Microsoft Office (Retirees) - Why Desktop Apps Are No Longer Available

If Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook on your computer suddenly stopped working or began asking you to sign in again, it can feel like SIUE removed your access. In almost every case, what's actually happening is a change Microsoft made to how the desktop versions of Office are licensed. SIUE did not turn off your apps.

What Changed

The desktop versions of Office require an active, paid Microsoft 365 license tied to your account. Microsoft updated its licensing terms so that this benefit no longer extends to retired accounts. Once an account is no longer eligible under Microsoft's terms, the installed apps stop opening normally and may display a message about an expired or missing license.

This is a Microsoft policy, applied by Microsoft. SIUE cannot override it or restore the desktop license for retiree accounts.

What This Means for You

• The Office apps installed on your computer may no longer open, or may open in a limited, read-only mode.
• You may be prompted to sign in repeatedly, even when your password is correct.
• Your existing documents are not deleted. They remain on your computer and can still be opened with other tools (see below).

Options for Continuing to Use Office

You can continue working in Office without an SIUE license by using a personal Microsoft account. Choose the option that fits how you'd like to work:

• Use Office in a web browser (free): Sign in at office.com with a free personal Microsoft account to use Word, Excel, and PowerPoint at no cost. For step-by-step instructions, see Microsoft 365 (Retiree Access) - Transitioning to Online Applications.
• Install the desktop apps on your own computer: If you'd prefer the installed versions, you can purchase a Microsoft 365 Personal or Family plan directly from Microsoft. Microsoft 365 (Retirees) – Office Options on a Personal Computer covers both reaching the online apps and walking through a purchase.
• Open your existing files: Documents saved on your computer can still be opened with Office on the web or with a personal Office installation.

Need Additional Support?

This guide aims to provide useful information, but as technology changes, interfaces or steps might vary. Please use the Comment button to let us know if anything differs from your experience. Your feedback helps us keep this information accurate. Thank you!