i have a subscription with my apple id , i cant seem to get microsoft to recognize it

richard crescenzi 0 Reputation points
2026-10-29T16:21:13.78+00:00

I have an excel subcription through apple but my microsoft account want allow me to link them, when i clock restore purchase it says i dont have one

Microsoft 365 and Office | Subscription, account, billing | For home | iOS
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  1. Thomas4-N 23,140 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-11-04T10:12:03.2233333+00:00

    Hello richard crescenzi,

    I understand you purchased an Excel subscription through Apple, but Microsoft isn't recognizing it when you try to restore your purchase.

    Since you've already tried restoring it, could you first check one thing?

    On your iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > [your name] > Subscriptions and check whether your Microsoft 365 or Excel subscription is listed as Active.

    • If it's active: Let me know whether you're signing into Excel with the same Microsoft account you used when you originally purchased the subscription.
    • If it's missing or expired: Let me know what subscription status Apple shows.

    This should help us narrow down whether the issue is with the Apple purchase itself or the Microsoft account associated with it.

    You can also refer to Microsoft's guide: Restore previous purchase of Microsoft 365 apps.

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  2. AI answer

    2026-10-29T16:22:00.1133333+00:00

    Restore the subscription from the same Office app used for the original Apple purchase, then sign in with the Microsoft account that was associated with that in-app purchase—not with the Apple ID.

    Identify the correct app and account

    Since Restore previous purchase already reported no purchase, do not keep retrying it in the current app:

    1. On the iPhone or iPad, open Settings.
    2. Tap [your name] → Subscriptions.
    3. Confirm that Microsoft 365 is listed as Active.
    4. Open its details and note the app icon. The icon identifies whether the subscription was purchased through Excel, Word, or another Microsoft app. Restoration must be initiated from that app.^1^
    5. Open that specific app and sign out of its current Microsoft account.
    6. Close and reopen the app.
    7. Select Restore previous purchase on the Get started with Microsoft 365 screen.
    8. Sign in with the original Microsoft account associated with the purchase. Do not sign in to Office using the Apple ID unless that same email address was separately created as a Microsoft account.^2^

    If this is an iPad

    Clear the saved Office credentials before making the corrected restore attempt:

    1. Go to iPad Settings → Excel.
    2. Under RESET, tap Reset Excel.
    3. Enable Delete Login Credentials.
    4. Close Excel completely.
    5. Reopen the purchasing app and complete the steps above.

    Microsoft specifically recommends this reset for the No subscription found and This Apple ID doesn't have a paid Microsoft 365 subscription messages.^3^

    If Apple shows no active subscription

    The purchase is billed and managed through Apple, so Microsoft cannot modify its billing, recurring-payment status, cancellation, or refund.[^4^](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID] "Where can I manage my Microsoft 365 subscription? | Microsoft Support")

    Contact Apple Support if:

    • Microsoft 365 is missing from Apple ID → Subscriptions;
    • it appears expired despite a successful payment; or
    • Apple shows it as active, but the purchasing app still reports no purchase after the credential reset and corrected restore attempt.

    Provide Apple with the App Store receipt and a screenshot showing the subscription status. Apple must handle billing or purchase-record problems for an App Store subscription.[^5^](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID] "Manage your Microsoft 365 subscription purchased through a third party | Microsoft Support")

    References

    1. Restore previous purchase of Microsoft 365 apps or Copilot Pro for Mac, iPhone, or iPad | Microsoft Support
    2. Video: Log in to Office for iPad | Microsoft Support
    3. What you can do in the Microsoft 365 apps on mobile devices with a Microsoft 365 subscription | Microsoft Support
    4. [Where can I manage my Microsoft 365 subscription? | Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID])
    5. [Manage your Microsoft 365 subscription purchased through a third party | Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID])
    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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