LISENCE EXPIRY

Excel must be reactivated with the Microsoft account that owns the Office license; when Office is unlicensed, files can still open and print, but editing and creating files are disabled.[^1^](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID] "A subscription notice appears when I open a Microsoft 365 application | Microsoft Support")

Check and restore the license

1. Open Excel → File → Account.
2. Look under Product Information for Unlicensed Product, Subscription Expired, or an activation warning.
3. Select Sign in, then use the Microsoft account originally used to buy or activate Office. Using a different email address can produce “We couldn't find any Office products.”
4. Close Excel and visit the Services & subscriptions page: https://account.microsoft.com/services
5. Sign in with that same account and check whether Microsoft 365 appears under Subscriptions or Cancelled subscriptions:
   • Expired: renew it, close all Office applications, and reopen Excel.
   • Active: reopen Excel and sign in with the account shown on that subscription.
   • Not listed: try another personal, work, or school account that may own the license.^2^

If Office came preinstalled on a new PC, it may have been a trial rather than a permanent license. The activation notice should offer an option to buy Microsoft 365, activate Office, or enter a retail product key.[^1^](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 active but Excel remains unlicensed

1. On Windows 10 or 11, run the Microsoft 365 activation troubleshooter from Microsoft’s activation-support page.
2. When prompted that the site wants to open Get Help, select Open.
3. Run it on the same PC where Excel is installed and complete the suggested corrections.^2^
4. Check for duplicate Office installations:
   • Open Control Panel → Programs → Programs and Features.
   • Search for Office.
   • If multiple versions are installed, uninstall the version you do not use.
   • Restart Windows and open Excel again.

If activation is successful but only one particular workbook remains read-only, right-click that file in File Explorer, select Properties, clear Read-only, and select OK. For a OneDrive file, also check OneDrive → Manage storage, because a full OneDrive account can prevent saving.^3^

For immediate editing while activation is being resolved, use the free web version at https://www.office.com/.[^1^](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID] "A subscription notice appears when I open a Microsoft 365 application | Microsoft Support")

References

1. [A subscription notice appears when I open a Microsoft 365 application | Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID])
2. Unlicensed Product and activation errors in Office | Microsoft Support
3. Why did my file open read-only? | Microsoft Support