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
    2014-04-03T15:36:03+00:00

    If your region is Hong Kong, then it is a known issue and we are working on a fix for it.

    If that is not the case let me know your unique identifier and I can dig deeper.

    -sumesh

    I did in app purchase in China App Store, but physically in Hong Kong. iPad is set to English. 

    I cannot activate either.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-04-03T15:26:00+00:00

    If your region is Hong Kong, then it is a known issue and we are working on a fix for it.

    If that is not the case let me know your unique identifier and I can dig deeper.

    -sumesh

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-04-03T10:15:47+00:00

    While I agree you can't fix a issue before it happen.

    We are not talking about bugs in the program, it's as simple as a purchase and activation process (this is my first time in my 6 years app store purchasing experience), which MS mess up.

    They should have realize there will be a lot of first time 365 subscription purchase through app store.

    anyway, I will keep an eye on this thread for the fix.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-04-03T09:56:15+00:00

    I have the exact same problem. been trying to activate my iPad Office in the last few days without success.

    This is really frustrating, I would assume a company this big will have this kind of issue fixed before launching to the public.

    btw, I purchase my Ipad office 365 through HK app store.

    On the generous side, I don't think you can fix an issue until you have an issue. :D

    That reminds me of one of the funnier newspaper reports I've read: "The bandits attacked before the villagers could retaliate." And I thought, "Yes, that's the way it works."

    I doubt if either Apple or Microsoft wants this happening, so I'm sure they'll get it fixed as soon as they can.

    Cheers,

    Don

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