How to fix license issue with 2019 office package?

Since you are still Sonoma OS, download and install the 16.76 version of Office that compatible to the current version of your Mac.

Before doing so, ensure all office applications are uninstalled then use this link: https://officecdn.microsoft.com/pr/C1297A47-86C4-4C1F-97FA-950631F94777/MacAutoupdate/Microsoft_365_and_Office_16.76.23081101_Installer.pkg

During installation, it will show auto updater, make sure to not update it as it will defeat the purpose of installing 16.76 version, once done it should allow the activation to proceed successfully.

Hi Shaheer,

To further check on this, can you provide me the exact screenshot of the error message as well as the build version of the macOS and I will try to check the compatible office 2019 version that will work to your Mac.

For Office Home & Business 2019 on Mac, the issue is typically either:

• Using Mac App Store versions (which do not work with one-time/perpetual licenses), or
• Corrupted/incorrect license data on the Mac.

Follow these steps in order:

1. Remove Mac App Store versions of Office
   Office Home & Business 2019 cannot activate apps installed from the Mac App Store.
   1. Close Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook.
   2. Open Finder → Applications.
   3. Control‑click each of Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Outlook and choose Move to Trash.
2. Remove old license files
   Since the license removal tool was already tried, run it again after fully removing the apps so all license remnants are cleared:
   1. Download the license removal tool.
   2. Open the .pkg file from Downloads. If macOS shows an “unidentified developer” warning, hold Control and click the file → Open.
   3. Select Continue and follow the wizard.
   4. When ready, select Install and enter the Mac admin password if prompted.
   5. When it finishes, select Close.
   6. Optionally drag Microsoft_Office_License_Removal from Finder > Downloads to Trash.
3. Install the correct Office 2019 for Mac apps from Microsoft (not the App Store)
   Use the direct Microsoft installers that support perpetual licenses:
   • Either download individual apps:
     • Microsoft Word
     • Microsoft Excel
     • Microsoft PowerPoint
     • Microsoft Outlook
   • Or download a full Office installer package that matches Office 2019:
     • Office 2019 for Mac Installer
   After the download completes, open the installer package and follow the prompts to install Office.
4. Activate with the correct account / product
   • Open Word or Excel from Applications.
   • When prompted to sign in, use the same Microsoft account that shows Office Home & Business 2019 under Services & subscriptions (this confirms the license is still associated with that account).
   • If the account has multiple licenses (for example, a Microsoft 365 subscription and a one‑time purchase), choose the perpetual/one‑time license for Office 2019 when prompted.
5. If still seeing “No license found” or “Unlicensed Product”
   • Confirm again that the apps now installed are from the Microsoft installer, not the Mac App Store.
   • Make sure the sign‑in email exactly matches the one that shows the Office 2019 purchase in the account’s subscription or purchase history.
   • If activation still fails and the account definitely shows the Office 2019 license, contact Microsoft Support with proof of purchase so they can check the license association on the account.

Once correctly installed from Microsoft and activated, Word and Excel should leave read‑only mode and allow editing and saving normally.

References:

• Microsoft Office activation and the Mac App Store
• How to remove Office license files on a Mac
• Unlicensed Product and activation errors in Office