Cannot activate microsoft 365

Question

I renewed my Microsoft 365 acct last month but have not been able to activate it. I get an "unknown error code 0x0" and says to try again later. I tried running the troubleshooting from the website but when I hit the "start" button nothing happens. I've updated software, restarted apps and computer, not sure what else to try! (MacOS)

Answer 1

Hi, @Morgan Lindsay

You're not alone. This "Unknown Error 0x0" is a known Microsoft 365 activation issue on macOS.

To help narrow this down:

1. Did you install Microsoft 365 directly from Microsoft, or from the Mac App Store?
2. What macOS version are you currently running?
3. When you said you updated the software, did you also update the Office apps through Microsoft AutoUpdate?

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If Office was installed from Microsoft, close all Office apps, then open:

• Finder > Applications > Microsoft AutoUpdate.

If you do not see it there, check:

• /Library/Application Support/Microsoft/MAU2.0/
• Install all available Office updates, then reopen Word or another Office app and try signing in again. Microsoft also requires macOS 12 or later for this fix.

Microsoft's reference for this issue: Unknown Error 0x0 or License not found error on macOS

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Click "Add comment" to let me know.

Thanks!

Answer 2

For error 0x0 on macOS, the supported fix is to update Office to the latest build first, then retry activation.

1. Confirm macOS version
   • Make sure the Mac is running macOS 12 or later.
2. Close all Office apps
   • Quit Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and OneNote.
3. Update Office
   • Open Finder > Applications > Microsoft AutoUpdate.
   • If Microsoft AutoUpdate is not visible there, check: /Library/Application Support/Microsoft/MAU2.0/
   • Install all available updates with Update All.
   • After updates finish, open an Office app and test activation again.
4. Verify the subscription is on the same Microsoft account used in Office
   • Sign in at https://account.microsoft.com/services
   • Select Install Microsoft 365 or Office.
   • If a Microsoft 365 or Office license is listed there, that is the account that must be used to sign in inside Office.
   • If Office is signed in with a different account, sign out and sign back in with the licensed account. If needed, choose Sign in with another account.
5. Reset Office credentials on the Mac
   • Open Spotlight.
   • Search for and open Keychain.
   • Search for Office.
   • Delete the data license file.
   • Then try activation again.
6. If Office was installed from the wrong source, reinstall from the matching source
   • If the apps were installed from the App Store, update or reinstall them from the App Store.
   • If the subscription was purchased directly from Microsoft, download/install from the Microsoft 365 install page instead.
7. If the Mac has multiple old Office licenses, remove the old license files and reactivate
   • This is recommended when Office may be using the wrong license or keeps looping on activation.
   • Use the Microsoft license removal guidance, then sign in again with the licensed account.

About the troubleshooter not starting: the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant in the provided guidance runs on Windows PCs and must be run on the same Windows PC with the Office installation, so it does not apply to this Mac scenario.

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• Unknown Error 0x0 or License not found error in Microsoft 365 or Office running on macOS
• What to try if you can't install or activate Office for Mac
• What to try if you can't install or activate Office for Mac
• What to try if you can't install or activate Office for Mac
• Office error "Account Notice: We've run into a problem with your Microsoft 365 subscription"