Easy Ways to Fix “Unlicensed Product” in Excel (Step-by-Step) | WPS Office Blog (2024)

Microsoft Excel is an instrumental application for many professionals, students, and individuals. It powers everything from financial analysis to project management and everything in between. However, when you encounter the annoying “Unlicensed Product” error, it can mess up your workflow and slow down your productivity.

In this guide, you’ll learn how to fix the Excel Unlicensed product error, thereby ensuring uninterrupted access to Excel's powerful tools.

What Causes Unlicensed Product Error in Microsoft Excel?

The Excel Unlicensed Product error typically occurs when the software detects that the copy of Excel being used is not properly licensed or activated. When this error occurs, you cannot edit, or create new spreadsheets. However, there are several reasons why this error might occur.

If you were using a trial version or subscription-based version of Excel and it has expired, you may encounter this error. Activation issues can also arise due to entering an incorrect product key or not completing the activation process properly.

How to Fix Unlicensed Status in Microsoft Excel

Unlicensed Product means that the Microsoft Office suite, including applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc., is not activated with a license. Unlicensed or unauthorized versions of Microsoft Office violate the terms and conditions of the license. This can result in limitations in functionality and legal issues.

To resolve the issue and ensure your Microsoft Office is properly licensed, you can follow the guidelines below on how to fix an Excel unlicensed product:

Step 1: Log in with the correct account

If you purchased Office using another email address, please log in using all your email addresses. If you’re at work or in school, you might need to sign in using your school or work email account instead.

If you’re unsure whether your Microsoft account belongs to Office, log in to the “Services & subscriptions” tab. It should list your Office product or your Microsoft 365 subscription. If it doesn’t, your email won’t work for Office sign-in.

Step 2: Uninstall any copies of Office

If you have multiple versions of Office installed, activation may fail. Uninstall any versions of Office that you don’t use before continuing with troubleshooting.

On your operating system, open the Control Panel using the following steps:

1. Windows 11 or Windows 10: On the Windows taskbar, type Control Panel in the Type here to search box, select Control Panel in the search results, and then select Programs and Features.

2. Windows 8.1 or Windows 8: Right-click the Start button (lower-left corner), select Control Panel, and then select Programs and Features.

3. Windows 7: Select > Control Panel > Uninstall a program.

Step 3: Check your Microsoft Office 365 subscription's current status

If you are using Microsoft Office 365, make sure your subscription is up-to-date. If not, you'll need to renew your subscription. Follow the following steps to check and review your subscription’s status:

1. Shut down all Office applications

2. Go to the Services & subscriptions page

3. On the page, select Sign in and enter your Microsoft account's email and password.

4. Under the 'Subscriptions' heading or 'Canceled subscriptions', check the details. If your subscription has expired, review it.

After you renew your subscription, you can restart your Office apps as needed. If Office still won't activate, continue to the next step.

Step 4: Troubleshoot

After following the steps above, and you still encounter the Excel unlicensed product error, you’ll need to use your troubleshooter. To use your troubleshooting feature, go to the Microsoft website, select Office 365, Office 2019, Office 2016, or Office 2013, and select “Troubleshooting”.

For Office 365:

1. You will need to first find the Support and Recovery Assistant for Office 365 and click the Download button

2. You will then be given a drop-down list of web browsers for you to select your preferred browser

3. A dialog box will open that says Application Install. You will need to click on the Install button

4. You will need to agree to the Microsoft Service Agreement and then select Yes to allow the app to make changes to your device.

5. You can then follow the troubleshooting prompts

For Office 2019 and Office 2016:

1. Select the download button under the Activation Troubleshooter page for 2019 and 2016

2. Choose your preferred web browser in the drop-down list

3. This will allow you to run the Activation Troubleshooter and look for alternative reasons for the issues you are having.

If you have a valid license or subscription, but you are still having activation problems, contact Microsoft Support. Microsoft Support can troubleshoot your problem and help you resolve it.

Use Excel for Free with WPS Office

WPS Office offers a free alternative to Microsoft Excel that allows users to create and edit spreadsheets without the need for a Microsoft Office subscription. Here's how you can use WPS Office to work with spreadsheets:

1. Download and Install WPS Office: Visit the WPS Office website and download the version compatible with your operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, or iOS). Install the software following the on-screen instructions.

WPS Office Download

2. Launch WPS Spreadsheets: Once installed, launch the WPS Office application and select the "Spreadsheets" option from the home screen. This will open the WPS Spreadsheets program.

3. Create or Open a Spreadsheet: You can create a new spreadsheet by selecting "New" and choosing a blank spreadsheet or a template. Alternatively, you can open an existing Excel file by selecting "Open" and navigating to the file location on your computer.

4. Edit and Format: Use the familiar interface of WPS Spreadsheets to enter data, perform calculations, and format your spreadsheet as needed. WPS Office provides many of the same features and functions found in Microsoft Excel, allowing you to create professional-looking spreadsheets.

5. Save Your Work: Once you've finished working on your spreadsheet, save your changes by clicking on the "Save" button or selecting "Save As" to save a copy with a different name or file format.

6. Share and Collaborate: WPS Office allows you to easily share your spreadsheets with others by sending them the file directly or by using cloud storage services like Dropbox, Google Drive, or OneDrive.

7. Export to Excel Format: If you need to share your spreadsheet with someone who uses Microsoft Excel, you can export your WPS spreadsheet file to Excel format (.xlsx) to ensure compatibility.

FAQs

• Why is Excel deactivated?

If you are using a subscription-based version of Excel, such as Microsoft 365, and your subscription expires, Excel may become deactivated, thereby showing the Excel Unlicensed product error. Similarly, if you use a perpetual license version of Excel (one-time purchase), the license may expire after a certain period, requiring reactivation.

• How much is a license for Excel?

If you're purchasing a standalone license for Excel, meaning you pay once for perpetual use of the software without ongoing subscription fees, the cost can range from around $139.99 to $249.99 or more, depending on the edition and any bundled features.

Summary

In conclusion, the cost of obtaining a license for Microsoft Excel varies depending on several factors, including the version of Excel, the licensing model, and any available discounts or promotions. In this guide, we've gone over the steps involved in solving the "Unlicensed" product error in Microsoft Excel. However, if you prefer a more versatile and cost-effective software, WPS Office is the most reliable option for you.