FIXED: Error: “Microsoft Office cannot find your license for this application” and application closes in Office 2016 (Build: 16.0.7167.2040)

Anonymous
2016-09-14T21:33:54+00:00

Issue:

When opening an Office application, you may see the following error message:

"Microsoft Office cannot find your license for this application. A repair attempt was unsuccessful or cancelled. Microsoft Office will now close."

IMPORTANT: This error appears if you have this Office 2016 build: 16.0.7167.2040. If you don’t have this specific version and you’re getting this error, or you’re getting a different error, we recommend you create a new post. To check your Office version, choose the Uninstall a program option in the Windows Control Panel, find your Office program in the list and check the version number.

Status: Fixed

This licensing issue has been resolved in Office 2016 version 16.0.7167.2055 or later. To get the latest update, please run an online repair of Office 2016:

  1. Restart your computer. Don’t open any Office applications when you’re back on your desktop.
  2. Run an online repair of Office from the Control Panel.

IMPORTANT: Please choose the Online Repair option instead of Quick Repair. If you run Quick Repair, the latest build version doesn’t get installed. 3. Restart the computer again and open the Office application. 4. Click File > Account, and verify the Office version under Office Updates in the Product Information section. It should be a newer version than 16.0.7167.2040.

If you’ve done the above step and you continue to get the same error message, please do the following:

  • Choose the Uninstall a program option in the Windows Control Panel, find your Office program, and check the Office version.
  • If the Office version isn’t 16.0.7167.2040, create a new post with the error you’re getting along with the exact Office build version.
Microsoft 365 and Office | Install, redeem, activate | For home | Windows

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  1. Anonymous
    2016-09-18T21:54:47+00:00

    Don't bother.  The static one doesn't install or run properly either.

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  2. Anonymous
    2016-09-18T19:57:56+00:00

    This doesn't work for me.

    Very frustrated - particularly as the software is running fine on another PC on its 1-of-5 licences.

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  3. Anonymous
    2016-09-18T14:45:22+00:00

    I would like to let everyone know that I did the control panel method and it worked.  Let me know if this worked for you or not

    for Windows 10:

    1. Right-click the Start button (lower-left corner), and select Control Panel pop-up menu.
    2. From Category view, under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
    3. Right-click the Microsoft Office product you want to repair, and select Change. Note: If you have a suite such as Office 365 Home or Office Home and Student 2013 or 2016, search for the suite name, even if it's just a particular application you want to repair such as Word or Excel. If you have a standalone application such as Word or Excel, search for the application name.
    4. From the How would you like to repair your Office Programs screen, select Online Repair to ensure everything gets fixed, and then select Repair. You can select Quick Repair which runs faster but only detects and then replaces corrupted files. Online Repair does an uninstall and complete repair but takes longer.
    5. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete.

    Windows 8 and 8.1:

    1. Right-click the Start button (lower-left corner), and select Control Panel from the pop-up menu.
    2. From Category view, under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
    3. Right-click the Microsoft Office product you want to repair, and select the Change button. Note: If you have a suite such as Office 365 Home or Office Home and Student 2013 or 2016, search for the suite name, even if it's just a particular application you want to repair such as Word or Excel. If you have a standalone application such as Word or Excel, search for the application name.
    4. From the How would you like to repair your Office Programs screen, select Online Repair to ensure everything gets fixed, and then select Repair.
    5. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete.

    Windows 7:

    1. Click the Start button (lower left corner), click Control Panel from the menu list, and then click Programs and Features.
    2. From Category view, under Programs, select Uninstall a program.
    3. Click the Office product you want to repair, and then click Change.
    4. From the How would you like to repair your Office Programs screen, select Online Repair to ensure everything gets fixed, and then select Repair.
    5. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete

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  4. Anonymous
    2016-09-18T14:17:31+00:00

    Hi Karren,

    Can you tell us the specific error message you're receiving when trying to activate Office? It might be different from the error message with licenses cannot be found and Office closes soon after. We'd love to help you diagnose this issue.

    Thanks,

    Michelle

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  5. Anonymous
    2016-09-18T14:13:30+00:00

    Hi instbri.cx,

    Can you try doing an Online Repair? See this article: https://support.office.com/en-US/Article/Repair-an-Office-application-7821d4b6-7c1d-4205-aa0e-a6b40c5bb88b

    We'd love to know if this works for you or if you're continuing to have this issue. If you are, we'll help you diagnose and get to a resolution.

    Thanks,

    Michelle

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