Office Reverted to Microsoft 365 or Keeps Asking Me to Sign In — How to Fix

Symptoms
After installing Microsoft Office 2021 or 2024, you may notice one of the following:

• Office shows as Microsoft 365 instead of the version you purchased
• You are repeatedly asked to sign in to a Microsoft account
• Office prompts you to start a trial or try 1 month free
• Your Office apps show Subscription Required or appear to be running in 365 trial mode

Why This Happens
Microsoft Office 2021, Office 2024, and Microsoft 365 often use the same installer. If you are signed into a Microsoft account, or previously had Microsoft 365 installed, Office may detect that account and switch into Microsoft 365 mode instead of using your purchased product key.

This can override the normal activation process.

How to Fix It

Step 1 — Sign Out of All Microsoft Accounts
Before activating Office, make sure no Microsoft account is signed in:

• Open any Office application, such as Word
• Go to File > Account
• Sign out of any Microsoft accounts shown
• Close all Office applications completely

Step 2 — Uninstall and Reinstall Office
Next, remove the current installation and install Office again:

• Open Settings > Apps > Installed Apps
• Find Microsoft Office
• Click Uninstall
• Restart your computer
• Reinstall Office using the download instructions provided with your order

Step 3 — Activate Before Signing In
This is the most important step.

• Open Word or another Office application after reinstalling
• When the activation window appears, enter your product key straight away
• Do not sign in to a Microsoft account before activation is complete
• If online activation fails, use telephone activation at https://uk.getrenewedtech.com/activate
• Once activated, go to File > Account and confirm it shows your purchased version, such as Office LTSC Professional Plus 2024

Step 4 — Sign In Afterwards if Needed
Once Office is fully activated, you can sign in to a Microsoft account if needed for services such as OneDrive. Activating first helps prevent Office from switching back into Microsoft 365 mode.

Why Signing In First Can Cause This
If Office detects a Microsoft account with an active or expired Microsoft 365 subscription before a product key is entered, it may automatically switch to subscription mode. Entering the product key first makes sure Office uses the correct perpetual licence instead.

Still Having Issues?
If the problem continues, please contact our support team through the helpdesk and include:

• A screenshot of your File > Account page
• A brief explanation of what Office version is showing
• Your order number, if available

This will help us resolve it more quickly.