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

Symptoms
After installing Office 2021 or Office 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 apps show Subscription Required or appear to be running in Microsoft 365 trial mode

Why This Happens
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 interfere with 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 — Remove 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 instructions provided with your order

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

• Open Word or another Office app after reinstalling
• When the activation window appears, enter your product key immediately
• 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 your 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 Causes 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 instead. Entering the product key first makes sure Office uses your correct one-time purchase licence.

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 which Office version is showing
• Your order number, if available

This will help us resolve the issue more quickly.