Update License

Verify that the paid subscription is active and assigned to the same work account shown in Access, then restart the Microsoft 365 apps instead of repeatedly selecting Update License.

1. Verify the subscription and assignment

A paid business subscription does not automatically mean that its license is assigned to your user account.

An administrator should sign in to the Microsoft 365 admin center, then:

1. Open Billing > Your products.
2. Confirm that the purchased subscription appears and its status is active. This page also shows the total and assigned license counts. Viewing it requires a Global or Billing Administrator role.^1^
3. Open Users > Active users.
4. Select the affected user.
5. Select Licenses and apps.
6. Expand Licenses, select the purchased Microsoft 365 license, and choose Save changes. This requires at least the License Administrator or User Administrator role.^2^
7. If assignment fails, open Billing > Licenses, select the product, and inspect Errors & Issues. It identifies conditions such as no available licenses, conflicting plans, or an invalid usage location. After correcting the displayed issue, select the affected user and Reprocess.^2^

2. Match the account used by Access

The Couldn't update license error—particularly Error Code 44—is commonly produced when the app is signed in with an account other than the one holding the license.^3^

1. Open Access or another Microsoft 365 application.
2. Check the account displayed at the upper-right of the window.
3. Ensure it is the exact work account assigned the license above, rather than a personal Microsoft account or another work account.
4. Close all Microsoft 365 applications and reopen Access. Restarting allows every app to use the current license.
5. In Access, open File > Account and check Product Information for the licensed product.

New purchases and entitlements can take up to 72 hours to refresh automatically. The presence of the Update License button itself does not mean the existing license has expired.^3^

3. If the assignment is correct but Access remains unlicensed

On the affected Windows PC, run the Microsoft 365 activation troubleshooter:

1. Open Microsoft’s activation-error article below.
2. Start the Microsoft 365 activation troubleshooter.
3. When prompted that the site wants to open Get Help, select Open.
4. Complete the prompts on the same computer where Access is installed.

The troubleshooter requires Windows 10 or later.^4^

4. Open an online support request instead of calling again

Since telephone support has not connected successfully, a Microsoft 365 business administrator can request a callback or email response online:

1. Sign in to the Microsoft 365 admin center.
2. Select Help & support at the bottom-right.
3. Describe the issue, including the exact error message/code, subscription name, and affected user.
4. If the suggested results do not resolve it, select the Contact Support headset icon.
5. Choose phone or email, confirm the contact details, and select Contact me.

This route requires a business administrator and at least one subscription purchased directly from Microsoft. If every subscription was purchased through a partner, contact that partner instead.^5^

References

1. What Microsoft business subscriptions do I have?
2. Assign or unassign licenses for users in the Microsoft 365 admin center
3. Update License button in Microsoft 365 apps | Microsoft Support
4. Unlicensed Product and activation errors in Office | Microsoft Support
5. Get support for Microsoft 365 for business