This copy of Microsoft Office is not activated

Sign in to Office with the Microsoft account that owns the license, then verify that the Office purchase or active Microsoft 365 subscription appears under that account.

1. Verify the account and license

1. Open Word → File → Account.
2. Sign out of any account that does not own Office.
3. Sign in using the account originally used to purchase, redeem, or receive Office.
   • For an employer or school license, use the assigned work or school account.
4. Open Services & subscriptions and sign in with the same account.
5. Confirm that Microsoft 365 or the purchased Office edition is listed:
   • If the subscription has expired, renew it.
   • If Office is absent, try any other account that may have been used for the purchase.
   • If a product key has not yet been redeemed, redeem it using the instructions supplied with the purchase.

Using an account that has no associated Office product prevents activation. Microsoft’s recommended order is to verify the account first, then check for conflicting installations and subscription status.^1^

2. Remove conflicting Office installations on Windows

Multiple installed Office editions can conflict with activation:

1. Search for and open Control Panel.
2. Select Programs → Programs and Features.
3. Search the installed-program list for Office.
4. If multiple editions are present, uninstall editions you no longer use.
5. Restart Windows.
6. Open Word and sign in again with the licensed account.

Do not remove the edition associated with your valid license.

3. Run the activation troubleshooter

For Microsoft 365 on Windows 10 or later, open the Get Help app, search for Microsoft 365 activation troubleshooter, and follow the prompts. Run it on the same PC where Office is installed.^1^

For Office 2024, 2021, 2019, or 2016, use the version-specific activation section in the same Microsoft Support article.

4. If activation still fails

On Windows, apply these checks in order:

1. Close Office, open Settings → Time & language → Date & time, and enable automatic date, time, and time-zone settings.
2. Search for Word, right-click it, select Run as administrator, and then use File → Account → Activate Product if displayed.
3. In Word, select File → Account → Update Options → Update Now.
4. Check whether a firewall, proxy, or antivirus product is blocking Office’s connection.
5. If installation files may be damaged, open Settings → Apps → Installed apps → Microsoft 365/Office → Modify → Online Repair → Repair, restart Windows, and try activation again.

If it remains unlicensed, record the exact Office edition shown under File → Account, the account/license status, and any activation error code before contacting Microsoft Support or the organization that supplied the license.

If the product is Office LTSC Professional Plus obtained for personal use from a third-party key seller, contact that seller. LTSC Professional Plus is distributed through organizational volume licensing, and a resold volume-license key may later stop activating.^2^

References

1. Unlicensed Product and activation errors in Office | Microsoft Support
2. Activated Microsoft Office 2024 suddenly says it is not activated - Microsoft Q&A