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. Doug Robbins - MVP - Office Apps and Services 323.6K Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2014-04-22T04:14:54+00:00

    Others in this thread have had similar problems and a number of solutions have been posted to it.  Look through some of the other posts in this thread.

    If all else fails, ask the iTunes Store for a refund and purchase the subscription directory from the Microsoft Store.

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  2. Anonymous
    2014-04-22T03:53:07+00:00

    Am out $111 (incl taxes) because Office365 for my new ipad won't activate.  Says my Microsoft acct has no subscription.  I am able to log into my Microsoft acct but says no subscription.  I do have email receipt for my copy purchased thru iTunes Store.  Just happened 4 days ago.

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-04-20T16:37:15+00:00

    We purchased the Office 365 annual subscription which allows us to install on five physical PCs and unlimited mobile devices.  I also had challenges activating it on the iPad but have figured it out.  

    When we activated our subscription, we registered with a "primary" ID (email) and password.  The subscription is tied to that ID (email).  As we install it on the other devices, we "activate" them with the primary ID and it keeps track of how many devices are tied to the subscription.  While the subscription is tied to the primary ID is does not prevent other users to have their own Microsoft ID.

    Using iTunes I downloaded Word, Excel, Powerpoint and OneNote to the iPad.  When I launched Word for the first time, it prompted me to "Activate."  I clicked on that and it asked for an ID.  I typed in the "primary" email and password and the activation was successful.  

    As I launched the other applications, they did not need to be "activated" again, but rode on the primary activation of Word.

    This process was not clear.  Hope this helps.

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  4. Anonymous
    2014-04-20T14:20:55+00:00

    I just have the same issue described by leantuna

    I think Apple and Microsoft have to get an agreement... or Apple should just stop selling something people can not use.

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