If you open Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or another Office app and see a message saying “Preview expired”, it usually means that Office has not been activated with a valid product key yet.
This can look worrying, but in most cases it is not a serious error. It simply means that Office is currently installed as a preview or unactivated version and needs to be activated with the license key you received after purchase.
How to Activate Office #
Follow these steps to activate your Office package:
- Open any Office app, for example Word or Excel.
- Close the Preview expired message if it appears.
- Click File in the top-left corner.
- Select Account from the menu.
- Look for an option such as Activate Product, Change Product Key, or an activation box.
- Enter the product key you received after purchase.
- Follow the instructions to complete the activation.
Once Office has been fully activated the preview message should disappear.
If You Cannot Find the Activation Option #
If you do not see Change Product Key or Activate Product, check whether there is a yellow or red activation warning at the top of the Office window. In some cases, you can click the warning banner to start the activation process.
You can also try opening another Office app, such as Word instead of Excel, and checking the Account page there.
Make Sure You Installed the Correct Office Version #
If the product key is not accepted, or if Office still shows the preview message after activation, the wrong Office version may be installed.
For example, a license key for one Office edition cannot activate another Office edition. A key for Office 2024 Standard must be used with the correct Office 2024 Standard installation, and a key for Office 2024 Professional Plus must be used with the correct Professional Plus installation.
If the wrong version is installed, uninstall Office and reinstall the correct package using the setup instructions for the product you purchased.
Still Seeing “Preview Expired”? #
If the message remains after entering your product key:
- Restart your computer.
- Open Word or Excel again.
- Go to File > Account.
- Check whether Office says Product Activated.
- If it is still not activated, try entering the product key again.
If the key still does not work, reinstall Office using the correct installation guide for your specific product.