How to fix error code 2602

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.

• Activation
• Troubleshoot activation errors for Office for Mac 2011 | Microsoft Support
• Microsoft is unable to recognize login associated with newly purchased and installed MS 365 on Mac so can't activate it - Microsoft Q&A
• Word and Excel will not open after transfer? - Microsoft Q&A