Processes in Microsoft 365 for setting up Office apps, redeeming product keys, and activating licenses.
This usually happens when Office is not activated with the correct license, or it has gone into Unlicensed Product mode. In that state, Word and the other apps can open files, but editing and saving can be blocked.
Try these steps:
- Open Word or Excel and go to File > Account.
- Check Product Information.
- If it shows Unlicensed Product or an activation error, Office is not currently activated.
- In the same area, verify the signed-in account.
- If the wrong Microsoft account is signed in, sign out and sign in with the account that was used to buy or redeem the Office license.
- If the installed product shows Microsoft 365 but the purchase was a one-time Office license, reinstall Office from the Microsoft account Services & subscriptions page so the correct licensed version is installed.
- If editing is still blocked after signing in with the correct account, install Office updates:
- Open an Office app
- Select File > Account > Update Options > Update Now
- If the apps still open files as read-only or won’t save, restart the computer, then perform an Online Repair of Office.
- If installation or activation problems continue, use the Office offline installer. It can help bypass proxy, firewall, antivirus, or unstable internet connection issues during installation.
If the issue is only with files stored in OneDrive, also check whether OneDrive storage is full. When OneDrive is full, documents may open but cannot be saved until storage is available again.
- Why did my file open read-only? | Microsoft Support
- Use the Office offline installer | Microsoft Support
- Office for home
- Why am I unable to edit/save word documents and am being told I need a subscription, even though I own a license? - Microsoft Q&A
- why am I being asked to activate with a product key - Microsoft Q&A