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
    2015-09-17T22:44:40+00:00

    So I've found a solution to my problem.  I opened a case with Office 365 and they very quickly told me that the problem was the particular subscription that our organization had.  We are using Office 365 Small Business which isn't available anymore, but is roughly equivalent to Office 365 Business Essentials, and both are "online only" subscriptions, which means that they are not eligible to run installed products on any platforms.  This may be the issue for some of you, others maybe not.  Hope it helps!

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  2. Anonymous
    2015-09-17T21:22:25+00:00

    Looks like I spoke too soon, it looked like I was activated (Screen told me I was "All Set") but apparently not, when I went to create a document, it opened read only with a prompt to sign in to create and edit documents.  Then when I sign in, I get the error pop-up:

    Cannot Activate

    You can view documents for free, but this account doesn't allow editing on your device.

    If you need to create or edit documents, contact your organization about your Office 365 plan.

    OK

    I am able to create and edit documents in Word online, it's just in the App that I'm having the problem, so I don't see how a change in the plan would have anything to do with it.

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  3. Anonymous
    2015-09-17T21:14:03+00:00

    Resetting Word and Excel from Settings and using the Delete Login Credentials setting worked for me. After that I was able to sign in to Word and Activate successfully.  I did not have to go through the last three steps to Buy Office 365, Restore previous purchase link, and AppleID login.

    Thanks for posting!

    iOS 8.0.2

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  4. Anonymous
    2015-06-25T20:40:14+00:00

    I am in South Africa and I have the same problem. 

    I have tried resetting but that has not helped. 

    Has a solution been found or is the only option now to obtain a refund rom apple

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