Microsoft365/Mac iOS

Question

Using MAC/ios, Office products don't appear to recognize that I am signed in and an active Microsoft 365 account. Excel and Word Save and Save As options are greyed out and all files say "Subscription required to Edit and Save..."

Answer 1

The issue may be related to your Office installation, or macOS version: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/lifecycle/officeinstall/update-m365-office-macos-ios

What version of macOS are you using (for example, Ventura 13, Monterey 12, Sonoma 14, or Sequoia 15)?

Answer 2

This usually means Office is in reduced functionality mode. On Mac and iOS, that can happen for two common reasons in this scenario:

1. The apps are not updated to a supported version.
2. The installed app type does not match the license type.

Recommended checks and fixes:

1. Check which Office license type the app shows
   • Open Word.
   • Select Word > About Word.
   • If it shows Microsoft 365, the app is using a subscription build.
   • If it shows Office 2021 or Office 2019, it is a perpetual-license build.
2. Update macOS/iOS first, then update Office
   • Starting July 13, 2026, Office on older macOS/iOS versions can open and print files but cannot edit, save, or create new files.
   • Minimum versions listed are:
     • Mac: macOS 12 or later, Office version 16.83 or later
     • iPhone/iPad: iOS 17.0 or later, app version 2.93 or later
   • After updating, full functionality is restored.
3. If editing is still blocked after updating, fully quit and sign in again
   • Quit the app completely with Command + Q.
   • Reopen the app.
   • Go to the app’s Account settings.
   • Sign out, then sign back in with the Microsoft account that has the Microsoft 365 subscription.
4. Verify the subscription is active on the correct account
   • For Microsoft 365 Family or Personal, check Services & subscriptions on the Microsoft account dashboard and confirm the subscription appears there.
   • If the app is signed in with a different Microsoft account, Office may not unlock editing features.
5. If Office was installed from the Mac App Store, confirm the license type is compatible
   • Mac App Store versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook require a Microsoft 365 subscription to create and edit.
   • One-time Office licenses such as Office 2019 or volume licenses are not compatible with Office apps downloaded from the Mac App Store.
   • In that mismatch case, the app shows Action Required: We've detected a one-time purchase license and stays in reduced functionality mode.
   • If there is a one-time license, uninstall the Mac App Store apps and install Office directly from Microsoft instead.
6. If AutoSave is the only issue
   • AutoSave on macOS works only when the file is saved to OneDrive, OneDrive for Business, or SharePoint Online.
   • If the file is stored locally, on a file server, or on SharePoint on-premises, AutoSave is disabled.
   • This does not explain Save and Save As being greyed out, but it can explain missing AutoSave.

If the symptom is specifically Save and Save As greyed out in both Word and Excel, the most direct path is:

• confirm the subscription is active on the same Microsoft account used in the apps,
• update the OS and Office apps,
• fully quit the apps and sign out/sign back in,
• then confirm the install source matches the license type.

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References:

• Update Microsoft 365 or Office on your macOS or iOS device | Microsoft Support
• Microsoft Office activation and the Mac App Store | Microsoft Support
• Microsoft 365 subscription features aren't available in Office apps | Microsoft Support
• [macOS
• Certificate update for Microsoft 365 apps on managed macOS and iOS devices