What Does "Unlicensed Product" Mean in Word? Causes and Fixes Explained
When you are working on your document in Microsoft Word, and you all of a sudden see the warning sign ‘Unlicensed Product’ or similar, you may be confused as to what that means and how can one fix it. This is a very serious problem, more so when you are in the inconveniencing hand of an important document. In the present article, we will discuss what is meant by the error message ‘Unlicensed Product’, explain the causes of the problem and suggest ways in which you can solve it.
What Is the Unlicensed Product in Microsoft Word?
In Microsoft Word, “Unlicensed Product” means that the application can no longer confirm that your version of Microsoft Office is activated or licensed. This happens most of the time when your software license has expired, been invalidated, or there is a problem with the activation.
To put it simply, Word is trying to inform you that there are no verifiable grounds upon which you are entitled to use that particular software and that in turn, some of its functions would be limited. The programme may still launch; however, there may be limitations on availability, such as:
Reduced editing capabilities: Creating or modifying blank documents may not be possible.
Watermarks: Your document may contain the word “Unlicensed” as a watermark.
Prompting: Several prompts will be given to you to either activate or sign in to the application.
What Is The Reason For The Occurrence Of This Error?
There are several reasons that may be responsible for the occurrence of “Unlicensed Product” in Word. The most important reasons are described below:
1. Subscription Or License Has Expired
In the case where you are using a Microsoft 365 (previously called Office 365) subscription, that particular subscription may have expired or even your license was not renewed. After noticing that the subscription was allowed to expire, this notice will appear when Office is opened.
2. Activation Error
In the case of individual Office applications, for instance Office 2019, Office 2021, etc. The error message may appear in case of any issue with activation of Office. In order to activate, a product key, or a Microsoft account is necessary. In case of failure of both, subscription will remain inactive and Word will not be able to check if any license exists.
3. Microsoft Account is Not Correct
Office applications are associated with Microsoft accounts. If you are not using the right account, or that account has no license for Offce, then Word will not recognize the product as activated.
4. Office suite is not installed properly
Issues with activation might stem from installation problems with Office or corrupted operating system files. This may lead to inability of Word to determine if a certain license is active.
5. Invalid or Unallocated Key
In the situation where you are using counterfeit or some other non-permissible software, especially one that required registration with one of the product keys that was not compatible with your version of Office, activating the product will be unsuccessful causing a message indicating that the product is an Unlicensed Product.
How to Troubleshoot Word Exiting with The License - Unlicensed Product Error
Having identified the possible causes of the error, let us proceed to the solutions.
1. Verify Your Subscription
- In the case of Microsoft 365, you will be required to check whether the subscription is active. Go on.
- First, open Microsoft Word and click on the File tab, then Account.
- Under the Information about the Product section, find the goo link for the subscription or product key status. If the status reads Unlicensed Product, then the subscription has likely expired.
- If this is true for Microsoft 365 then, the user shall go to account.microsoft.com and check for the subscription status and renew it if required.
- If you are using a previous version of Office under a permanent licensing program, make sure you have the right product key. And in case you do not, find the product key in your email or box.
2. Login With The Proper Microsoft Account
- Users under Microsoft 365 subscriptions or any other office subscription based products have their licenses associated with Microsoft accounts. If you are signed in with a different account, the Office app will not recognize the license associated with the subscription.
- Click on Word, and go to File > Account.
- Under the User Information section check which account is being used.
If this is not the account that is tied to the Microsoft 365 or Office license, click Sign In and provide the proper credentials for the account. - In the case where you have an Office license through your employer work or school, make sure that you have signed in with your organizational Microsoft account.3.
3.Activate Office with a Product Key
- Stand-alone versions of Office such as Office 2021 may require you to activate Word yourself using the product key.
- Launch Word and click on File > Account.
- In the Product Information Box, go to and click either Change Product Key or Activate.
- Type in the 25 detainee characters product key that came along with your word office purchase.
- Adhere to the provided instructions on the screen in order to finish the activation process.
- If you misplaced your product key, search your Gmail account for the confirmation email sent by Microsoft or ask the seller when you bought Office from them.
4. Run the Office Activation Troubleshooter
- Microsoft offers an activation troubleshooter for the users to put an end to the general practice of activation complaints.
- On your Windows computer, open Settings.
- Select the Control Panel, then click on Ms. Office.
- Click on the Modify button, and then click on Repair.
- Click on Activation issues and select the Online Repair option.
- This running of the repair will try to sort everything out that is wrong with Office besides the installation and start the whole activation process again.
5. Reinstall Office
- There’s a possibility that you will also have to reinstall Microsoft Office in case the above methods didn’t help activate the program due to some corruption.
- From the desktop, click the Start button, click Control Panel, then click on Programs and Features.
- In the menu that opens, locate Microsoft Office and select it, then click the Change/Remove button.
- After that, go to the Microsoft Office website, sign in to your profile.
- Then download and install Office, following the instructions on the screen.
- Reinstalling Office also includes fixing issues related to missing files or trouble with previously activated cope.
