Locked out of word / excel / powerpoint

Question

I cannot activate Microsoft 365 and so cannot access usual functionality in word / excel / powerpoint. I get an error message telling me to try again later when I attempt to activate

Answer 1

Hi, Lucy W

This usually happens when Office cannot verify the Microsoft 365 license, often because the wrong account is signed in, the subscription is inactive, or the local activation information is stuck. Until activation succeeds, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint will remain in reduced-functionality mode

Here are some suggestions you can try:

Close all Office apps, then sign in to Services & subscriptions using the email address used to purchase Microsoft 365. Confirm that the subscription is active and listed under that account.

Open Word, select File > Account, sign out of every account shown, restart Word, and sign in only with the account that owns the subscription.

Check Control Panel > Programs and Features for multiple Office installations. If more than one version is installed, remove the version you do not use and restart the computer.

Run the Microsoft 365 activation troubleshooter on the affected Windows PC, follow the prompts, and restart afterward.

If activation still fails, please post the exact error code and confirm whether this is Windows or Mac.

Thank you for your patience in reading, I hope this information has been helpful to you. 

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