Word for iPad won't activate

Anonymous
2014-03-29T03:20:57+00:00

I downloaded Word, Powerpoint and Excel for iPad yesterday and purchased a 365 Home Certificate. I tried to activate Word and am always given the message "Cannot Activate. This account doesn't have a paid Office 365 subscription." Then I tried activating Powerpoint and Excel -- knowing if you activate one, they're all activated -- and those won't activate either.

I have the receipt and Order ID from Apple and their phone support has been great, including today, Saturday. But ultimately, they can't help, because it's up to the developer (Microsoft). Everything is fine on the Apple side.

I have done everything possible, from rebooting, to reinstalling, to resetting my network connections, without success. So I tried to call Microsoft Support (through a link Apple kindly supplied) only to find they don't work on weekends.

I've searched the internet for solutions, but the program is so new that I appear to be the only one so far with a problem -- or maybe no one's buying a 365 Home subscription for the first time.

Any thoughts that don't include all the things I've already done would be appreciated.

Thank you,

Don

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Microsoft 365 and Office | Install, redeem, activate | For home | Windows

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Anonymous
2014-07-08T14:32:22+00:00

Go to settings and look for the app there..  Do u see it?...  If so try doing a Word reset" and then reload or open from AppStore page..  Report back..

This worked for me on my iPad. These are the full steps I used:

  • Open up Settings
  • Scroll all the way to the bottom in the left hand pane, select Word
  • In the right hand pane, select Reset Word
  • Turn on Delete Login Credentials
  • IF you already have Word running on your iPad, as I did: Double-press the iPad's home button to bring up all currently running programs, swipe back and forth until you see Word, flick the Word screen up to stop the program 
  • Press the iPad's home button to get back to the home screen
  • Select Word
  • Swipe all the way through the introductory screens until it says "Sign in now" - select Sign in
  • Enter your e-mail address, selected "Next"
  • Sign in to your Microsoft account with your e-mail and password, select "Sign in"
  • Select "Buy Office 365"
  • At the bottom, select the "Restore previous purchase" link
  • Enter your iTunes password

Yeesh.

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  1. Anonymous
    2014-04-12T19:26:25+00:00

    Hi,

    I was able to activate my purchase on iPad. Now that I want to share the apps with a family member, my Microsoft Account does not show my purchase from iTunes. So how I add a user to share my subscription?

    Thanks

    DenickYX

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-04-08T14:57:09+00:00

    Hi all,

    I am in Melbourne Australia and I have exactly the same issues as some of the people who have written in from Hong Kong. That is: I downloaded the iPad Office App using my iTunes account but the Microsoft App won't let me 'Activate' my account even though I purchased on the iPad a 365 Microsoft Account.

    An error message comes up each time I try to activate the account saying that I don't have paid account but my iTunes purchases show I have a one-year Microsoft 365 subscription ($139.99 AUD) which expires April, 2015. 

    I rang Microsoft and they listened but then when the operator realised what the problem was she just hung up on me. Really poor service Microsoft for your much heralded new iPad software!

    Hi,

    Sorry for the inconvenience. Few things to do:

    1. Goto the settings on your iPad. Then under "General->International-> Region Format", could you tell me what is that set to on your device?
    2. Log into office.com/microsoft with the microsoft account you were signed into while purchasing from Apple, can you see if you have office subscription on this account?

    Thanks,

    Sumesh

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  3. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2014-04-08T11:06:14+00:00

    First try and get a refund from Apple.  If that is not successful, assuming that you paid with a credit card, get your credit card provider to reverse the charge on the basis of the service not having been delivered.  Then purchase the subscription via the Microsoft Website.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-04-08T09:12:01+00:00

    Hi all,

    I am in Melbourne Australia and I have exactly the same issues as some of the people who have written in from Hong Kong. That is: I downloaded the iPad Office App using my iTunes account but the Microsoft App won't let me 'Activate' my account even though I purchased on the iPad a 365 Microsoft Account.

    An error message comes up each time I try to activate the account saying that I don't have paid account but my iTunes purchases show I have a one-year Microsoft 365 subscription ($139.99 AUD) which expires April, 2015. 

    I rang Microsoft and they listened but then when the operator realised what the problem was she just hung up on me. Really poor service Microsoft for your much heralded new iPad software!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments