How to fix error code 2602

Question

I just migrated all my files from my old Macbook to my new one. everything is there except for I can't open any excel, word doc etc files. my Microsoft365 subscription is current and it work on my old macbook but I keep getting error code 2602 every time I try to activate/sign in on my new macbook

Answer 1

Hi @Emanuela

Error 2602 typically happens because of a network timeout or a conflict with migrated license tokens/Keychain entries from your old MacBook. Before walking you through the exact fix, could you help clarify a few quick details?

WPS Office

1. Were the Microsoft 365 apps transferred directly via Migration Assistant from your old Mac,downloaded from the Mac App Store, or installed via the .pkg installer from office.com?
2. Which specific Microsoft 365 plan are you using (e.g., Microsoft 365 Personal/Family or a Work/School account managed by an organization)?
3. Which version of macOS is currently running on your new MacBook (you can check via Apple menu > About this Mac?
4. Had you signed in with any other Microsoft account (such as a previous school/work email or an older personal account) on this new MacBook before attempting to activate your current subscription?

Once you share those details, I can give you the most direct steps to clear the conflict and get your apps activated!

Answer 2

For a new Mac after migration, the most likely causes are old Office licensing data from the previous Mac, signing in with the wrong Microsoft account, or broken recent-file links from the migration.

Try this in order:

1. Verify the Microsoft account actually has the license.
   • Sign in at https://account.microsoft.com/services.
   • Select Install Microsoft 365 or Office.
   • If the license appears there, use that same account to sign in inside Word or Excel.
   • If no Office license appears, search email accounts for the Microsoft purchase confirmation to identify the correct account.
2. Reinstall from the subscription account page.
   • From the same services page, download Office again and install it.
   • This ensures the installer matches the licensed account.
3. If activation still fails, remove old Office licensing files and run setup again.
   • In Finder, select Go > Computer and open the hard drive.
   • Open Library > LaunchDaemons and move com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper.plist to Trash.
   • Go back to Library > PrivilegedHelperTools and move com.microsoft.office.licensing.helper to Trash.
   • Go back to Library > Preferences and move com.microsoft.office.licensing.plist to Trash.
   • Go to Library > Preferences > ByHost.
   • Arrange by name and move files beginning with com.microsoft to Trash.
   • Run the Office setup wizard again.
   • Warning: deleting licensing and preference files resets Office activation data on this Mac.
4. If Office keeps asking to sign in or shows authentication-related prompts, reset keychain permissions.
   • Repeated sign-in prompts and authentication-expired behavior on Mac are associated with keychain permission issues.
5. If the files were opened from Recent, open them from Finder instead.
   • After migration, recent-file shortcuts can still point to the old Mac paths.
   • In Word or Excel, use File > Open, or locate the files in Finder and open them directly.
6. If this is a work or school subscription, contact the organization’s tech support.
   • The license may not be assigned yet by the administrator.

If the Mac previously had a work version of Office, a full uninstall and reinstall can also help when old license remnants remain.

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