Activation Problems

Fix Product Deactivated Error After Changing Microsoft Office Password

Kushani Nimanthika Sep 28, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is experiencing an activation failure in Microsoft Office desktop applications after modifying their Microsoft account password, despite having an active subscription.

How to Fix the Product Deactivated Error After Changing Your Office Password

Product: Microsoft Office 365
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Opening Word, Excel, or other Office desktop applications after a recent Microsoft account password change.
Observed behavior: The applications display a 'Product Deactivated' message and fail to recognize the active Microsoft 365 subscription, an issue that persists even after reinstalling the software.

Before you start

Ensure you have your newly updated Microsoft account credentials ready and create a backup of your Windows Registry before proceeding with any advanced system modifications.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear the Office Identity Cache and Registry Entry

Use this solution to clear outdated authentication tokens that prevent Office from prompting for your new password.

When you change your Microsoft account password, Office sometimes retains outdated cache files and registry keys instead of requesting new credentials. Clearing the OneAuth and IdentityCache folders forces the software to refresh its activation status.

Close Office Applications

Ensure that all Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and Outlook, are completely closed.

Clear IdentityCache Folder

Press the Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog, type '%localappdata%\Microsoft\IdentityCache', and press Enter. Delete all files within this folder.

Clear OneAuth Folder

Open the Run dialog again, type '%localappdata%\Microsoft\OneAuth', and press Enter. Delete all contents inside this folder as well.

Remove Identity Registry Key

Press Windows Key + R, type 'regedit', and press Enter. Navigate to 'HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\Identity'. Right-click the 'Identity' folder, select Export to create a backup, and then delete the folder.

Restart and Activate

Restart your computer, open any Microsoft Office application, and sign in with your updated Microsoft account password to reactivate.

Clear the Office Identity Cache and Registry Entry

Registry Backup Reminder: Always export a backup of the registry key before deleting it. This allows you to restore the settings if you experience unintended system behavior.

Solution 2

Re-establish Microsoft 365 Family Sharing

If you are using a shared Microsoft 365 Family subscription, refreshing the sharing link can resolve license recognition issues.

Solution 3

Roll Back Office to an Earlier Version

Reverting to a previous Office update build can bypass activation bugs triggered by recent software patches.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office: A Hassle-Free Alternative to Microsoft 365

Tired of dealing with activation errors, registry edits, and subscription issues? WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office. Enjoy seamless document editing without the hassle of recurring activations or password glitches.

1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the Free Download button to get the latest installation file.
2. Install WPS Office: Run the downloaded installer and follow the simple on-screen instructions to complete the setup in minutes.
3. Open and Edit: Launch WPS Office, open your existing Microsoft Office files, and start editing immediately without worrying about subscription status.

Completely free to use with no complex activation procedures or license errorsHighly compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx)Lightweight software that installs quickly and runs smoothly on older devicesFamiliar user interface that requires zero learning curve for seamless migration

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did my Office product deactivate after changing my password?

When you change your Microsoft account password, the security tokens cached on your computer become invalid. If Office fails to automatically prompt for the new password, it relies on the outdated cache, resulting in a 'Product Deactivated' error.

Where can I find the Office IdentityCache folder?

You can locate the IdentityCache folder by pressing Windows Key + R, typing '%localappdata%\Microsoft\IdentityCache', and pressing Enter. Clearing the files inside this directory helps resolve various login and activation glitches.

Does reinstalling Microsoft Office fix activation errors?

Not always. Reinstalling Office often leaves user data, registry keys, and cached credentials intact on your system. You typically need to manually clear the identity cache and related registry entries to permanently resolve persistent activation errors.

Installation & Activation