Frequently Asked Question

If Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or another Office app shows a red "Product Deactivated" banner, an "Account Notice" warning, or a "Sign in to keep using" message, it usually just means Office needs you to sign in again with your Jersey College account to confirm your free license. Follow these steps to get back to full editing.

First, sign in with the right account

1. Open any Office app, such as Word or Excel.
2. Look at the top-right corner of the window. If you see "Sign in," click it. If you see a yellow or red warning bar across the top, click the "Sign in" or "Reactivate" button on that bar.
3. Enter your FULL Jersey College email (firstname.lastname@jerseycollege.edu), not just your username.
4. Enter your password and approve the sign-in prompt in Microsoft Authenticator if you're asked.
5. Wait a few moments. The warning banner should disappear and full editing should return.

If it still says deactivated, sign out and back in

1. In the Office app, click "File" in the top-left corner.
2. Click "Account" (on a Mac, look under the app menu for "Account" or "Sign Out").
3. Under your name, click "Sign out," then close all Office apps completely.
4. Reopen an Office app and sign back in with your full Jersey College email and password.

Check the most common causes

• Wrong account: Make sure you're signed in with your Jersey College email, not a personal Microsoft, Gmail, or Outlook.com account. If a personal account is listed, sign out of it and sign in with your JC email.
• Internet connection: Office needs to reach the internet to confirm your license. Connect to Wi-Fi or a wired network and try again.
• Out-of-date Office: Click "File," then "Account," then "Update Options" and choose "Update Now" so you have the latest version.
• Recent password change: If your password was changed recently, sign out and sign back in with the new password.

Important notes

• Your free Office license stays active only while you are an enrolled Jersey College student. If your enrollment status has changed, the license may turn off. Contact the Help Desk if you believe your account should still be active.
• You can install Office on up to 5 personal devices. If you've reached the limit, sign in at https://office.com and deactivate an old device under your account settings to free up a slot.
• While you sort out activation, you can keep working for free in your browser at https://office.com, which never needs a separate install.

If you're still having trouble, contact the Jersey College Help Desk at 201-645-1164 or itsupport@jerseycollege.edu.