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Microsoft 365 Apps activation error: "You currently have not been assigned an office license that includes the Office desktop apps"

  • Applies to: Microsoft 365

When you activate Microsoft 365 Apps, you receive the following error message:

You currently have not been assigned an office license that includes the Office desktop apps.

To solve the problem, try the following troubleshooting methods.

Note

Some of these troubleshooting methods can be performed only by a Microsoft 365 admin. If you aren't an admin, see How do I find my Microsoft 365 admin?

Make sure that you have the correct version of Office installed

  1. Check which Microsoft 365 business product or license you have.

    If you're signed in by using your Work or School account, and you don't have a license assigned, contact your Microsoft 365 administrator to get a license assigned.

    If you have Microsoft 365 for Business Basic, you don't have any Office applications to install. You can use Microsoft 365 Online apps instead.

  2. Make sure that the bit version of Office (32-bit or 64-bit) matches your version of Windows.

If you have a different edition or version installed on your device, run the Microsoft 365 Uninstall troubleshooter to uninstall Office. Then, restart the device, and install the correct version.

Sign out of Microsoft 365 and sign back in
  1. Open a Microsoft 365 app, such as Word.
  2. Select your name and profile picture or icon at the top.
  3. Select Sign out.
  4. Select Sign in.
  5. Make sure that you're signed in with your Work or School account, not your personal Microsoft account.
  6. Try to activate Microsoft 365 again.
Make sure that user licenses are assigned

  1. In the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, go to the Users > Active users page.

  2. Select the user that you want to assign a license to.

  3. In the right pane, select Licenses and apps.

  4. Expand the Licenses section, select the checkboxes for the licenses that you want to assign, and then select Save changes.

    If a license is already assigned, clear the checkbox, select Save changes, reselect the checkbox for that license, and then select Save changes again.

Check sublicenses
  1. In the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, go to the Users > Active users page.
  2. Select the affected user.
  3. In the right pane, select Licenses and apps.
  4. Expand the Licenses section, make sure that necessary sublicenses are checked. For example, if Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise is checked, make sure the Office 365 sublicense is checked.
Try InPrivate or Incognito mode
  1. Open a browser in InPrivate mode (Microsoft Edge) or Incognito mode (Google Chrome).
  2. Install Microsoft 365 Apps and try to activate.

References