'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
How to Activate Microsoft 365 Free School License After Trial Expires
Question details
The user needs to transition their expired personal Microsoft 365 trial to a free educational license provided by their school.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- A student's personal Microsoft 365 trial has ended, and they need to activate the software using their school-provided credentials.
- Observed behavior
- Office applications continue to prompt for payment because they are still linked to the expired personal trial account, ignoring the free school license.
Ensure you have the exact login credentials (email address and password) provided by your educational institution before proceeding.
Verify School Subscription and Reset Activation State
Confirm your school has assigned the correct license to your account and clear the old trial activation data on your computer.
When a personal trial expires, Microsoft Office may retain the old account credentials. You must manually verify your school license and clear the outdated activation state to force Office to recognize the new license.
Go to https://portal.office.com in your web browser and log in using your school-provided email address.
Navigate to your account profile and open the Subscriptions page. Look for a license specifically named 'The latest desktop version of Office'.
If the license is present but Office still asks for payment, you need to clear the old trial data. Visit the official Microsoft support page to run the Support and Recovery Assistant, or follow their command-line instructions to reset your Microsoft 365 activation state.
Restart your computer, open any Office application like Word or Excel, and sign in again with your school account.
Use WPS Office as a Free Alternative to Microsoft 365
If you are having trouble activating your school's Microsoft 365 license or just need a reliable, free office suite right away, WPS Office is an excellent lightweight alternative. It offers high compatibility with Microsoft formats and features a familiar interface, allowing you to focus on your studies without activation headaches.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Click the download button to get the free WPS Office installer for your operating system.
- 2. Install the Software: Run the downloaded setup file and follow the simple on-screen instructions.
- 3. Open Your Assignments: Launch WPS Office and instantly open your existing Microsoft Office documents without any formatting loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Microsoft 365 asking for payment when my school provides it for free?
This usually happens because your installed Office applications are still linked to an expired personal trial account. You need to sign out of the personal account and reset the Office activation state to use the school license.
What should I do if the 'latest desktop version of Office' license is missing from my account?
If this license is not listed on your Microsoft Subscriptions page, it means your school has not assigned it to your specific account. You will need to contact your school's IT helpdesk or administrator to request the license.
Can I use WPS Office to open my school assignments if Microsoft 365 won't activate?
Yes, WPS Office is highly compatible with Microsoft Office formats like .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx. You can use it to open, edit, and save your school assignments for free without worrying about activation issues.
