Unable to activate Microsoft 365 after PC reset

Dawson Cleo 0 Reputation points
2026-08-28T17:46:59.58+00:00

Hello,

I use Microsoft 365 provided by my university. Before, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint worked fine on my computer.

I recently reset my Windows PC. Since then, I can still sign in to Microsoft 365 on the web with my university account and access online apps, which seems to indicate that my license is still active.

On the other hand, when I try to log in in the desktop applications (Word, Excel or PowerPoint), the connection seems to work: my university is recognized, I enter my password, and then a message indicates that the registration or configuration is in progress.

After a few minutes, an error appears and the activation fails. So the apps don't log in correctly to my university account.

I've already tried to sign in several times and Microsoft 365 is installed on my computer.

Do you have a solution or checks to perform?

Thank you.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Install, redeem, activate | For education | Windows
0 comments

1 answer

Sort by: Most helpful
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Kai-L 19,140 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-08-28T18:03:55.5866667+00:00

    Dear Dawson

    Being able to use the web apps confirms that the university account works, but it does not necessarily confirm that your current license includes the desktop applications. The exact activation error will help determine whether this involves licensing, stored credentials, or device registration. Could you please confirm:

    • The exact error message and error code
    • Whether the PC is personally owned or supplied by the university
    • Your Windows edition, such as Windows 11 Home, Pro, or Education
    • Whether the university account appears under Settings > Accounts > Access work or school
    • Whether you reinstalled Microsoft 365 from the university’s Microsoft 365 portal after resetting Windows

    In the meantime, please try the following:

    • Open Word and select File > Account, then sign out of all listed accounts.
    • Close all Microsoft 365 applications, restart the PC, and sign in again using only the university account.
    • Open Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features and check whether more than one version of Microsoft 365 or Office is installed. Multiple installations can cause activation conflicts

    Please do not join or enrol the PC in the university’s organization unless its IT department confirms that this is required.

    If activation still fails, contact the university IT department and ask them to verify that:

    • Your account still has a licence that includes Microsoft 365 desktop apps.
    • The university requires the PC to be registered or managed.
    • Your account has not reached its permitted activation limit.
    • The failed sign-in or device-registration event appears in their logs.

    If you don't know who your IT administrator is, please refer to this article: How do I find my Microsoft 365 admin? - Microsoft Support 

    Please share a screenshot of the error if possible, but obscure your email address, tenant name, correlation ID, and device identifiers before posting. Looking forward to your update.

    If the answer is helpful, please click "Yes" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".  

    Note: Please follow the steps in the forum documentation to enable e-mail notifications if you want to receive the related email notification for this thread.

    Was this answer helpful?

Your answer

Answers can be marked as 'Accepted' by the question author and 'Recommended' by moderators, which helps users know the answer solved the author's problem.