Microsoft 365: Your Account Doesn't Allow Editing on a Mac (Office Error)

This article provides steps for troubleshooting the following Microsoft Office 365 error when attempting to open and use an app on a Mac computer: "You account doesn't allow editing on a Mac."

Environment

• macOS / OS X and macOS tablets
• MS Office 365 on an iPad
• Microsoft 365, Office productivity apps

Issue

How do I fix the following error?: "Your account [uniqname]@umich.edu can view documents, but it doesn't allow editing on a Mac. To edit, use another account to activate Office. Learn more, contact your admin about your Office plan." (The error message might be titled "Ready to View Documents")

Note: Microsoft Office 365 now requires users to log in to activate and use the applications, whereas older versions of Microsoft Office do not. 

Resolution

Note: U-M Microsoft 365 desktop licensing applies to active students, regular staff, faculty.

Desktop

In the desktop app for a Microsoft Office 365 product (e.g., Word, Excel, etc.), the following error message will appear as a banner across the top of the app window: "Your account [uniqname]@umich.edu can view documents, but it doesn't allow editing on a Mac. To edit, use another account to activate Office. Learn more, contact your admin about your Office plan."

To restore functionality, try the following steps:

1. Click the Use Another Account button on the far right side of that banner.
2. Enter your @umich.edu email address and UMICH password when asked for your login credentials.
   1. You should do this even if you are "already signed in" using those credentials.

Doing this should cause the software to activate, and functionality should be restored from there, allowing you to edit documents per normal.

If the above steps do not solve your issue, close all Office applications and follow the steps below:

1. Open Finder and go to /Users/_uniqname_/Library/Keychains.
2. Delete the folder(s) in this directory, which is formatted similarly to "13E25AC5-E6DC-4485-B763-19387C82A2E2."
   • Do not delete non-folder items or the entire keychain folder or empty the trash until all steps are completed and the computer is working as expected.
3. Restart the computer.
4. You may be prompted to sign in using your Apple ID if you use iCloud Keychain - complete this step if prompted.
5. Log in to your desktop and open Microsoft Word.
6. Click Activate Office in the bottom left of the New Document screen.
7. Sign in using your @umich.edu email address and UMICH password when asked for your login credentials.

Mobile

In the mobile application for a Microsoft 365 product (e.g., Word, Excel, etc.), try the following to restore functionality:

1. Tap Account and tap the account you're using in any Microsoft Office 365 app.
2. Tap Sign Out and tap Sign Out again to confirm.
3. Close all Microsoft Office 365 apps.
4. Open the app again and sign in using your @umich.edu email address and UMICH password.

iPad

1. Click "Sign in using another account" and make certain user is signing in correctly.
2. If that does not work (after multiple login tries)
   1. Uninstall Office 
   2. Empty trash
   3. Restart device 
   4. Install again from portal.office.com
3. If that does not work, try the steps found here: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/-no-subscription-error-or-problem-signing-into-office-for-ipad-using-a-microsoft-365-organization-id-account-1ceccc05-6954-4fac-b12d-e54341ad898e
   1. Close all the Office for iPad apps. To do this, press the Home button on your iPad twice, swipe to find each Office for iPad app, and then swipe the preview screen up to close each app.
   2. Go to iPad Settings.
   3. In Settings, tap to select one of your Office for iPad apps such as Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
   4. Under RESET, tap Reset <app name>.
   5. Slide to enable Delete Login Credentials.
   6. Start one of your Office for iPad apps so that your credential is deleted.
   7. Sign in using your Microsoft 365 Organization ID account.

Additional Information

Need additional information or assistance? Contact the ITS Service Center.