All my word files say view only

Hi Tim Lowe1, 

I hope you're having a great day! 

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft community. 

The issue you're experiencing where Word files open in “View Only” mode and activation fails is typically caused by one of the following: 

• Office is not properly activated
• Your account does not have a valid Microsoft 365 license
• Your license has expired or was not properly assigned
• Cached credentials or license files are interfering with activation

Here are some steps you can try: 

Please make sure that you're signed in with the correct account. 

1. Check Your License Status

If you're part of an organization or school, please contact your IT administrator to: 

• Confirm that your account has a valid Microsoft 365 license
• Check whether the license has expired or was not properly assigned
• If needed, they can reassign or reactivate the license for you

1. Remove Old Credentials

• Open Spotlight and search for Keychain Access
• Type “Office” and delete any related license or credential entries
• Download and run Microsoft’s license removal script: Download and run this script

For reference:What to try if you can't install or activate Office for Mac - Microsoft Support 

1. Reinstall Office

• Uninstall Office from your device: Uninstall Office for Mac - Microsoft Support
• Reinstall it from https://www.office.com using your licensed account.

Please let me know if there are any updates. I'm happy to assist further whenever needed. 

Sincerely, 

Rin-L MSFT | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Hi Tim Lowe1, 

If you still have further concerns, please feel free to let me know.