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
    2015-10-20T11:38:06+00:00

    Same thing here, Switzerland. No support, no activation. I bought an iPad to work with Excel, but can't use it: I'll cancel the subscription and will be even more convinced Microsoft products and services are very, very bad.

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-10-17T16:25:25+00:00

    I cannot get to the last step.  After doing it all, it says "purchase successful but cannot activate."  Anyone?

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-10-16T18:59:54+00:00

    Just purchased the Home 365 upgrade for my iPAD. I am in Switzerland. Reading that half the world has activation problems I cancelled the subscription and would like Microshit to know they PISSED off a heck of a lot of people. Go fire yourselves!

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-09-24T01:08:02+00:00

    This also worked for me, but was able to abbreviate it. Just to the step with Delete Login Credentials, and then going through the sign in again did it. So down to step 4, then follow instructions on screen to sign in. thanks. I'd seen the delete login when going through settings myself but didn't know what it means. Essentially you're just rebooting your original Word software on a new device. Makes sense.

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