Can't Use Anything Associated

Stop changing the password and first test the account in a private browser window; if browser sign-in works, run the Microsoft 365 sign-in troubleshooter on the affected Windows PC to repair Office’s local authentication state.

1. Separate an account problem from a PC/Office problem

1. Close all Office applications.
2. Open an InPrivate window in Microsoft Edge.
3. Open the Services & subscriptions page from Microsoft’s activation guidance and sign in with the personal Microsoft account used to purchase Microsoft 365.
4. Check whether Microsoft 365 appears and shows an active subscription. The account used for Office must have the product listed there.^1^

The result determines the next action:

• Browser sign-in succeeds and the subscription is active: the password and account are working; continue with the PC repair below.
• Browser also returns to the sign-in page: use Microsoft’s Sign-in Helper under Personal account → Microsoft account support. It checks the account and identifies the required recovery action. Support agents cannot manually change account details or send password-reset links.^2^
• Browser sign-in succeeds, but Microsoft 365 is absent or expired: sign in with any other personal email address that might have been used to buy Office, or renew the subscription shown on that page.^1^

2. Repair the desktop sign-in state

If browser sign-in works:

1. On the affected PC, open Start → Get Help.
2. Search for Microsoft 365 sign-in or sign in to Microsoft Office.
3. Run the Microsoft 365 sign-in troubleshooter and complete every prompted action.
4. Restart Windows.
5. Open Word and sign in using the same personal account.

Microsoft specifically recommends its Support and Recovery Assistant/sign-in diagnostic for common Office desktop authentication failures.^3^

If Office instead displays Unlicensed Product, Account Notice, or an activation warning, run the Microsoft 365 activation troubleshooter in Get Help. It must run on the PC where Office is installed and requires Windows 10 or later.^4^

3. If the loop remains

Check for conflicting Office installations:

1. Open Control Panel → Programs → Programs and Features.
2. Search the installed-program list for Office.
3. If multiple Office versions are installed, uninstall only the version you no longer use.
4. Restart Windows and test Word again.
5. If only one installation exists—or removing the duplicate does not help—select the remaining Microsoft 365 installation, choose Change, and run Online Repair.^1^

If the troubleshooter and Online Repair both fail, the supported final repair sequence is:

1. Deactivate the existing Office installation.
2. Completely uninstall Office with Microsoft’s uninstall tool.
3. Restart Windows.
4. Reinstall Office while signed in with the account showing the active subscription.^4^

If even a clean reinstall loops, use Get Help → Contact Support and select Microsoft 365 → Technical support. Include whether browser sign-in succeeded, whether the subscription was listed, and the results of the sign-in and activation troubleshooters.^2^

References

1. Unlicensed Product and activation errors in Office | Microsoft Support
2. Contact Microsoft customer support | Microsoft Support
3. How to troubleshoot non-browser apps that can't sign in to Microsoft 365, Azure, or Intune | Microsoft Support
4. Office error "Account Notice: We've run into a problem with your Microsoft 365 subscription" | Microsoft Support