (or the family member account that has been shared the subscription).
   • After sign-in, try opening the document and editing again.
5. Check device and subscription limits
   • Microsoft 365 subscriptions allow signing in to Office on multiple devices, but there is a sign-in limit. If the account is already signed in on many devices, Office may sign out older ones automatically.
   • If prompted, sign back in on the iPad with the same licensed account.
6. Verify subscription type and device requirements
   • Ensure the iPad meets the system requirements.
   • If the iPad screen is larger than 10.1", a qualifying Microsoft 365 subscription is required to edit documents. The account used on the iPad must be the one with that subscription.

If, after these steps, Word still says “subscription not found” for the Family account, it typically means either:

• The subscription is expired, or
• The subscription is not actually associated with that email (for example, it was purchased under a different Microsoft account), or
• The Family organizer has not shared the subscription with the signed-in family member account.

In that case, re-check which Microsoft account owns the subscription and repeat the sign-out/reset/sign-in steps using that exact account.

---

References:

• What you can do in the Microsoft 365 apps on mobile devices with a Microsoft 365 subscription
• When do I need a Microsoft 365 subscription?
• Sign in to Microsoft 365
• Troubleshoot installing Office
• I can't edit my word doc. - Microsoft Q&A
• When opening Word or Excel, getting a 'subscription canceled' message but I have renewed my Office subscription - Microsoft Q&A
• I am unable to open and create documents - Microsoft Q&A
• My Microsoft365 Office Package no longer works with my iPad Pro - Microsoft Q&A