Processes in Microsoft 365 for setting up Office apps, redeeming product keys, and activating licenses.
If Office Home & Student suddenly opens in view only, the most common causes are a licensing sign-in problem or a damaged Office installation.
Try these steps in order:
- Check the signed-in account in Office
- Open Word or Excel.
- Go to File > Account.
- If a work, school, or different Microsoft account is signed in, sign out of all accounts.
- Restart the app, then sign in with the same Microsoft account that was used to activate Office Home & Student.
- Check Product Information
- In File > Account, look at Product Information.
- If it shows Microsoft 365 instead of Office Home & Student, the wrong license may be attached.
- Update Office
- Open any Office app.
- Go to File > Account.
- Under Product Information, select Update Options > Update Now.
- If Update Now is not visible, select Enable Updates first.
- Repair Office
- In Windows, open Control Panel.
- Under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
- Select the Office product, then choose Change.
- Select Online Repair, then Repair.
- Restart the PC after the repair completes.
- Note: Online Repair can reset Office settings and requires an internet connection.
- If a document itself is read-only
- Open the file and go to File > Info > Protect document.
- If Always Open Read-Only is enabled, clear it.
- Also check the mode in the upper-right corner and switch from Viewing or Reviewing to Editing.
- If Office came preinstalled on the PC
- Confirm that the Office Home & Student license is still associated with the Microsoft account originally used for activation.
- If the license is missing from that account, contact the PC manufacturer before buying another license.
If this started right after an update, there is also a known fixed issue where Office 2019 could incorrectly show a subscription-related EULA message on devices that came with preinstalled Microsoft 365. That issue was corrected in Office Build 16.0.11929.20394.
- I get a "stopped working" error when I start Office applications on my PC
- Error 30088-26 when updating Office
- Enable editing in your document
- My microsoft office home & student not working - Microsoft Q&A
- Why am I unable to edit/save word documents and am being told I need a subscription, even though I own a license? - Microsoft Q&A
- EULA dialog error: Microsoft Office Home and Student 2019 apps are included with your subscription | Microsoft Support