Office Activation Errors

Fix Word Activation Error 44 After Renewing Microsoft 365

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to activate Microsoft Word and receives Error 44, which states that their Microsoft 365 Business Standard subscription has expired despite a recent renewal.

Product: Microsoft 365 Business Standard
Device & OS: Windows
Scenario: Activating Word after recently paying for and renewing a Microsoft 365 business subscription.
Observed behavior: Word incorrectly reports that the subscription is expired due to cached old licenses, or the renewal fails to sync because it was applied to a different domain or tenant.

Before you start

Ensure you have your payment confirmation email ready and verify that you are logging into Office using the exact work or school account associated with the renewed subscription, rather than a personal account.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear Old or Conflicting Office Licenses

Use Microsoft's built-in script tools to remove old license cache files that are causing Word to mistakenly read your subscription as expired.

When you renew a subscription, your Windows device may sometimes hold onto the previous, expired license key in its cache. Removing these old licenses forces Word to connect to Microsoft's servers and fetch the active renewal.

Sign out of Microsoft Office

Open Microsoft Word, click on your profile picture or initials in the top right corner, and select 'Sign out'. Close all Office applications.

Run OLicenseCleanup or OSPP.vbs

Download and run the Microsoft OLicenseCleanup.vbs script, or use the Command Prompt as an administrator to navigate to your Office installation folder and run 'cscript ospp.vbs /unpkey' targeting your old product keys.

Restart your computer

Reboot your Windows computer to ensure all background Office services are fully refreshed.

Sign in and activate

Open Microsoft Word again and sign in using your Microsoft 365 Business Standard account credentials to reactivate the software.

Using the correct script: The OLicenseCleanup.vbs script is an automated tool provided by Microsoft Support that safely removes all Office licenses and cached accounts from your device.

Solution 2

Verify Subscription in Microsoft 365 Admin Center

Confirm that your renewal was successfully applied to your tenant and that you are not logging in with an unrecognized domain.

Solution 3

Test Activation on a New Windows Profile

Create a new local user profile on your computer to rule out user profile corruption preventing Office activation.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for a Hassle-Free Document Experience

If you are tired of dealing with recurring subscription renewals, activation errors, and billing support, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible, and free alternative to Microsoft Office without the subscription headaches.

1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package for Windows.
2. Install WPS Office: Run the installer and follow the simple on-screen instructions to set up the software.
3. Open your documents: Launch WPS Writer and open your existing Word documents seamlessly without needing any activation key.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word (.docx), Excel (.xlsx), and PowerPoint (.pptx) formats.No recurring subscription required for basic and essential document editing features.Lightweight installation with a familiar, easy-to-navigate user interface.Built-in PDF editing, viewing, and conversion capabilities.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does portal.office.com say my domain is not recognized?

This usually happens if you are trying to log in using a personal Microsoft account rather than the specific work or school account tied to your organization's Microsoft 365 Business Standard subscription.

What is the OSPP.vbs tool?

OSPP.vbs is the Office Software Protection Platform script provided by Microsoft. Administrators use it via the Command Prompt to manage, install, or remove Office product keys from a local computer.

Why did my Office subscription expire even though I paid?

There is often a delay in syncing the renewal to the local Office applications on your PC, or the old license cache is overriding the new status. Clearing the old license cache and signing back in typically resolves this.

How do I contact Microsoft business billing support?

You can contact support by logging into the Microsoft 365 admin center with your admin account, navigating to the bottom right corner, and clicking the 'Help & Support' headset icon to open a service request.

Microsoft Office Error Codes