Fix Office 2021 Saying It Will Be Disabled After Trial Period
Question details
The user is receiving an expiration warning stating that Office will be disabled after a trial period, despite having purchased a separate Office 2021 license.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2021
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Activating a newly purchased Office 2021 on a computer that has a preinstalled trial version.
- Observed behavior
- An expiration or disablement warning is displayed because the system is reading the preinstalled Microsoft 365 trial instead of the purchased Office 2021 license.
Ensure you have the login credentials for the Microsoft account used to purchase or link your Office 2021 license before making changes to your installed applications.
Uninstall Microsoft 365 Trial and Reinstall Office 2021
Remove the conflicting preinstalled Microsoft 365 trial and perform a fresh installation of your purchased Office 2021.
Computers often come with a preinstalled trial of Microsoft 365. When you purchase and try to use Office 2021, the system might still prompt you with the Microsoft 365 trial expiration warning. Removing the trial version resolves this conflict and allows your permanent license to work.
Click the Start menu and open 'Settings', then navigate to the 'Apps' or 'Apps & features' section.
Locate 'Microsoft 365' in the application list, click on it, and select 'Uninstall'. Follow the on-screen prompts to remove it completely from your computer.
Open a web browser, go to account.microsoft.com/services, and sign in with the Microsoft account linked to your Office 2021 purchase.
Locate your Office 2021 product in the services list, click 'Install', and run the downloaded setup file to complete the fresh installation.
Switch to WPS Office to Avoid Licensing and Trial Expiration Issues
Tired of confusing trial expirations and activation warnings? WPS Office provides a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office without the hassle of complex license management.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button for your operating system.
- 2. Run the Installer: Open the downloaded setup file and follow the quick installation process.
- 3. Open Your Files Instantly: Launch WPS Office and immediately start editing your existing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files without activation barriers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Office 2021 say my subscription is expiring when it is a one-time purchase?
Office 2021 is a one-time purchase, but if your new computer came with a preinstalled Microsoft 365 trial, Windows may default to opening the trial version. The warning is for the trial, not your purchased Office 2021.
Will I lose my files if I uninstall the Microsoft 365 trial?
No, uninstalling the Microsoft 365 trial will not delete any of your personal documents or files. They are saved separately on your hard drive or in your cloud storage.
How do I check which Microsoft account is linked to my Office 2021 purchase?
You can check by signing in to account.microsoft.com/services using your email addresses. The correct account will list Office 2021 under your 'Products and Services' or 'Subscriptions' section.
