I cannot activate my subscription

Question

I cannot edit my documents in Word on my Apple notebook. It request to activate my subscription and when I try to do it there is always a mistake 0x0.

Answer 1

Hello

Microsoft has confirmed that “Unknown Error 0x0” was a known Microsoft 365 for Mac activation issue and it has now been resolved.

First, make sure your Mac is running macOS 12 or later. Close all Office apps, then open Microsoft AutoUpdate from Finder > Applications > Microsoft AutoUpdate and install all available Office updates. Restart Word and sign in again with the Microsoft account linked to your subscription.

Microsoft’s official instructions: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/support/known-issues/unknown-error-0x0-license-not-found-error-microsoft365-macos

Also confirm that your subscription shows as active here: https://account.microsoft.com/services

If error 0x0 still appears, use Microsoft’s Office License Removal Tool, then reopen Word and sign in again. This resets the local Office activation information and does not delete your documents. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-activation-licensing/how-to-remove-office-license-files-on-a-mac

If it still fails, please tell me your macOS version and whether Office was installed from the Mac App Store or directly from Microsoft, and I can provide the next exact step.

Answer 2

On Mac, error 0x0 with Word stuck in subscription/activation mode is usually an Office activation issue. Use this order:

1. Make sure the Mac is online Open a browser and confirm a Microsoft page loads.
2. Confirm the correct account has the license Sign out of Office, then sign in again with the Microsoft account that owns the Microsoft 365 subscription. If needed, choose Sign in with another account.
3. Verify the subscription is on that account Go to https://account.microsoft.com/services. If a Microsoft 365 or Office license appears there, that is the account to use for activation.
4. Reset Office credentials in Keychain
   • Open Spotlight
   • Search for and open Keychain
   • Search for Office
   • Delete the data license file
5. Run the Microsoft 365 Activation troubleshooter Use the Microsoft 365 Activation troubleshooter: https://aka.ms/SaRA-OfficeActivation-sarahome
6. Check where Office was downloaded from If the apps were downloaded from the Mac App Store, they require a Microsoft 365 subscription for editing. A one-time Office license is not compatible with Office apps downloaded from the Mac App Store. One-time licenses only work with Office apps downloaded directly from Microsoft.
7. If the issue continues Check the current known issues/workarounds page for recent activation problems, then contact Microsoft Support.

If the symptom is specifically “No license found” or Outlook also cannot activate, signing out and back in with the licensed account is the first fix to try.

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References:

• What to try if you can't install or activate Office for Mac
• Activate Office for Mac
• Microsoft Office activation and the Mac App Store