If you’re reading this article, it’s because you’ve installed a Microsoft Office license and are experiencing an error when trying to use it. Contrary to what you might think, this error is quite common, so we’re offering a solution. Sometimes it can become a complicated problem to solve, but with the steps we offer, we’re sure you won’t encounter any obstacles.
Contents
- How to fix Office activation error
- Use the Windows Registry Editor
- Check if you have multiple versions of Office installed
- Sign in with the correct account
- Microsoft 365 subscription expired
- Update Microsoft Office
- Temporarily disable the antivirus
- Run Office as administrator
- Uninstall and install Office
How to fix Office activation error
Below, we’ll show you several ways to resolve the Office activation error. Pay close attention and don’t miss any details.
Use the Windows Registry Editor
- First, you’ll need to open the Registry Editor. To do this, you can search for it using the Search tool on the toolbar.
- Once it opens, you just need to follow these steps: HKEY_CURRENT_USER > Software > Microsoft > Internet Explorer > Main > FeatureControl > FEATURE_LOCALMACHINE_LOCKDOWN
- The next step will be to check the status of the DWORDkey and change it to 1 .
- The last thing you should do is restart your PC to see if the error has gone away.
Check if you have multiple versions of Office installed
The error may be due to multiple versions of Office installed on your computer. The steps to check if this is your case and resolve this problem are simpler than the previous option.
- First, you’ll need to open the control panel.
- Next, select the Programs-> Uninstall Programs option .
- Find the Office program and check the versions you have installed.
- If you have several, delete the ones you’re not interested in.
- Another option is to delete the app and reinstall it.
Sign in with the correct account
Another possible reason for an error when activating Office is that you’re using a different email address to sign in than the one you used to sign up. To make sure it’s the same email address, log in to your Microsoft account and check if your Office products or Microsoft 365 subscription are listed.
Microsoft 365 subscription expired
This situation occurs especially when you have purchased a pirated Microsoft 365 subscription, as it is often expired. However, it can also occur with the official program if you entered the subscription incorrectly and it appears to be an old one that has expired. To find out if this is your case, do the following:
- Sign in to your Microsoft 365account .
- Next, go to the Services and Subscriptionssection of your account.
- Here you can get the necessary information about your subscription.
Update Microsoft Office
Your version may be out of date, which is why you can’t activate your license. To update Office, follow these steps:
- Open any program in the Office suite (for example, Word).
- Go to Fileand select Account (on the left side).
- In the Accountsection, select Update Options and Update Now
- If you got your license from the Microsoft Store, you’ll need to sign in,click on the 3 dots in the top right corner , select Downloads and updates , and then Get updates .
Temporarily disable the antivirus
In other cases, the problem may be caused by your antivirus, as it detects a potential threat (especially if the license is pirated) and blocks the application. To determine if this is the cause of the error and resolve it, you should disable your antivirus. If you’re using Windows Defender Antivirus, do the following:
- Open Windows Defenderor Windows Security on your computer (you can search for it in the Search option on the toolbar) and select Antivirus & threat protection .
- Then select Virus & threat protectionand Manage settings.
- The last thing you’ll need to do is change Real-Time Protectionto Off .
Run Office as administrator
Another option is to run Office as an administrator to see if the error can be resolved.
- The first thing to do is close all the Office programs you have open.
- Then, search for any Office program in the Searchoption and right-click on it and select Run as administrator .
- Finally, select the Yesoption and check if the error has been resolved.
Uninstall and install Office
If none of the above options helped, you can try to resolve your Office issue by uninstalling and reinstalling the program.
- Search for the Office suite on your computer using the Searchbar .
- Once you have it handy, you’ll need to click on the arrow that appears pointing to the right or right-click on the Office application.
- Next, you’ll need to restart your computerand reinstall any Office programs you want.
You can also use free Google tools, such as Docs, Sheets, Slides, or Forms, instead of Office products. If you prefer to work offline, you can opt for LibreOffice, the most popular alternative software package.
