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
    2014-04-01T08:11:08+00:00

    I am also experiencing the same issue. Does anyone have the number to call for a refund?

    The number in Hong Kong is 2112 0099. But you might save yourself some trouble by clicking the "Report a problem" link in your invoice email.

    Note that when I called I was asked for my Order ID several times and never found one -- I had called them shortly after ordering and I had received an "Order Confirmation" email; it had no Order ID. The real invoice arrived over 10 hours later, and that had the Order ID number on it.

    So, to clarify, I received two emails about that one purchase: an "Order Confirmation" without an Order ID, and a later Invoice, which had the number. But even with the number, Apple couldn't help.

    I used the "Report a problem" and explained the issue and added a link to this thread. If you'll look for one of my previous messages, you'll find the correspondence, including the reply from Apple.

    As I said, save yourself a call.

    Cheers,

    Don

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-04-01T09:34:03+00:00

    Hey guys,

    I would like to share my solution after skimming through the six pages in few seconds:

    1. Reboot iPad
    2. Go to "Setting"
    3. Go to "Word"
    4. Click "Reset", then swipe green to all two options you see. Basically rebooting within the Word app.
    5. Open "Word"
    6. Sign in as usually.
    7. It will show some weird message but at the very bottom when you might just be in despair, click "I already have subscription"
    8. It will pop-up the sign-in window with your actual iTunes purchase account.
    9. You will be all linked and set to go.

    Cheers,

    SHC

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-04-01T09:52:52+00:00

    Same problem with me, cannot activate Office 365 Home after subscription from my iPad.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-04-01T10:18:03+00:00

    Hey guys,

    I would like to share my solution after skimming through the six pages in few seconds:

    1. Reboot iPad
    2. Go to "Setting"
    3. Go to "Word"
    4. Click "Reset", then swipe green to all two options you see. Basically rebooting within the Word app.
    5. Open "Word"
    6. Sign in as usually.
    7. It will show some weird message but at the very bottom when you might just be in despair, click "I already have subscription"
    8. It will pop-up the sign-in window with your actual iTunes purchase account.
    9. You will be all linked and set to go.

    Cheers,

    SHC

    Thanks for the thought -- that was one of the first things the Apple guy did for me (my office is in Hysan Place, just above the huge Apple Store, so they were my first stop). Didn't work then and didn't work now when I just retried it.

    But I'm glad it worked for you.

    Don

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