Activate Microsoft 365 Apps on a Mac

Overview

Cedar Crest College provides eligible students, faculty, and staff with access to Microsoft 365 applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote.

After installing Microsoft 365 on your Mac, you must sign in with your Cedar Crest College account to activate the applications.

This article explains how to activate Microsoft 365 and troubleshoot common activation issues on macOS.

Before You Begin

Make sure that:

  • Microsoft 365 applications are installed on your Mac.
  • Your Mac is connected to the internet.
  • You have your Cedar Crest College email address and password available.
  • You can complete multifactor authentication (MFA) if prompted.

Need to install Microsoft 365 first? See Install Microsoft 365 Apps on Your Personal Computer.

Activate Microsoft 365

  1. Open Microsoft Word from your Applications folder or Launchpad.
  2. If the What's New or welcome screen appears, follow the prompts to continue.
  3. Select Sign In or Activate when prompted.
  4. Enter your Cedar Crest College email address and select Next.
  5. Enter your College password and complete MFA if prompted.
  6. Follow any remaining prompts to finish activation.
  7. Once activation is complete, you can begin using Word and your other Microsoft 365 applications.

Note: Activating Word generally activates the other Microsoft 365 desktop applications installed on your Mac under the same account.

Verify Your Activation

To confirm that Microsoft 365 is activated:

  1. Open Microsoft Word.
  2. Select Word > About Microsoft Word from the menu bar to view the installed version.
  3. Check that Word allows you to create, edit, and save documents without an activation warning.
  4. If you need to check your signed-in account, select your profile or account icon in Word.

Troubleshooting Activation Issues

Microsoft 365 Is Asking Me to Purchase a Subscription

If you are prompted to purchase Microsoft 365 or start a trial:

  1. Close the subscription or purchase window.
  2. Open Word and locate the account or sign-in option.
  3. Sign out of any personal Microsoft accounts, if necessary.
  4. Sign in using your Cedar Crest College email address.
  5. Complete MFA and allow the application to check your license.

Your College account must have an eligible Microsoft 365 license to activate the desktop applications.

Microsoft 365 Shows an Unlicensed Product or Activation Error

  1. Confirm that your Mac is connected to the internet.
  2. Verify that you are signed in with your Cedar Crest College account.
  3. Close all Microsoft 365 applications.
  4. Restart your Mac.
  5. Open Word and try signing in again.

If activation continues to fail, make sure Microsoft 365 and macOS are updated to supported versions.

Microsoft 365 Is Activated Under the Wrong Account

  1. Open Microsoft Word.
  2. Locate your profile or account information.
  3. Sign out of the incorrect account.
  4. Close and reopen Word.
  5. Sign in using your Cedar Crest College account.

If the application continues to use the incorrect license, additional troubleshooting may be required to remove stored Office credentials or license information.

Additional Information

Do I need to activate every Microsoft 365 application separately?

No. Signing in and activating one Microsoft 365 desktop application generally activates the other installed applications associated with the same license.

Can I use Microsoft 365 on more than one computer?

Eligible Microsoft 365 licenses generally allow activation on multiple devices. The number of permitted devices depends on your assigned license.

What happens if my Cedar Crest College account is disabled?

Your Microsoft 365 desktop license is associated with your College account. If your account is disabled or you are no longer eligible for the license, the applications may enter reduced functionality mode, limiting your ability to create or edit documents.

Need Additional Assistance?

If you are unable to activate Microsoft 365 on your Mac, submit an IT Support Request.

Please include the version of macOS you are using and any activation error messages you receive. Do not include your password or verification codes.

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