Cannot get rid of the ACTIVATE ACCOUNT

Question

Cannot get rid of the ACTIVATE ACCOUNT

diana Dickinson 0

I have spent several months on this issue and I did everything suggested. Trashed older versions of the software, reinstalled, updated MAC OS and it shows software after download was successful and updated but when I go into any of the word documents it still tells me to activate. Please help.

EmilyS726 266.7K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-08-22T02:18:00.4033333+00:00

Hello

What is your macOS version?

Is your office product purchased from Microsoft or from Apple?

Do you know the exact name of your Microsoft 365, for example, is it Microsoft 365 Basic, Personal, Family or Premium for example?

2 answers

Your answer

EmilyS726 266.7K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-08-22T02:18:00.4033333+00:00

Hello

What is your macOS version?

Is your office product purchased from Microsoft or from Apple?

Do you know the exact name of your Microsoft 365, for example, is it Microsoft 365 Basic, Personal, Family or Premium for example?

Answer 1

Hi, diana Dickinson

Reinstalling Office does not always remove damaged licensing information, so the apps may continue showing Activate Account. The same message also appears if the installed apps do not match the license or the wrong Microsoft account is being used.

Here are some suggestions you can try:

Sign in to Microsoft account Services and subscriptions and confirm that the Office or Microsoft 365 product is listed. Use that exact account when signing in to Word. Microsoft 365 Basic does not include the desktop Office apps.

Quit all Office apps, then run the official Office License Removal Tool for Mac. Restart the Mac, open Word, and sign in again with the account that owns the license. This removes license files that a normal uninstall may leave behind.

If Office was purchased as a one-time license but downloaded from Apple’s Mac App Store, remove those apps and reinstall Office directly from the Services and subscriptions page. Mac App Store Office apps require a Microsoft 365 subscription.

If it still fails, please provide the macOS version, exact Office product name, where it was purchased, and any activation error code.

Thank you for your patience in reading, I hope this information has been helpful to you.

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Kai-H 26,580 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-08-26T08:10:03.3266667+00:00

Hi, diana Dickinson

It has been a while and I am writing to see how things are going with this issue.

Have you had a chance to check the replies provided?

Any update would be appreciated.
Diana Dickinson 0 Reputation points

2026-09-14T06:17:22.87+00:00

I am just now able to get to this page. Microsoft is horrible. I have now paid for 2 subscriptions running simultaneously, and have no idea how that happened. But I have two accounts now! Under two emails I use, one for work, one personal. None of the suggestions worked. I need to find out how I am paying for these so I can cancel Microsoft altogether and use something else. I am not sure if I did this through APPLE or otherwise since I cannot even find that. SO frustrating.

Answer 2

[---] I have two accounts now! Under two emails I use, one for work, one personal. None of the suggestions worked. I need to find out how I am paying for these so I can cancel Microsoft altogether and use something else. I am not sure if I did this through APPLE or otherwise since I cannot even find that. SO frustrating.

@Diana Dickinson

Organization (business) and individual subscriptions are always kept separate, using different accounts. Immediately cancel the version you do not need.

As far as I can tell, you didn't follow up on the question asked by EmilyS726 in August.

The version of your operating system is crucial (following the mid July updates/changes from Microsoft).

If your Mac can't be updated to the most recent version of macOS, you may not be able to run the most recent version of Office. Specifically, you need macOS 12 or later and you need an Office license that supports Office 16.83 or later. See https://www.brandwares.com/bestpractices/2023/03/most-recent-office-you-can-run-best-practices/ for more.