Can't update or reactivate office

Question

Can't update or reactivate office

jess jamison 20

Suddenly I am no longer able to use Word, Excel, ect. The notification bars say i need to activate my subscription (I double checked its active) and install the latest update. Whenever I run the update I get an error message for all the apps. Error x.o.x- I tried the steps in trouble shooting guide but the steps don't match to what I see on my Mac.

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Answer 1

Ian-T 13,280 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hi @jess jamison

If the error is 0x0, this is a known Office for Mac licensing issue that Microsoft marked as resolved through an Office update.

Please try these Mac-specific steps:

Check that the Mac is running macOS 12 or later.
Close all Office apps.
Open Finder > Applications > Microsoft AutoUpdate. If it is not listed, open: /Library/Application`` ``Support/Microsoft/MAU2.0/
Select Update All, then restart the Mac and open Word again.
If Office was installed from the Mac App Store, update Word, Excel, and the other apps through App Store > Updates instead.

If activation still fails after updating, sign out of Office and sign back in using the exact Microsoft account connected to the active subscription. If necessary, run Microsoft’s Office license removal tool for Mac, restart the Mac, and activate Office again.

If the error is not 0x0, please share the complete error code, Office version and your macOS version, since the solution may be different.

Hope to hear from you soon

jess jamison 20 Reputation points

2026-09-29T15:49:14.6066667+00:00

I have tried this, but the update will not work. It says "some apps have encountered errors."
Ian-T 13,280 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-09-29T23:56:41.3933333+00:00

Hi Jess,

Thanks for trying that. Since Microsoft AutoUpdate now reports “Some apps have encountered errors,” the updater itself may be damaged. Close all Office apps, reinstall the latest Microsoft AutoUpdate package, restart your Mac, and try again.

If the error remains, please share your macOS version, Word version, and whether Office was installed from the Mac App Store or Microsoft’s website, as the correct update method depends on where the apps came from.
jess jamison 20 Reputation points

2026-09-30T00:50:14.1866667+00:00

Hi again, I tried all of these steps, and the update still won't install.
MacOS version: 27.0 (26A428) Golden Gate
Word version: 16.77.1
Office was installed via Microsofts website
Ian-T 13,280 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-09-30T02:49:54.75+00:00

Thanks, that information helps narrow it down. Word 16.77.1 is below the minimum required version 16.83, so the activation problem will remain until a newer Office build is installed

Could you please open Word and select Word > About Microsoft Word, then tell us the product name shown there, such as Microsoft 365 Subscription, Office 2021, or Office 2019?
jess jamison 20 Reputation points

2026-09-30T13:10:40.4833333+00:00

This is what I see. I do pay for Microsoft 365 family.
Ian-T 13,280 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-10-01T00:47:51.15+00:00

Hi Jess, I will remove some personal information to protect your privacy

Thanks for the screenshot. It confirms that Word can see your Microsoft account, but the installation is Not Activated.

Please verify that Microsoft 365 Family appears as active under the same account on the Services & subscriptions page. Then, because AutoUpdate is failing, uninstall the existing Office apps and reinstall Microsoft 365 directly from that page. Open Word afterward and sign in using the same subscribed account.
jess jamison 20 Reputation points

2026-10-01T01:39:48.1133333+00:00

This worked! Thank you so much!
Ian-T 13,280 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-10-01T02:09:34.61+00:00

Thank you for the update @jess jamison . I'm glad that the issue has been resolved.

If you find my answer helpful, please feel free to click "Yes" on my answer so that other users who are facing the same issue can have a path to follow.

Once again thank you for your time and I hope you have a lovely day