How to Fix “Your account doesn’t allow editing on a Mac” in Word or Excel

If you’re using Microsoft Word or Excel on a Mac and see the message “Your account doesn’t allow editing,” it usually means your Microsoft 365 license doesn’t include desktop editing rights. This guide will help you resolve the issue. 

Steps to Fix the Editing Restriction 

     1. Sign Out of Office 

a. Open Word or Excel. 

b. Go to Help > Sign Out. 

     2. Sign Back In 

a. Sign in using your work or school account. 

b. Make sure it’s the account associated with your Microsoft 365 subscription. 

      3. Check Your License 

a. Go to https://portal.office.com/account. 

b. Under Subscriptions, confirm your license type. 

c. If you see Microsoft 365 Business Basic, it only supports web editing. 

     4.Use the Web Version (If Needed) 

a. If your license doesn’t support desktop editing, use https://www.office.com/launch/word or https://www.office.com/launch/excel. 

     5. Contact IT for a License Upgrade 

a. If you need desktop editing, request an upgrade to Microsoft 365 Business Standard or higher.