How to Fix PowerPoint Unlicensed Product Error and Reactivate Your License?

Is your Microsoft PowerPoint showing an “Unlicensed Product” error message and saying it needs to be activated? Don’t worry – this is a common issue that can usually be resolved quickly. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explain why you may be seeing the PowerPoint unlicensed product notification and provide detailed step-by-step instructions on how to fix it across Windows, Mac, and mobile devices so you can get your presentations up and running again.

What Causes the PowerPoint Unlicensed Product Error?

There are a few potential reasons why PowerPoint may show an “Unlicensed Product” message:

1. Expired Microsoft 365 Subscription: If you have a Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) subscription and it has expired, your license is no longer valid. This will cause PowerPoint and other Office apps like Word and Excel to become unlicensed until you renew.
2. Signed Into Wrong Microsoft Account: Another common cause is signing into a Microsoft account that is not associated with your active Microsoft 365 subscription and Office license. Make sure you’re logged into the correct account that you used to purchase Office.
3. Office Activation Issue: Sometimes an Office activation problem or licensing bug can cause the unlicensed product error to appear in PowerPoint, even if your Microsoft 365 subscription is still active. This may happen after a major Office version upgrade, due to a temporary server glitch, or other technical reason.
4. Using Pirated or Unlicensed Copy: If you acquired PowerPoint from an unauthorized third-party source or are knowingly using a pirated or cracked version, it will not be properly licensed and activated. Only genuine Microsoft Office products purchased directly from Microsoft or an authorized retailer can be officially licensed.

How to Check Your Microsoft 365 Subscription Status

Before attempting to troubleshoot the PowerPoint unlicensed product error, the first step is to verify the current status of your Microsoft 365 subscription:

1. Open a web browser and go to the Microsoft 365 web portal
2. Click the “Sign In” button in the top-right corner and enter your Microsoft account email and password
3. Once logged in, click your circular profile icon in the top-right corner and select “My account” from the dropdown menu
4. On the account page, scroll down to the “Subscriptions” section
5. Check the status next to your Microsoft 365 subscription – if it shows as “Expired”, you’ll need to renew your subscription to reactivate PowerPoint and other Office apps

Here’s a helpful table summarizing the possible subscription status messages and what they mean:

If your subscription is still active but you’re getting the PowerPoint unlicensed message, move on to the troubleshooting steps below. If it’s expired, renew your Microsoft 365 subscription, then follow the reactivation steps if needed.

Fixing PowerPoint Unlicensed Product on Windows 10 & 11

If your Microsoft 365 subscription is active but you’re still getting the PowerPoint unlicensed product message, try these solutions on your Windows 10 or 11 PC:

Sign Out of Microsoft 365 and Back In

Often simply signing out of your Microsoft account and signing back in will reactivate your Office license and resolve the PowerPoint unlicensed error:

1. Open any Microsoft Office app (PowerPoint, Word, Excel, etc.)
2. Click “File” in the top-left corner, then select “Account” from the left sidebar
3. Under the “User Information” section, click the “Sign Out” button
4. Close all your open Office apps and restart your computer
5. Open PowerPoint again, click “Sign In” and enter your Microsoft 365 account email and password
6. PowerPoint should now be licensed and activated – check under File > Account to confirm

Reactivate Office Through Windows Settings

You can also try reactivating your Microsoft 365 license through the Windows Settings app:

1. Click the Start Menu button and click the gear icon to open the Settings app
2. In Settings, go to Apps > Apps & Features
3. Scroll down the list of installed programs until you find “Microsoft 365” or “Office“
4. Click on it to expand the entry, then click the “Modify” button
5. In the popup window that appears, select “Online Repair” and click “Repair“
6. Wait for the repair process to finish – this may take a few minutes
7. Once done, restart your computer and open PowerPoint to see if it’s now activated

Use the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant

If the above solutions don’t resolve the PowerPoint unlicensed product error, you can download and run the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant tool:

1. Download the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant from official website.
2. Open the downloaded file and install the Support and Recovery Assistant
3. Once installed, run the tool and click “I agree” on the license agreement screen
4. On the next screen, select “Activation” from the list of options
5. Click “Next” and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the Office activation process
6. If the tool finds an activation issue, it will automatically fix it
7. Restart your computer after the process completes, then open PowerPoint to verify activation

Fixing PowerPoint Unlicensed Product on Mac

If PowerPoint is showing an unlicensed product message on your MacBook, iMac or Mac Mini, use these methods to reactivate your license:

Relogin to your Microsoft 365 Account on Your Mac Device

Just like on Windows, signing out of your Microsoft account and back in often fixes licensing issues on Mac:

1. Launch any Microsoft Office app on your Mac (PowerPoint, Word, Excel, etc.)
2. In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click “Help” and select “Sign Out“
3. Quit and close all your open Microsoft Office applications
4. Open PowerPoint again, click “Sign In” when prompted and log in with your Microsoft 365 email and password
5. Once signed in, your license should reactivate within a few minutes

If you don’t see the Sign Out option under the Help menu, your Office license is tied to your Mac’s keychain. In this case, go to Finder > Applications > Utilities > Keychain Access. Find your Office keychain entry, delete it, then sign back into PowerPoint.

Update Microsoft Office Apps

Sometimes the PowerPoint unlicensed error can appear on Mac if you’re using an outdated version of Microsoft 365. To check for and install any available updates:

1. Open any Microsoft Office program on your Mac
2. In the top menu bar, click “Help” and then click “Check for Updates“
3. If any updates are found, click the “Update Now” button to download and install them
4. After the updates are installed, restart your Mac
5. Open PowerPoint and it should now be activated and licensed

Completely Uninstall and Reinstall Office

As a last resort, you can try completely uninstalling and reinstalling Microsoft 365 on your Mac:

1. Open a Finder window and go to the Applications folder
2. Locate “Microsoft PowerPoint” and drag it to the Trash icon on your dock
3. Do the same for other Office apps like Microsoft Word, Excel, etc. to fully remove them
4. Now open a web browser and go to Microsoft 365
5. Click the “Sign In” button and log in with your Microsoft 365 account
6. Once logged in, click the “Install Office” button, then “Install” again
7. After the download completes, open the installer and follow the prompts to install Microsoft 365
8. Open PowerPoint and sign in with your Microsoft account to activate your license

Resolve PowerPoint Unlicensed Product on Mobile

If you’re getting the PowerPoint unlicensed product error on your mobile device, try these troubleshooting steps:

iPhone & iPad (iOS & iPadOS)

1. On your device’s home screen, locate and tap the “Settings” app
2. Scroll down through your list of settings and tap on “PowerPoint“
3. Under the Accounts section, tap the “Sign Out” button
4. Press the device’s home button to return to the home screen
5. Open the PowerPoint app and when prompted, tap “Sign In“
6. Enter your Microsoft 365 email address and password to log in
7. Wait a few moments and your PowerPoint license should now be active

Android Phone & Tablet

1. Open the PowerPoint app on your Android device
2. Tap the three horizontal dots menu button in the top corner
3. In the menu that appears, tap on “Settings“
4. Under the Account section, tap the “Sign Out” button
5. Close the PowerPoint app using the square navigation button
6. Tap the PowerPoint icon again to restart the app
7. On the PowerPoint welcome screen, tap “Sign In“
8. Log in with your Microsoft 365 account email and password
9. Your PowerPoint license should now be reactivated on the device

Tips to Avoid PowerPoint Unlicensed Product Error

To help prevent getting the unlicensed product message in PowerPoint and other Office apps in the first place:

• Keep your Microsoft 365 subscription active and renewed. Turn on recurring billing if the option is available.
• Always use the same Microsoft account across all your Windows, Mac, and mobile devices. This ensures your Microsoft 365 subscription and Office license is synced everywhere.
• Avoid signing into Office apps with multiple different Microsoft accounts. If you need to switch accounts, make sure to first sign out of all Office apps on the device.
• Only download and install PowerPoint and Office from official Microsoft sources. Avoid pirated, cracked, or unofficial versions as they won’t be properly licensed.
• Keep your Microsoft 365 apps updated to the latest version. Enable automatic updates on both Windows and Mac computers.
• If the unlicensed error persists, contact Microsoft Support for further assistance. Have your Microsoft 365 account and subscription details ready when contacting support.

The Bottom Line

Getting a PowerPoint unlicensed product error message can be frustrating, but in most cases it’s fixable in a few simple steps. First, verify that your Microsoft 365 subscription is still active and hasn’t expired. If your subscription is good, try signing out of your Microsoft account and signing back in on the device, running an online repair via Settings, or using the Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant tool. On mobile devices, sign out of PowerPoint through the device’s main settings area.

As a last resort, especially on Mac, you can uninstall Office completely and then reinstall a fresh copy from the official Microsoft website. Just remember to keep your Microsoft 365 subscription active, use the same account across devices, and steer clear of unofficial Office versions to avoid seeing this error again in the future.

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Trish Dixon

Trish Dixon is the founder of PPTBliss and a PowerPoint expert with over a decade of experience in presentation design. Passionate about visual storytelling, Trish shares her expertise through easy-to-follow tutorials on slide design, animations, transitions, and best practices, helping professionals create impactful presentations across industries.

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