Office Says “Subscription Expired” on a Perpetual License
If you purchased a one-time Office license but you’re seeing a “Your subscription has expired” message, don’t worry — this is a common confusion caused by Microsoft’s account sign-in system.
Why This Happens:
You may have signed into Office with a Microsoft 365 account, which is subscription-based.
Microsoft sometimes defaults to a trial or expired subscription view when it doesn’t recognize the perpetual key.
Windows or Office may be pulling license info from an older Office install.
How to Fix It
1. Confirm Your License Type
Go to
Control Panel > Programsand check the exact version installed (e.g., Office Professional Plus 2021).If it shows "Microsoft 365 Apps" — it’s the wrong version for a perpetual license.
2. Uninstall Incorrect Version
Use the official Microsoft Office Uninstall Troubleshooter:
Reboot after removal.
3. Install the Correct Version
Download the installer that matches your license from the link we provided in your order confirmation.
Make sure you do not sign in with a Microsoft 365 account during installation.
4. Activate With Your Product Key
Open Word or Excel → go to Account > Change Product Key
Enter the key you purchased from us
Still Seeing the Message?
Try signing out of all Microsoft accounts inside Office:
File > Account > Sign OutThen restart Office and enter your key again under “Activate Product.”
If none of the above works, contact our team at help@thesoftwarekings.com with your order number — we’ll help you reset and activate the correct version.