Processes in Microsoft 365 for setting up Office apps, redeeming product keys, and activating licenses.
For error 0x0 on Office for Mac, the supported fix is to update both macOS and Office. Reinstalling alone does not resolve this issue.
- Verify macOS version
- Make sure the Mac is running macOS 12 or later.
- If the Mac is below macOS 12, update macOS first.
- Close all Office apps
- Quit Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint, and OneNote completely.
- Update Office from the correct source
- If Office was installed from microsoft.com, open: Finder > Applications > Microsoft AutoUpdate
- If Microsoft AutoUpdate is not visible, check:
/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/MAU2.0/ - Install all available updates by selecting Update All.
- If Office was installed from the Mac App Store
- Open App Store > Updates
- Update each Microsoft app, or select Update All.
- Restart and test activation again
- After updates complete, reopen Word or Excel and sign in with the account that has the Microsoft 365 Business Standard license.
- If activation still fails
- Sign out of Office and sign back in with the licensed work account.
- If multiple licenses or an older Office license was previously used on this Mac, remove the old Office license files and reactivate. Microsoft provides the steps here: Remove Office license files on a Mac.
- If Office still cannot activate after updating
- Reset Office credentials in Keychain Access:
- Open Spotlight
- Search for Keychain
- Search for Office
- Delete the Office data license file
- Then run the Microsoft 365 Activation troubleshooter and try activation again.
- Reset Office credentials in Keychain Access:
Important checks for this scenario:
- License verification: confirm the sign-in account is the same account assigned the Microsoft 365 Business Standard subscription.
- Compatibility: Office on Mac must be updated, and the Mac must be on a supported macOS version.
- Installation source matters: if the apps originally came from the App Store, update there; if installed from Microsoft, use Microsoft AutoUpdate.
If the Mac is already on macOS 12 or later and Office is fully updated, this specific 0x0 / License not found issue is documented as resolved through Office updates.