Processes in Microsoft 365 for setting up Office apps, redeeming product keys, and activating licenses.
For a 2020 Mac, the most likely causes in this scenario are an update/licensing issue or an Office installation problem.
Try these steps in order:
- Update Office and macOS
- Office on macOS should be on macOS 12 or higher.
- Close all Office apps.
- Open Finder > Applications > Microsoft AutoUpdate.
- Install Update All.
- Then open an Office app again and test.
- If Office was installed from the App Store, open App Store > Updates and update the Microsoft apps there instead.
- Check whether the subscription is active
- Go to the Microsoft account Services & subscriptions page and sign in with the account associated with the subscription.
- Confirm that Microsoft 365 is listed as active.
- If the subscription is expired, renew it.
- If Office shows an account notice or payment problem
- Go to Payment options in the Microsoft account and check whether the payment method has an error.
- Update the payment method if needed, then restart Word or another Office app.
- If the apps are updated but still do not work
- Create a new macOS user account from System Settings > Users & Groups.
- Sign in to that new account and test Word or Excel.
- If Office works there, the issue is likely with the Office setup in the original macOS account.
- Reinstall Office for Mac
- If the problem continues, uninstall Office for Mac and reinstall it from the Microsoft account Subscriptions/Services page.
- If reinstalling, use the Microsoft account install source rather than the Mac App Store version when the license is tied to the Microsoft account.
- If Office says the license is not found or shows Unknown Error 0x0
- Updating Office through Microsoft AutoUpdate is the documented fix for that issue on macOS.
If the subscription was purchased through Apple/App Store, first verify the subscription under Apple subscriptions. If active, try restoring the previous purchase. If it still fails, contact Microsoft Support.
References:
- Unknown Error 0x0 or License not found error in Microsoft 365 or Office running on macOS | Microsoft Support
- Microsoft 365 subscription features aren't available in Office apps | Microsoft Support
- Office error "Account Notice: We've run into a problem with your Microsoft 365 subscription" | Microsoft Support
- Many of my Office features aren't working - Microsoft Q&A
- Office for Mac payment error code1007 | Microsoft Support