Subscription not working

Matthew Leiner 0 Reputation points
2026-09-13T16:29:35.4866667+00:00

all my MS365 apps not all say I need to activate a subscription but my apple id is showiing an active subscription. Then when I try to reactivate I get an "unknown error" code. Please fix the following issue.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Subscription, account, billing | For home | MacOS
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  1. AI answer

    2026-09-13T16:29:51.57+00:00

    For Microsoft 365 on Mac purchased through Apple, this usually means Office cannot match the active Apple subscription to the Microsoft account or local Office license state.

    Try these steps in order:

    1. Verify the Apple subscription is active Check the Apple subscriptions page and confirm the Microsoft 365 subscription is still active.
    2. Restore the purchase If the Apple subscription is active, use the steps in Restore previous purchase for Office for Mac.
    3. Make sure Office is signed in with the correct Microsoft account In Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook, sign out and sign back in with the Microsoft account associated with the Microsoft 365 subscription. If needed, choose Sign in with another account.
    4. Confirm the subscription appears on the Microsoft account Go to https://account.microsoft.com/services and check whether the Microsoft 365 license appears there. If it does, that is the account Office should use.
    5. If the apps show “ACCOUNT NOTICE” or payment-related activation prompts Go to https://account.microsoft.com/billing/payments and update the payment method if it shows an error, then restart an Office app.
    6. If the issue continues on Mac, remove local Office license files and reactivate Run the Office for Mac License Removal Tool, then reopen an Office app and sign in again. This is a safe troubleshooting step for activation problems, but it removes the current local Office license state and requires signing in again.
    7. If the subscription has expired, renew it If Apple or Microsoft shows the subscription as expired, renew it and then restart Word or another Office app.
    8. If none of the above works, contact Microsoft Support The Apple purchase-association error and persistent unknown activation errors may require support assistance.

    What happens if nothing is done: Office can go into reduced functionality mode, where documents can still be opened and printed, but not edited or created.

    AI-generated content may be incorrect. Read our transparency notes for more information.

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  2. John Jefferson Doyon 87,535 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-09-13T17:09:40.0466667+00:00

    Hi, @Matthew Leiner

    To help narrow down the issue:

    1. Is the Microsoft 365 subscription billed directly through Apple, and does it currently show as active under your Apple ID subscriptions?
    2. When you open Word or Excel, which Microsoft account/email address are you signed in with?
    3. What is the exact “Unknown Error” message or error code you see when you try to activate?

    If you haven't tried it yet, also sign in at https://account.microsoft.com/services using the Microsoft account shown inside Word or Excel and check whether Microsoft 365 appears there.

    This will help determine whether the problem is with the Apple subscription, the Microsoft account being used in Office, or the Office activation itself.

    Click "Add comment" to let me know.

    Thanks!

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