How to Recover from Microsoft 365 Issues with Apple Intelligence

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Are you having trouble accessing Microsoft Office on your MacBook Pro while it works fine on your MacBook Air? You’re not alone in facing this issue, especially if you own a lifetime license but find yourself being prompted to use Microsoft 365 instead. Let’s walk through some steps to free yourself from this predicament.

### Step 1: Understand Your License

First, it’s important to clarify the kind of license you have. A lifetime license means you should have access to Office without needing a subscription. Microsoft 365, on the other hand, is a subscription service that often requires a continuous payment. Confirm that your lifetime license covers the entire Office suite, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.

### Step 2: Check Your Microsoft Account

Log into your Microsoft account on your MacBook Pro. Sometimes, users find they have the wrong account signed in, which can cause access issues. Make sure you’re using the same account that corresponds with your lifetime license.

### Step 3: Remove Microsoft 365 Subscription

If your husband is paying for a Microsoft 365 subscription on a different computer, that might be causing conflicts. When you try to use your license on your MacBook Pro, the software may be confused about which account to honor. If your husband isn’t using the subscription actively, consider canceling it to see if that resolves the problem. Just be sensitive, given his age and that he may not recall the reasons behind the subscription.

### Step 4: Reinstall Microsoft Office

Sometimes, a simple reinstall can fix authorization issues. Uninstall Microsoft Office from your MacBook Pro:

1. Open Finder and go to Applications.
2. Find Microsoft Office apps, like Word or Excel.
3. Drag them to the Trash.
4. Empty the Trash.

Then, reinstall Office using your lifetime license key. Visit the Office website, go to the download section, and input your license key when prompted.

### Step 5: Contact Microsoft Support

If you’ve tried all of the above steps and are still having issues, it might be time to reach out to Microsoft Support. They can help troubleshoot your specific situation and may offer solutions that haven’t been considered yet.

### Step 6: Consider Alternative Options

If the problem persists and you prefer not to deal with subscriptions, think about using alternative software. There are many free or one-time purchase options that can serve basic office needs, such as Google Docs, LibreOffice, or Apple’s iWork suite, which includes Pages, Numbers, and Keynote.

By following these steps, you should be able to regain access to Microsoft Office on your MacBook Pro and avoid any subscription confusion. Remember, understanding your software license is crucial to navigating issues like this in the future.