Mac Office 2021 suddenly decided I need to activate it, and I get unknown error 0x0.

Question

The problem:

Today, Office 2021 decided that it was no longer activated. Attempting to activate it produces "An unknown error has occurred. The error code is: 0x0"

Details:

I've been using Mac Office 2021 version 16.66.1 for years on my Early 2013 MacBook Pro with macOS 10.15.8 (Catalina). This is the most recent OS that this Macintosh can run.

I've read <https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/support/known-issues/unknown-error-0x0-license-not-found-error-microsoft365-macos>. That links says to "Ensure that you are running at least macOS version 12 or higher." I can't do this because my Early 2013 MacBook Pro can't run anything newer than 10.15.8. Microsoft AutoUpdate gets an Update Error.

How do I resolve this without buying another computer?

Answer 1

Hello

If your mac device cannot upgrade to 12 or above, unfortunately i have no good news for you.

For macOS 12 and under, it will now enter reduced functionality mode. In other words, the OS is too old to receive the licensing update the Office now requires. Sorry.

This is due to a recent change on July 13th and Microsoft explains it here: https://support.microsoft.com/office/update-microsoft-365-or-office-on-your-macos-or-ios-device-f418ae5d-bb5f-4078-b3d9-9340f5dd084e

In a nutshell, Office products need a newer version of digital certificate on mac devices to stay activated, However, macOS 12 and under are no longer supported by Apple so their digital certificate won't receive the update, hence Office cannot stay activated.

Your options are:

1. Use the web version or alternative like LibreOfice.
2. Use it on a different device that can support it.

Sorry..

Answer 2

I have this same problem. I specifically bought a "Lifetime" license so that I could use office as long as i could continue to use the computer? Saying "there is no solution without buying a new computer and a new license from us" is not an acceptable response to "I have been using your software legally for years with no issues, and suddenly there's a problem with absolutely no change on my end." Please provide and actual solution.