Activate 365 prompt when I have Office for home and student 2021

Question

Activate 365 prompt when I have Office for home and student 2021

s pickford 20

I have Office for Home and Student 2021 - added September 26, 2024. I keep getting prompted to activate Microsoft 365 - and this has deactivtaed my 2021 version - I cant use Word. Please correct this. Screenshot 2026-10-01 at 9.30.06 AM

Estrella721 46,525 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-10-01T00:10:12.88+00:00

Hi,

To determine what may be causing the problem:

What version of macOS are you using (for example, Ventura 13, Monterey 12, Sonoma 14, or Sequoia 15)?
s pickford 20 Reputation points

2026-10-01T00:14:45.4+00:00

Sequoia 15.7.9
s pickford 20 Reputation points

2026-10-01T00:16:18.62+00:00

Sequoia 15.7.9

Answer accepted by question author

Estrella721 46,525 Independent Advisor

Have you already updated your Mac to Sequoia 15.8? If so, use the Office License Removal Tool to remove the existing Office license from your Mac: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/how-to-remove-office-license-files-on-a-mac-b032c0f6-a431-4dad-83a9-6b727c03b193 and run the license removal tool.

Then sign in to your Microsoft account that has Office Home and Student 2021 at https://m365.cloud.microsoft/apps. Click Install apps in the top right, then open Word and sign in with the same account to activate Office.

s pickford 20 Reputation points

2026-10-01T01:49:11.77+00:00

Many thanks Estrella - seems like we got there in the end. Word is back up and running. Thanks again, Steve

1 additional answer

Your answer

Estrella721 46,525 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-10-01T00:10:12.88+00:00

Hi,

To determine what may be causing the problem:

What version of macOS are you using (for example, Ventura 13, Monterey 12, Sonoma 14, or Sequoia 15)?
s pickford 20 Reputation points

2026-10-01T00:14:45.4+00:00

Sequoia 15.7.9
s pickford 20 Reputation points

2026-10-01T00:16:18.62+00:00

Sequoia 15.7.9
s pickford 20 Reputation points

2026-10-01T01:49:11.77+00:00

Many thanks Estrella - seems like we got there in the end. Word is back up and running. Thanks again, Steve

Answer 1

Estrella721 46,525 Independent Advisor

Thanks for the reply. First, update your Mac to Sequoia 15.8. To check for updates, go to Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update, then click Update Now. Apply all available updates.

Then uninstall the current version of Office installed on your computer.

Then reinstall Office using the steps below:

Go to https://account.microsoft.com/services
Sign in using the Microsoft account associated with your license
Locate Microsoft Office and click Install
This will download the Office installer
Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions

Once installed, open any Office app such as Word or Excel, then sign in using the Microsoft account associated with the purchase to activate Office.

s pickford 20 Reputation points

2026-10-01T00:52:53.9066667+00:00

Signed to MS account - could not locate MS Office to download - only a menu as here. Where is it?

My subscription of Office for Home and Student 2011 is showing. Please restore.
s pickford 20 Reputation points

2026-10-01T00:53:32.9266667+00:00

Please see comment and attached images
Estrella721 46,525 Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-10-01T00:57:38.8733333+00:00

Based on your screenshot, there is an "Install" option next to Office Home & Student 2021. Click it to install Office on your computer. See the screenshot below:
s pickford 20 Reputation points

2026-10-01T01:10:56.84+00:00

The link you sent did not work (44 not found). I downloaded and installed MS Office from the link in my subscription and opened a Word doc to find that the problem remains - I'm blocked from editing the doc. Am I supposed to activate? WIll it activiate my Office Home and Student 2011 or somewthing else.
s pickford 20 Reputation points

2026-10-01T01:11:28.34+00:00

Please most recent comment and advise.
s pickford 20 Reputation points

2026-10-01T01:27:52.77+00:00

The link you sent did not work (44 not found). I downloaded and installed MS Office from the link in my subscription and opened a Word doc to find that the problem remains - I'm blocked from editing the doc. Am I supposed to activate? WIll it activiate my Office Home and Student 2021 or somewthing else.
s pickford 20 Reputation points

2026-10-01T01:28:16.7466667+00:00

Please see comment above
s pickford 20 Reputation points

2026-10-01T01:35:18.72+00:00

I downloaded and installed MS Office from the link in my subscription and opened a Word doc to find that the problem remains - I'm blocked from editing the doc. Am I supposed to activate? WIll it activiate my Office Home and Student 2021 or something else. Please advise?