Microsoft Word is disabled

Check the macOS and Word build first, because the correct recovery is either updating an unsupported installation or rolling back the specific Office 16.114.1 regression—not purchasing Microsoft 365.

1. Record the installed versions

1. Select Apple menu → About This Mac and note the macOS version.
2. Open Word and select Word → About Microsoft Word.
3. Note:
   • The Word version/build.
   • Whether the product is shown as Office 2021 or Microsoft 365.
   • The account beside Belongs to, if displayed.

Microsoft documents this exact open-but-cannot-edit/save/create state as reduced functionality mode, including for non-subscription Office 2021 on macOS.^1^

2. Apply the branch matching those versions

If you have macOS Sequoia 15.8.1 and Word 16.114.1

A matching Office 2021 case reports that reinstalling and removing license files did not help. Its accepted resolution was to uninstall Office, install Microsoft’s slightly older 16.114.26101123 package, and temporarily disable automatic updating.^2^

1. Close all Office applications.
2. Uninstall the current Office applications.
3. Install Microsoft’s Office 16.114 package: Microsoft 365 and Office 16.114.26101123 BusinessPro Installer
4. Open Word and activate it with the Microsoft account associated with Office 2021.
5. Select Help → Check for Updates.
6. In Microsoft AutoUpdate, clear Automatically keep Microsoft apps up to date, then select Turn Off temporarily.

Only use this rollback for that matching macOS and Office build. It is a workaround from a matching Q&A case, not the general fix for every read-only installation.

If macOS or Office is behind the supported versions

1. Select Apple menu → System Settings → General → Software Update and install the available supported macOS update.
2. Quit all Office applications.
3. Open Finder → Applications → Microsoft AutoUpdate.
4. Select Update All.
5. Reopen Word and test creating and saving a document.

Microsoft’s documented order is to update macOS first and then Office.^1^ Office builds 16.78 and later require at least macOS Monterey; newer Office releases may have additional current support requirements.^3^

If the Mac cannot run a supported macOS version, the current Office build cannot be restored merely by purchasing another license; a supported Mac or compatible Office installation is required.

3. If the versions are supported but Office 2021 is not activated

Try refreshing the existing license:

1. In Word, select Word → About Microsoft Word.
2. Select More Info → Refresh License.
3. Sign in with the Microsoft account used to redeem or purchase Office 2021.
4. Restart Word and verify that About Microsoft Word shows Office 2021.

This has resolved the same “Activate Microsoft 365 to Create and Edit” symptom for Office Home & Business 2021 for Mac.^4^

Also check the Microsoft account’s Services & subscriptions page. Office 2021 should be listed under the account used when its product key was redeemed; that is also where Microsoft directs users to download the associated installer.^5^

4. If Word came from the Mac App Store

Mac App Store versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint require Microsoft 365 for editing and cannot be activated with a perpetual Office license. If that is how Word was installed:

1. Quit Office.
2. Open Finder → Applications.
3. Control-click each Office application and select Move to Trash.
4. Reinstall Office 2021 from the Microsoft account associated with the purchase.
5. Launch Word and activate with that same account.

Microsoft confirms that one-time licenses must use Office applications downloaded directly from Microsoft, rather than the Mac App Store.^6^

References

1. Update Microsoft 365 or Office on your macOS or iOS device | Microsoft Support
2. Office 2021 Home & Student license suddenly stopped working on Mac - Microsoft Q&A
3. Update history for Office for Mac
4. Microsoft Office stopped letting me edit. Requires Office 365 to edit - Microsoft Q&A
5. [Office for Mac 2021](https://support.microsoft.com/office/lifecycle/officeinstall/download-and-install-or-reinstall-office-2021-office-2019-or-office-2016)
6. Microsoft Office activation and the Mac App Store | Microsoft Support