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How to Remove a School Office License and Switch to a Personal License on Mac
Question details
The user needs to remove an old school Microsoft Office license from their Mac in order to sign in and use a personal Microsoft 365 subscription.
- Product
- Microsoft Office
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Attempting to switch from a school account to a personal Microsoft 365 account on a Mac computer.
- Observed behavior
- The old school account continues to appear and prevents the activation of the software with the new personal license.
Ensure you have your personal Microsoft account credentials ready and close all running Office applications on your Mac before starting the license removal process.
Use the Official Office License Removal Tool
The most reliable way to clear old license files on a Mac is by running Microsoft's dedicated removal utility, which completely erases hidden school credentials.
macOS stores Microsoft Office license credentials in hidden system folders and Keychain entries. Simply signing out of the Office app often fails to clear these cached files, causing the old school account to persist. The License Removal Tool automates the deletion of these files.
Navigate to the official Microsoft Support website and download the Microsoft Office License Removal Tool (.pkg file).
Open the downloaded .pkg file and follow the on-screen prompts. Provide your Mac administrator password when prompted to allow the tool to remove the license files.
Once the tool finishes, restart your Mac to ensure all background processes and cached memory related to the old license are completely cleared.
Open any Office application such as Word or Excel. Click on 'Sign In' or 'Activate' and enter the email and password for your personal Microsoft account to activate the software.
Try WPS Office as a Hassle-Free Alternative on Mac
If you want to avoid complex license management, overlapping accounts, or subscription renewals, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly compatible and lightweight alternative for Mac users without the headache of managing multiple license tiers.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the Mac version of the software.
- 2. Install on Mac: Open the downloaded package and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 3. Start Creating: Launch WPS Office and immediately begin editing your documents without worrying about account activation issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will removing the Office license delete my Word or Excel files?
No, the license removal tool only clears the hidden activation files on your Mac. All of your personal documents, spreadsheets, and presentations are completely safe and will remain untouched.
Why does my Mac still show my old school account after I sign out?
Office for Mac caches license credentials deeply in the system's Keychain and library folders. If these entries aren't completely wiped, the software will automatically retrieve the previous school license instead of prompting you for your new personal one.
Can I manually remove the Mac Office license without downloading the tool?
While it is possible to manually delete specific 'com.microsoft' files from your Library folder and Keychain Access, using the official License Removal Tool is strongly recommended. It is faster and prevents the accidental deletion of crucial system files.
Do I need to uninstall Microsoft Office apps before using the removal tool?
No, you do not need to uninstall or reinstall Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. The removal tool specifically targets and deletes only the license files, allowing you to sign back into your existing apps with your new personal account.
