Fix: Most Features Are Disabled Because Your Office Product Is Inactive

If you see the error ‘Most Features Are Disabled Because Your Office Product Is Inactive’, it means Microsoft Office is unable to verify your license. As a result, most features in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Office apps are restricted. This usually happens when activation files are corrupted or blocked, or if your Office version is outdated. In some cases, security programs like HP Sure Click may interfere with the activation process.

To help you resolve this issue, we’ve outlined the most reliable methods to restore your Office applications to full functionality.

1. Online Repair

Corrupted activation files or malfunctioning services (like the Office Software Protection Platform) can cause activation failures. Using the Online Repair option reinstalls all Office components, fixing misconfigurations and restoring proper activation.

1. Click the Start button, search for Control Panel, and click on it.
2. Click on the ‘View by’ drop-down menu and select Large icons. Then click on Programs and Features.
3. Locate Microsoft 365/Office in the list of programs. Click it and select ‘Change’.
4. In the next menu, choose ‘Online Repair’. Click Repair and confirm when prompted.
5. Allow the repair process to finish, then restart your computer.

2. Update Office and Disable HP Sure Click

An outdated Office version may fail license verification because older components don’t meet Microsoft’s latest activation protocols. Updating Office ensures compatibility with Microsoft servers. Additionally, programs like HP Sure Click can run Office in a virtualized environment, blocking its communication with activation services.

1. Open any Office application (e.g., Excel or Word) and go to the Account menu.
2. Click Update Options and select ‘Update Now’ to manually update Office.
3. Open the HP Sure Click desktop console from the Start menu and click Disable.

3. Use the OSPPREARM Tool (Temporary Access)

The OSPPREARM tool temporarily unlocks full access to Office features, giving you time to troubleshoot activation problems.

Note: This does NOT activate Office. It only provides temporary functionality.

1. Open File Explorer and go to:

   C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\Office16 (32-bit version)

   C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office16 (64-bit version)

2. Right-click on OSPPREARM and select Run as Administrator.
3. Reopen your Office app, all features should now be temporarily available.

What if none of these fixes work?

If the issue persists after trying these methods, you may need to sign in with a different account (if you have multiple Office licenses), or contact Microsoft Support for further assistance. Persistent activation failures can also indicate account or subscription issues that require Microsoft’s help to resolve.