Paid for subscription, receving limited functionality

Check that the paid subscription appears as Active under the same Microsoft account used in the Office apps, then sign back into those apps with that account to restore full functionality.

1. Verify the subscription and account

1. Close Word, Excel, Outlook, and all other Microsoft 365 apps.
2. Open Services & subscriptions and sign in.
3. Under Subscriptions, verify that:
   • Microsoft 365 is listed.
   • Its status is Active.
   • The renewal or expiration date reflects the annual payment made in June 2026.
4. If it is not listed, sign out and check any other personal Microsoft account that may have been used for the purchase. Office must be signed in with the account associated with the subscription.[^1^](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID] "Why do I need an account to sign in to Microsoft 365 or Office? | Microsoft Support")
5. When the subscription is found, open Word or Excel, sign out of the account currently shown under File > Account, close the app, reopen it, and sign in with the account showing the active subscription.

Do not post your email address, receipt, order number, or card details in this public forum.

2. If the subscription is active but Office remains limited

“Unlicensed Product” or reduced functionality means Office has not successfully activated; cancellation is not required to repair that activation.[^2^](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID] "A subscription notice appears when I open a Microsoft 365 application | Microsoft Support")

On Windows 10 or 11:

1. Open Microsoft’s activation article below.
2. Under Microsoft 365: Use the Microsoft 365 activation troubleshooter, select the troubleshooter button.
3. Select Open when prompted to launch Get Help.
4. Run it on the same PC where Microsoft 365 is installed and complete its prompts.^3^

If it still fails, check for conflicting Office installations:

1. Open Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features.
2. Search for Office.
3. If multiple versions are installed, uninstall only the obsolete version.
4. Restart the PC.
5. Reopen Office and sign in with the account containing the active subscription.

If only one version is installed, do not remove it; proceed to the activation troubleshooter or Microsoft Support.

3. If the purchase came from somewhere other than Microsoft

The correct recovery action depends on the purchase channel:

• Apple App Store: Confirm the subscription is active in Apple subscriptions. In the affected Microsoft app, use Restore Purchase, then sign in with the Microsoft account that should be linked to it. If it still does not synchronize, contact Apple Support because Apple manages that billing.^4^
• Retail or online store with a product key: Check the receipt or packaging and redeem the key using the intended Microsoft account. The account used during redemption becomes associated with Office.[^1^](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID] "Why do I need an account to sign in to Microsoft 365 or Office?")
• Another retailer without a Microsoft product key: Contact that seller for billing, cancellation, or refund assistance.

4. Billing support or cancellation

If Services & subscriptions does not show the purchase under any relevant account, or shows the wrong status despite the payment, Microsoft Billing Support must inspect the account and transaction. Use Contact Microsoft Support, enter the subscription problem, select Get Help, and then Contact Support. Have the proof of purchase available, but provide it only through the private support process.[^5^](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID] "Microsoft subscription refund policy | Microsoft Support")

Cancellation is an alternative, not an activation fix. For a subscription purchased directly from Microsoft:

1. Go to Services & subscriptions.
2. Select the subscription.
3. Choose Manage > Cancel.
4. Follow the prompts; refund eligibility is determined during cancellation and is not guaranteed. If no refund is issued, access typically continues through the current billing period.[^5^](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID] "Microsoft subscription refund policy | Microsoft Support")

This is a Microsoft Learn Q&A response, not Microsoft Billing Support, and there is no access here to your account, payment, or subscription records.

References

1. [Why do I need an account to sign in to Microsoft 365 or Office? | Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID])
2. [A subscription notice appears when I open a Microsoft 365 application | Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID])
3. Unlicensed Product and activation errors in Office | Microsoft Support
4. Microsoft Office 365 purchased through Apple App Store no longer working - Microsoft Q&A
5. [Microsoft subscription refund policy | Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID])