This article lists some solutions to fix the error Microsoft Office cannot verify the license for this product. This error can occur on any of the Office applications. Microsoft Office is a powerful suite that lets users create and manage spreadsheets, documents, send, receive, and manage email messages, etc. This error is very annoying as it prevents users from accessing any Office application.
The complete error message is given below:
Microsoft Office cannot verify the license for this product. You should repair the Office program by using Control panel.
The possible causes that trigger this error are:
- Outdated Office app
- If you have multiple copies installed on your system, you may get this error
- You are running the Office application in the Compatibility Mode
- The SoftwareProtectionPlatform key is deleted from the Registry Editor after a certain Windows update
- Your Office application gets corrupted
Fix Microsoft Office cannot verify the license for this product
If you see the “Microsoft Office cannot verify the license for this product” error after opening any Office application, you can try the fixes written below:
- Update Office
- Check if there is a SoftwareProtectionPlatform key in the Registry Editor
- Disable Compatibility Mode
- Run an Online Repair
- Uninstall and reinstall Office
We have explained all these fixes in detail below.
1] Update Office
If you are running an outdated version of Office, you may experience such types of errors. Therefore, we suggest you check for Office updates and install them if available.
Related: There’s a problem with your Office License
2] Check if there is a SoftwareProtectionPlatform key in the Registry Editor
As explained earlier in this article, if the SoftwareProtectionPlatform key is deleted from the Registry Editor after a certain Windows update, you may experience this error. The following steps explain how to check and solve this problem.
Press Win + R keys to launch the run command box. Type regedit and click OK. Select Yes if you receive the UAC prompt.
Copy the following path and paste it into the address bar of the Registry Editor. After that hit Enter.
HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-20\Software\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion
Expand the CurrentVersion key and check if it has the SoftwareProtectionPlatform subkey. If the subkey is not there, it might be deleted after a certain Windows update. In this case, you have to export the key from a computer on which Office is installed and is working properly.
If another computer is not available, you can try running the SFC scan and see if it helps fix the issue.
Go to the path in the Registry Editor on a device that has a working Office application. Expand the CurrentVersion key and right-click on the SoftwareProtectionPlatform subkey. Select Export. Save the file in .reg format and copy that file to the device on which you are experiencing the problem.
Now, open the Registry Editor on your device and navigate to the above-mentioned path. Right-click on the SoftwareProtectionPlatform subkey and select Permissions.
Select the NETWORK SERVICE under the Group or usernames section. It should have Full Control permission. If the NETWORK SERVICE entry is not available, click Add and create a new one. Now, select the newly created NETWORK SERVICE entry and select the Allow checkbox next to Full Control.
Click Apply and then Ok. After that, restart your computer.
Related: Unable to activate Microsoft Office, This is not a valid Office product key
3] Disable Compatibility Mode
If you are running the Office application under Compatibility Mode, you may get this error. Stop running the Office app in Compatibility Mode (if you are doing so) and see if this brings any changes.
Open File Explorer and navigate to the following path:
- For MSI based application: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office
- For Click-to-Run application: C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\root
Open Office16 folder (if you have Office 2016 version), Office15 folder (if you have Office 2013 version), or Office1x folder (if your version of Office is older than 2013).
Right-click on the application that is giving you the error and select Properties. Select the Compatibility tab and deselect the checkbox that says “Run this program in compatibility mode for.”
If the option is grayed out, click the Change settings for all users button at the bottom and clear the “Run this program in compatibility mode for” checkbox. Click Apply and then OK.
If the Compatibility tab is not available, close the Properties window and right-click on the problematic Office app again. Select Troubleshoot compatibility.
Now, select the Troubleshoot program option, clear all the options, and click Next. After that, select the No, I am done investigating the problem option, and click Next.
Click Close.
Read: Fix Office Activation error 0xc004c060.
4] Run an Online Repair
If you read the error message, you are suggested to repair the Office application from the Control Panel. Run an Online Repair for the Office application and check if the issue persists. You can run Online Repair for Office from the Control Panel or Windows 11/10 Settings.
5] Uninstall and reinstall Office
If nothing helps you, you have to uninstall and reinstall the Office application. You can uninstall Office from the Windows 11/10 Settings or from the Control Panel.
How do you fix Microsoft Office can’t find your license for this application?
When Microsoft Office does not find the license of your product, it throws this error. There are many reasons for this. You will get this error if the Software Protection Properties Service is stopped on your device. You can check this in the Services app on your Windows computer.
Other reasons for this issue are the corrupted Office files or system images. In these cases, repairing the Office application and running an SFC scan can fix the issue.
How do I repair my Microsoft Office license?
You can do this by repairing the Microsoft Office application from the Control Panel. The same option is also available in Windows 11/10 Settings. Open the program uninstallation page in the Control Panel and right-click on the Office application. After that select Change and then click on the Repair option.
Hope this helps.
Read next: Precautions to take when buying Windows and Office product licenses.
