How to reactivate your Excel Account

Chris W 0 Reputation points
2026-06-04T21:19:37.16+00:00

I changed my password to my Mac and now when I try to access my Excel spreadsheet they treat me either as a new customer and signing into my 365 account will get me access to Excel. What can I do? thanks

Microsoft 365 and Office | Install, redeem, activate | For home | MacOS
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  1. AI answer

    2026-06-04T21:19:55.3166667+00:00

    Follow these steps to get Excel working again on the Mac after the password change:

    1. Confirm the subscription is active
      • Go to the Microsoft account page for subscriptions and verify that the Microsoft 365 or Office license is still active for the account that was used to purchase it.
      • If the subscription is not active, renew it first; Excel will not reactivate without a valid license.
    2. Make sure the correct account is used in Excel
      • Open Excel on the Mac.
      • Go to File > Account (or the account/profile area in the app).
      • Check which email address is shown.
      • If it is not the email that owns the Microsoft 365/Office license, sign out, then sign back in with the correct account and select Update license if available.
    3. Reactivate Office for Mac
      • Close all Office apps.
      • Open Word or Excel from Finder > Applications.
      • When the Sign in to activate Office screen appears, choose Sign in.
      • Enter the email address associated with the Microsoft 365 or Office license, select Next, then enter the password for that account.
      • After the license check completes, Office (including Excel) should be activated again.
    4. If activation prompts keep appearing or fail
      • If Office for Mac keeps asking to sign in or shows activation errors after the Mac password change, follow the guidance in the activation/troubleshooting articles for Office for Mac to reset keychain/permissions and retry activation.

    If Excel still behaves as if it is unlicensed while Word or other apps work, also check macOS Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions to ensure any Microsoft Office licensing helper or similar component is enabled, then sign out of macOS and sign back in before retrying Excel.

    References:

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