Subscription has expired

Check which Office edition is actually installed, then reactivate the perpetual edition with the Microsoft account originally used to purchase or redeem it; do not buy or renew Microsoft 365 unless the installed product is genuinely a subscription.

1. Identify the installed product

1. Open Word or Excel.
2. Select File → Account.
3. Under Product Information, note whether it shows:
   • Office 2016, 2019, 2021, 2024, or another one-time-purchase edition;
   • Microsoft 365; or
   • Unlicensed Product.

An “expired subscription” message can appear when the computer is running a Microsoft 365 installation or has an activation conflict, even though a perpetual Office edition was previously purchased. A closely matching Office 2019 case was resolved by reactivating the perpetual installation through its associated account.^1^

2. Restore the perpetual license

1. Close every Office application.
2. Open Word again and go to File → Account.
3. If another account is displayed, sign out.
4. Sign in with the Microsoft account used when Office was originally purchased or when its product key was redeemed.
5. Check the account’s Services & subscriptions page. The purchased Office product should be listed there; if it is absent, try any other personal email address that might have been used for the purchase.^2^
6. If the perpetual product appears, use its Install option if Office must be reinstalled.

A product key already redeemed to an account normally needs the associated account for subsequent activation; entering an unrelated key or account will not restore that license.

3. Remove a conflicting Microsoft 365 installation on Windows

If File → Account reports Microsoft 365 instead of the purchased edition, or Windows contains multiple Office installations:

1. Open Control Panel → Programs → Programs and Features.
2. Search for Office.
3. If multiple versions appear, uninstall only the unwanted Microsoft 365 trial or subscription copy.
4. Restart the computer.
5. Open the retained perpetual Office edition and sign in with its purchase account.

Microsoft documents that multiple Office installations can cause activation conflicts.^2^

4. Repair the remaining installation

If the correct perpetual edition is installed and associated with the correct account but remains unlicensed:

1. Open Settings → Apps → Installed apps.
2. Find the Office product and select Modify.
3. Run Online Repair.
4. Restart Office and activate it again with the purchase account.

If the product does not appear in the account at all, Microsoft Support will need to check the purchase and activation record. Have the product name, original receipt or product-key packaging, and the likely purchase account available. Do not post the key publicly.

References

1. Office 2019 begun demanding purchase of Office 365 - Microsoft Q&A
2. Unlicensed Product and activation errors in Office | Microsoft Support