A family of Microsoft spreadsheet software with tools for analyzing, charting, and communicating data.
The error "Microsoft Office cannot verify the license for this product" usually means Excel (or another Office app) cannot validate its license because either:
- The Office app is running in Windows compatibility mode, or
- A required Windows Software Protection Platform registry key is missing or has incorrect permissions.
Use these steps to fix it.
- Check the Software Protection Platform registry entry
Warning: Editing the registry incorrectly can cause system issues. Only proceed if comfortable with Registry Editor.
- Select Start, type
regedit, and open Registry Editor. - Browse to:
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion - Look for a key named SoftwareProtectionPlatform under CurrentVersion.
- If SoftwareProtectionPlatform exists, skip to section 2 (Stop running the app in compatibility mode).
- If it does not exist, continue.
- On another device where Office is installed and working, open Registry Editor and go to:
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform - Right‑click SoftwareProtectionPlatform and select Export. Save it as a
.regfile to removable storage or a location accessible from the problem PC. - Copy that
.regfile to the problem PC, right‑click it, and select Merge to import the key. - On the problem PC, in Registry Editor, go to:
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\SoftwareProtectionPlatform - Right‑click SoftwareProtectionPlatform and select Permissions.
- Under Group or user names, ensure NETWORK SERVICE exists:
- If it is missing, select Add, type
network service, select OK.
- If it is missing, select Add, type
- Select NETWORK SERVICE, check Allow for Full control, then select Apply > OK.
- Restart the PC and try opening Excel again.
- Stop running Excel in compatibility mode
- Close Excel.
- Locate
EXCEL.EXEin the Office installation folder. By default this is one of:- MSI-based Office:
-
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office1x -
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office1x
-
- Click-to-Run Office (Microsoft 365 / newer versions):
-
C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root\Office1x -
C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office1xThe1xplaceholder is the Office version (for example,16for Office 2016).
-
- MSI-based Office:
- Right‑click
EXCEL.EXEand select Properties. - If a Compatibility tab is present:
- On the Compatibility tab, clear Run this program in compatibility mode for.
- Select Change settings for all users.
- On Compatibility for all users, clear Run this program in compatibility mode for.
- Select OK twice.
- If there is no Compatibility tab:
- Select Cancel to close Properties.
- Right‑click
EXCEL.EXEand select Troubleshoot compatibility. - Select Troubleshoot program.
- Clear all options and select Next.
- Select No, I am done investigating the problem, then Next.
- Select Close.
- Restart Excel and check whether the license error is gone.
If the problem persists after these steps, running an Online Repair of Office from Control Panel > Programs and Features > Microsoft 365/Office > Change > Online Repair can also repair corrupted Office components, but the specific license error described is typically resolved by fixing the registry key and disabling compatibility mode.
References: