account is on auto renewal but is now in read only mod

If the subscription shows as renewed but Office is still read-only, the most likely cause is that the Office apps are not recognizing the active license yet.

Try this in order:

1. Check the subscription status at the Microsoft account Services & subscriptions page, using the same Microsoft account that was used to renew.
   • If recurring billing is on, the next renewal date should be shown.
   • If the expiration date does not look correct, contact Microsoft Support.
2. Close all open Microsoft 365 apps completely, then open them again.
   • After a renewal, Office can continue showing Renew your subscription or Subscription expired until the apps are restarted.
   • Sign in again if prompted, using the Microsoft account associated with the subscription.
3. In the Office app, check that the signed-in account is the subscription account.
   • If a different account is signed in, Office may not detect the license correctly.
4. If files are still opening read-only, check common file-level causes:
   • Right-click the file, select Properties, and clear Read-only if it is checked.
   • If the file opened in Protected View, review that status because files from the internet or other potentially unsafe locations can open read-only.
   • If the file is stored in OneDrive, check whether OneDrive storage is full. A full OneDrive can prevent saving changes.
5. If Office shows Unlicensed Product or another activation error, use the activation troubleshooting guidance for Office.
6. If the subscription was purchased as a physical box or retail card, make sure the product key was actually redeemed. Payment alone does not start the subscription until the key is entered or the email receipt link is completed.
7. If the subscription status online is correct but the desktop apps still stay read-only, contact Microsoft Support.

If the files are in a work or school OneDrive rather than a personal Microsoft 365 subscription, an unlicensed account can force OneDrive into read-only mode after 60 days. In that case, the license must be reassigned by the organization’s IT administrator.

As a temporary workaround, Office for the web can still be used at Office.com while the desktop activation issue is being resolved.

References:

• Problems renewing a Microsoft 365 subscription
• A subscription notice appears when I open a Microsoft 365 application
• Why did my file open read-only?
• What happens when your OneDrive account becomes unlicensed?