Cannot edit office documents

Sign in to Office with the same Microsoft account that owns the active Microsoft 365 subscription, because an unlicensed Office installation disables editing even when documents can still be opened.^1^

Reactivate the subscription

1. Close every Office application.
2. Open the Microsoft account Services & subscriptions page and sign in with the account used to purchase Microsoft 365.
3. Confirm that Microsoft 365 itself appears under Subscriptions and is active. A payment for another Microsoft service does not establish that this account has an Office desktop-app licence.
4. Open Word or Excel and select File → Account.
5. Sign out of any account that does not own the subscription, restart the application, and sign in with the correct account.
6. Check that Product Activated appears under Product Information and test a new blank document.

If the subscription is missing, try any other personal email address that might have been used for the purchase. Microsoft states that Office cannot find a product when the wrong account is used.^1^

If Office remains unlicensed on Windows

1. Open Control Panel → Programs → Programs and Features.
2. Search for Office.
3. If multiple Office installations are listed, uninstall versions you no longer use and restart Windows. Multiple installations can conflict with activation.^1^
4. On the affected Windows 10 or later PC, run the Microsoft 365 activation troubleshooter from the same support page. When prompted, select Open Get Help and complete the prompts.
5. Update Office from Word → File → Account → Update Options → Update Now.
6. If activation still fails:
   • Close Office.
   • Open Start and search for Word.
   • Right-click Word → Run as administrator → Yes.
   • Also check Settings → Time & language → Date & time and enable automatic time and time-zone settings. Incorrect system time or permission issues can prevent activation.^1^

If the troubleshooter reports the subscription problem but cannot repair it, deactivate the installation, completely uninstall Office, and then reinstall it from the account that owns the subscription.^2^

If this is a Mac

1. Open Word and sign out, quit all Office applications, reopen Word, and sign in with the subscription account.
2. Select Help → Check for Updates and install available updates.
3. If Office is using an old or incorrect licence, use Microsoft’s Office licence removal tool. Before running it, verify that the subscription account credentials are available—the tool removes all Office licences from the Mac.
4. After removal, open an Office application, sign in with the subscription account, select the Microsoft 365 licence if prompted, and restart the Mac.^3^

If Office reports an unsupported operating system or unmet system requirements, update macOS to a currently supported release if the Mac permits it. Otherwise, desktop editing may remain unavailable; use Office for the web while considering an operating-system or device upgrade.^4^

If only one document is affected

If new documents are editable and Office says Product Activated, this is probably file-specific rather than subscription activation. Check whether that file:

• Is marked Read-only
• Opened in Protected View
• Is stored in a location where the signed-in account has only viewing permission
• Is in OneDrive when its storage is full^5^

For immediate access, Office for the web can edit supported documents in a browser while desktop activation is being resolved. Reduced-functionality desktop Office can open and print documents but cannot edit them or create new ones.[^6^](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID] "A subscription notice appears when I open a Microsoft 365 application | Microsoft Support")

If the subscription is confirmed active but Office still reports Unlicensed Product, contact Microsoft Support for an account and activation review. Provide the operating system, exact Office message, and whether all documents or only one document is affected.

References

1. Unlicensed Product and activation errors in Office | Microsoft Support
2. Office error "Account Notice: We've run into a problem with your Microsoft 365 subscription" | Microsoft Support
3. How to remove Office license files on a Mac | Microsoft Support
4. [Activation](https://support.microsoft.com/microsoft-365-activation-licensing/what-to-try-if-you-can-t-install-or-activate-office-for-mac)
5. Desktop and online Excel files are Read Only - Microsoft Q&A
6. [A subscription notice appears when I open a Microsoft 365 application | Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID])