How to Fix the Microsoft 365 Office License Is Not Genuine Warning
Question details
The user needs to resolve an error where Microsoft Office displays a warning stating that the license is not genuine, despite having an active Microsoft 365 subscription.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Using Microsoft Office applications with an active subscription but being interrupted by a non-genuine software alert.
- Observed behavior
- Office incorrectly reports that the license is not genuine, which is typically caused by the wrong Office edition being installed on the system.
Verify that your Microsoft 365 subscription is currently active and ensure you have your Microsoft account login credentials available before proceeding with the reinstallation.
Verify Installed Edition and Reinstall Microsoft 365
Check for conflicting Office editions in your account settings and use the official Microsoft tool to perform a clean installation of Microsoft 365.
Often, a previous version of Office or a different edition (like Office 2019) remains on your computer. When Microsoft 365 tries to authenticate, the presence of these older versions triggers a 'not genuine' warning.
Open Microsoft Word, click on 'File' in the top-left corner, and select 'Account'. Look under the 'Product Information' section to see if the listed product is specifically Microsoft 365.
If a different Office edition is listed, download and launch Microsoft's official Office uninstall support tool to completely wipe all traces of the incorrect installation from your system.
After the uninstallation tool finishes processing, restart your computer to ensure all background registry files and temporary data are cleared.
Log in to the Microsoft account services page using the account tied to your active subscription. Navigate to your subscriptions and click 'Install' to download the correct Microsoft 365 package.
Switch to WPS Office to Avoid Complex Licensing Errors
If Microsoft 365 licensing errors persist or you prefer a straightforward, cost-effective productivity suite, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides powerful tools for your documents without the hassle of complex subscription validations.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the 'Download' button to get the free installation package.
- 2. Install the software: Run the downloaded installer and follow the simple on-screen instructions to set up WPS Office on your computer.
- 3. Open your existing files: Launch WPS Office and open your .docx, .xlsx, or .pptx files directly to continue your work without formatting loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why am I getting a 'license not genuine' warning when my Microsoft 365 subscription is active?
This usually happens if a previous, expired, or different version of Office (like Office 2019 or a volume-licensed edition) is installed alongside your Microsoft 365 applications, causing a license conflict.
Will I lose my files if I uninstall and reinstall Microsoft 365?
No, uninstalling Microsoft Office only removes the application software from your computer. Your Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations remain safe on your local drive or OneDrive.
How do I confirm if my Microsoft 365 subscription is actually active?
You can check your subscription status by signing into your Microsoft account online, navigating to the 'Services & subscriptions' section, and reviewing the expiration or renewal date of your current plan.
Where can I safely download the Microsoft Office uninstall support tool?
The official uninstall support tool (also known as the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant) can be downloaded directly from the official Microsoft Support website by searching for the 'Uninstall Office' guide.
