Hello forum! A first-timer here.

I have recently purchased and installed Microsoft 365 Personal. The installation seems to have worked without issue, however, I am unable to use (for example) Excel or PowerPoint.

When opening Excel, I am asked to 'Sign-In or create account'. Clicking this button opens a new 'Activate Office' window asking for my email address.
When I type in my email address and hit return I am immediately sent back to the initial 'Sign-In or create account' screen; forever stuck in the loop.



This first screen does have an alternative option to enter an Office product key - which I have also tried (the key I was issued with at purchase time) - yet this also takes me to the same 'Activate Office' screen as well.

Having done a little research into this interminable loop issue, I have followed guidance to remove any references to Office in the the Credentials Manager, however, this has not resolved the problem.

Many thanks in advance!

My first guess is that your MS 365 License is not correctly attached to your Microsoft Account. Open your Services page and verify that the MS 365 subscription is there.
https://account.microsoft.com/services

If the subscription is there, then use the Troubleshooters
Troubleshoot installing Office - Microsoft Support
Unlicensed Product and activation errors in Office - Microsoft Support

Thanks for the reply. I checked my Services page and could see my subscription in there. There was a file sitting in the install section which suggested I needed to download 365 again - not sure why. Anyhow, I've done that and restarted my laptop.

When I now attempt to open an existing file in Excel I am hitting a different problem. I'm no longer stuck in this previously mentioned interminable loop, however, I cannot edit my file as the following warning message appears: 'ENABLE EDITING: To edit files in this free version of Excel, they must be saved to OneDrive'

-- I don't understand this as I don't have a free version of Excel!

Alongside that error message is a 'Get Started' button which then asks me to save to OneDrive. However, when entering in my hotmail email address to sign in nothing happens and I'm sent back to Excel again with the same enable editing issue.

Also at the top of my Excel screen in the task bar are two buttons to either 'Sign In' or 'Buy Microsoft 365'.

It just seems like the installation of 365 isn't being recognised whatsoever!

Help!!

It would seem you are running the free version of Office. Which, for Excel, does require you to put the file in OneDrive before editing.

1 - Uninstall any version(s) of Office you see in Settings -> Apps.

2 - Download and install the paid, desktop version, of Office you are entitled to by your MS 365 Subscription.

Download, install, or reinstall Microsoft 365 or Office 2024 on a PC or Mac - Microsoft Support

Thanks for the response.

I uninstalled two Microsoft Office files that I found in my Apps. I then reinstalled my subscribed version.
When opening an existing Excel file I have saved, I still get the same warning error as before: 'To edit files in this free version of Excel, they must be saved to OneDrive'

When following the instructions to save to OneDrive, I enter in my hotmail email address and once again nothing happens. It just reverts back to Excel with the same Enable Editing warning message.

I'm flummoxed as to why this can be such a problem. What is wrong?!

What happens if you open Excel (the program, not an Excel file)?

If that opens the Classic Excel, then the problem is with your Default Apps.

make excel default app - Microsoft Q&A

If I open the app, it has the same issue i.e. a warning message appears suggesting I need to 'sign in to save this file'. Additionally, in the top right corner there is also the 'Sign In' and 'Buy Microsoft 365' buttons. So it just looks like is still doesn't recognise the fact I've installed a brand new version of 365.

Either that, or it's an issue with 'One Drive'. Each time I try save to OneDrive and I enter my hotmail email address it just spins back to the Excel file.

-- Either that, or it's an issue with 'One Drive'.

As far as I can tell, your problem is that there is a MS365 Trial version installed and it just won't go away.

Here are two more Microsoft Tools to try.

Uninstall Microsoft 365 from a PC - Microsoft Support
Be sure to look at the "Not sure which type of install you have?" section.

I've never had much luck with Microsoft "Easy Fix" tools, but just to be complete:
Video: Uninstall Office - Microsoft Support

And, if somehow, you have installed a Microsoft Volume License that will not activate:

Office 365: Activation Problems - Remove License Files | IT@UMN | The people behind the technology

Thanks for the continued help on this subject.

I did a 'Microsoft Store' uninstall, as the type of previous install was one with a version and build number. So the uninstall took place via Control Panel and the 'Programs and Features' option.

Once completed I restarted my laptop then installed my subscription copy of Microsoft 365 Personal.

When opening a blank Excel workbook it does so in Read Only mode. There is a banner warning message again stating 'SIGN IN TO SAVE'.
There is also, for reference, the 'Sign In' and 'Buy Microsoft 365' buttons displaying in the top right corner of the screen in the task bar.
When I sign into my hotmail account, I am just returned to the blank workbook as above.

If I attempt to open an old Excel file I have in my downloads, the previously mentioned 'Enable Editing' warning message is displayed and it then asks me to Save to OneDrive.
As per the blank workbook issue, when I sign into my hotmail account, I'm simply returned to the file with the enable editing warning message.

So clearly something not clicking into place with the install.
Am I missing a step? Once the install is downloaded and installed, should I be accessing my Microsoft 365 Personal account and activating it somehow before just opening up Excel?

Ben.

-- 'Buy Microsoft 365' buttons

This is a clear indication that you have a Trial MS365 install.

All I can think of is that the license you have is a Trial that was never upgraded to a full paid subscription, or that your paid subscription has expired.

Sorry, but all I can suggest at this point is to contact Microsoft Support and see if they can figure it out.

Microsoft 365 Customer Service and Support - Microsoft Support

Thanks again for all the help you've provided.

I connected with Microsoft this morning. Initially the support guy thought some derivative license files left over from the free version of 365 might have been preventing the subscribed version to be installed correctly. However, he then stated my profile had been corrupted, so he created a brand new profile to install 365 Personal against which then allowed me to open and use Excel, Word, Powerpoint etc.

Odd! But all sorted now.

Many thanks for spending time investigating.

Kind regards,

Ben.