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All my office apps have suddenly deactivated and when I try and reactivate, it says it's activating, but then I get 'error 0x0' every time. I've tried the 'remove office licence files' app from the MS site as suggested, but that doesn't work.
The same apps on my iPhone are activated and working.
I don't want to remove the Office Apps as I know I'll be told I need to upgrade my OS, which completely unnecessary and will cause a lot more problems with other software.
Anyone found a solution as from my internet search it seems a requiring problem.
Kind regards
Mike
Processes in Microsoft 365 for setting up Office apps, redeeming product keys, and activating licenses.
Hey Mike, what's your MacOS version? You said v16, but I think that refered to the Office version.
Oh good.. Your MacOS is not involved in the "completely retired" list that happened on July 13th.
However, for macOS Monterey 12, Microsoft 365 is no longer supported for current updates.
The August 2024 release, version 16.88, was the final Office build supporting Monterey. An existing installation may continue to work, but it will not receive security updates, fixes, or new features. Current Microsoft 365 and Office 2024 installations require macOS Sonoma 14 or later.
You will need to uninstall it. And install the downgraded version (16.88) here: https://officecdn.microsoft.com/pr/C1297A47-86C4-4C1F-97FA-950631F94777/MacAutoupdate/Microsoft_365_and_Office_16.88.24081116_Installer.pkg
It will work, see the other Monterey user here, whom I gave the same recommendation https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5946689/word-for-mac-not-working-cannot-update-or-reinstal
I realise the lack of support now on my version of office, but that said it does mean that there has been no update to create the deactivation.
is there really no option other than completely uninstalling and starting again? I presume you mean every office app?
Correct, you will have to completely uninstall and reinstall the last version that supports Monterey.
If you use the link I shared with you, it will download the installer for the Office suite.. no need to do it for each app.
Ok that then asks the question of the best way to uninstall and preserve the email identity and all its email information.
normally I would just bin the applications, but that would obviously erase everything.
Yes, you can uninstall the Office apps without deleting your documents or Outlook data, provided you only remove the applications. And yes you can just bin the apps.
Great. If all is good, feel free to mark the answer for this thread, or let me know if you need anything else from me.
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Hello @M J Bird
I understand your Office 365 for Mac (Version 16.x, originally installed in 2023) has suddenly become deactivated, and every attempt to reactivate shows that activation is in progress before ending with error 0x0. I can also see that you've already tried Microsoft's license removal tool without success, and since the same Microsoft 365 subscription is working correctly on your iPhone, it suggests the subscription itself is still active.
This type of behavior can sometimes occur when Office is holding older activation data, cached credentials, or account information that did not refresh correctly. Since your subscription is recognized on another device, the focus should be on the local activation process rather than the Microsoft 365 subscription itself.
To confirm the situation and suggest the troubleshooting steps in the right direction, may I confirm a few points:
For your reference: Update history for Office for Mac - Office release notes | Microsoft Learn
If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment"
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Monterey, personal. Same on all office apps. No recent updates and I've been using it all daily for months.
Good day
Thank you for the update. Knowing that you are running macOS Monterey helps clarify the situation significantly.
This sudden deactivation and the error 0x0 loop usually occur when the background auto-update tool replaces your Office files with a newer build that requires a higher macOS. Even though your Microsoft 365 Personal subscription is active and working on your iPhone, the modern application files on your Mac are experiencing an unexpected behavior during the license handshake on Monterey.
The goal is to try to restore your Office applications to a working state on your current operating system. I recommend performing the following actions in this exact order:
1/ Remove the current Office applications
You need to clear out the current application files that have updated past what your operating system can run.
-> Open Finder (the blue smiley face icon on your dock), and click on Applications in the left-side menu. Drag Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote into the Trash icon at the bottom-right corner of your screen. Note: This will not delete any of your personal documents.
2/ Run the license removal tool again
Running the tool after the applications are removed ensures that the incorrect activation cache is completely cleared.
-> Open the Microsoft License Removal tool you downloaded previously, click "Next", and follow the prompts to clear the stored credentials.
3/ Install the compatible version
You need to place the specific version back onto your Mac that officially supports macOS Monterey so the activation can succeed.
-> Download and run the standalone package directly from this official Microsoft link
Thank you for your help, that's all sorted now :-)
Good day
Thank you for your update.
If you need any further assistance while using Office 365 apps, please feel free to reach out to this forum again.
Have a nice day!