How to end the microsoft endless loop

Hello Kai, Thank you for the explenation, I would like to explain to you why it does not help me out. The installation of the personal office software is the first step I took. After that I use my activation code to get it enabled again. this brings up the process where I should log in to my personal account, which I can no longer do. To log in I can request a password reset, this is the process that is in a loop:

• I have a old phone where I can use the authenticator app to confirm the first 2FA step
• Then I need to use the code of the e-mail to finalize the 2FA process
• That e-mail is not send to me due to account lock
• I can unlock the acocunt using a password reset
• I pass the first MFA step on the old phone
• For the 2nd MFA step I need an e-mail which is not send
• In order to get the e-mail restarted I need to reset a password
• and so on... Being that I have no credit card, and the microsoft software is used for decades (I think that the original hardware where the product was activated is scrapped.) I use two versions of office, hoever on both machines the local logon is overruled by my office cloud account, so I think I am not logged on anywhere. Being that I have insufficient info to start an automated recovery process I am fully stuck. Whith this additional info, is there any option to have the 2FA proces run it's course, or have some other means to release the lock (as I can confirm myself from the old phone and my e-mail account? Kind regards, Jeroen

Hi, Evers, Jeroen

This loop usually happens because the personal Office license is tied to a personal Microsoft account, while the computer is now attempting to use a work account. Reinstalling Office will not bypass the personal account verification.

Here are some suggestions you can try:

Open the Microsoft Sign-in Helper in a private browser window. Enter the personal email address originally used to purchase or activate Office, not the work address.

If another verification method appears, select Use a different verification option and try your recovery phone, email, saved recovery code, or another device where you may still be signed in.

If two-step verification is enabled and none of those methods are accessible, the recovery form and support agents cannot bypass it or manually reset the account. This restriction protects the account from unauthorized access.

If Authenticator backup was previously enabled, select Restore from backup or Begin recovery before signing in. The backup must be restored on the same device type, Android to Android or iPhone to iPhone.

After recovering the personal account, sign in at Microsoft account Services & subscriptions and install Office from there. Office must be installed using the account to which the product was originally linked.

The employer’s IT administrator can reset authentication only for the work account, not the separate personal Microsoft account.

Thank you for your patience in reading, I hope this information has been helpful to you. 

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