A user's mobile device can't connect to Microsoft Exchange Online in Microsoft Office 365 through Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync. However, the mobile device previously could connect. This issue can occur for many reasons. These include, but aren't limited to, the following. The good news is, if you don't need the full suite of Microsoft 365 tools, you can access a number of its apps online for free - including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, Outlook, Calendar. I know, the prospect of a free Office 365 download sounds kind of farfetched. If there is a legal way that you don’t have to pay, you’ll find it here. Of course, one way is to simply get the free trial of Office 365 if you don’t have it already. This is limited but will give you a chance to try it before you buy. Examples of Office 365 services include Exchange Online, SharePoint Online, and OneDrive for Business. For Microsoft 365 Apps, you must be using a supported version. For a list of which versions are currently supported, see Update history for Microsoft 365 Apps.

1. T Online 365 App
2. 365 Online Email

If you are unable to sign into Microsoft Office (or Outlook repeatedly prompts you for login, does not show any data, edit a Word/Excel/PowerPoint data file, or receive encrypted connection error) it may be due to a NetID password change, a NetID change, or corrupted account credentials. Follow some common solutions to this issue below.

Possible solutions

• Option 1 - Update your software to the latest version

  • Windows OS

    Run Windows Update and install the latest updates.

    Windows Office

    Follow steps to update Office.

    Mac OS

    Run Office Updates.

• Option 2 - Your account was compromised and you are blocked from connecting
  • Review your client protocols. If your client protocols are disabled, contact the DoIT Help Desk.

• Option 3 - Reset/Remove your account credentials from within your OS

  • Windows OS

    Remove/Delete all Outlook/Office records from within credential manager.

    Mac OS

    Access the keychain application and remove/delete any of the following records: Microsoft Office Identities Cache 2 Microsoft Office Identities Settings 2 and any ADAL, Microsoft, or Office entries that are listed within the 'Name' or 'Kind' columns. Note: search for 'microsoft' and 'adal' within the keychain application and delete all returned results. Detailed steps.

• Option 4 - Delete license files - MacOS only
  • Remove license files on a Mac.

• Option 5 - You are not authenticated into Office using your UW-Madison Office 365 account
  • Confirm you are authenticated with your Office 365 account.

• Option 6 - If your computer is not connected to UWNET/Campus network, use WiscVPN

• Option 7 - Download and run Microsoft's Support and Recovery Assistant for Office 365

  • Windows OS

    Note: Only available for Windows. This tool must be run on the affected machine.

    Download the tool here: Fix Outlook and Office 365 problems with Microsoft Support and Recovery Assistant for Office 365.

• Option 8 - Delete Cached Preferences

  • Mac OS

    Note: Only available for Mac OS.

    • Outlook Desktop Client

      • Delete Cached Preferences

        1. Quit Outlook
        2. Open Terminal (click the Spotlight search glass in the top right corner and type terminal).
        3. Type: defaults delete com.microsoft.Outlook (to delete the old preferences).
        4. Type: killall cfprefsd (to kill the cached prefs).
        5. Quit Terminal.
        6. Launch Outlook and check.

• Option 9 - Sign out of the connected device associated with the Office email account
  1. Sign into the account: https://portal.office.com/account/.
  2. Select View apps & devices from within Office apps & devices module.
  3. Click DEVICES and sign out of all the devices that you are singed into. This will prompt the user to authenticate via NetID login on all the devices they are connected to via their Office 365 account.

• Option 10 - Fully uninstall and reinstall Microsoft Office

  • Uninstall Office

    Windows OS

    Review the following Microsoft documentation for instructions.

    Mac OS

    Review the following Microsoft documentation for instructions.

    Install Office

    Follow steps outlined in Office 365 - Download/Install Office 365 document.

If you're staying at home for the foreseeable future due to the coronavirus pandemic, you might be in need of some basic tools on your personal or work computer, like Microsoft 365. Formerly known as Office 365, Microsoft 365 is a service that debuted in April that adds more features to the office software. But if you don't want to shell out the cash, there are a few ways you can get the service and its apps for free.

Microsoft's suite of productivity software -- including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Microsoft Teams , OneDrive and SharePoint -- typically costs $150 for a one-time installation (as Office 365), or between $70 and $100 every year for subscription service access across devices and family members (as Microsoft 365). Microsoft also recently said it would release a new standalone version of Microsoft Office for both Windows and Mac -- no subscription required -- at some point in 2021.

Use the browser-based version of the Microsoft Word app for free.

Read more:How to download Windows 10 for free, now that Windows 7 is dead

Here are the versions of Office 365, Microsoft 365 and their apps that you can find online for free right now.

For students and teachers

If you're a student, teacher or faculty member with a school email address, you are likely eligible to get access to Office 365 for free through Microsoft -- including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Microsoft Teams and additional classroom tools.

T Online 365 App

All you have to do is enter your school email address on this page on Microsoft's website: Get started with Office 365 for free. In many cases, you'll be instantly granted access thanks to an automated verification process. If you attend an institution that needs to be verified, it might take up to a month to confirm your eligibility.

Read more: Coronavirus closed schools. Here are online education classes for every age and grade

365 Online Email

Recent graduates who want to stick with Office 365 can also get Office 365 Personal for $12 for 12 months, with a valid school email address.

For everyone else

Anyone can get a one-month free trial of Microsoft 365 to try it out. However, it does require you to enter a credit card, and if you don't cancel before the month is up, you'll be charged $100 for a one-year subscription to Microsoft 365 Family (formerly called Office 365 Home).

The good news is, if you don't need the full suite of Microsoft 365 tools, you can access a number of its apps online for free -- including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive, Outlook, Calendar and Skype . Here's how to get them:

• Go to Office.com.
• Login to your Microsoft account (or create one for free). If you already have a Windows, Skype or Xbox login, you have an active Microsoft account.
• Select the app you want to use, and save your work in the cloud with OneDrive.

Read more at TechRepublic:Microsoft 365: A cheat sheet

So what's the catch for the free version?

You may be saying, wait a minute -- if I can get all of those apps for free, why pay for Microsoft 365 in the first place? The reason is that the functionality of these apps is limited: They only run through your web browser, and you can't use them if you aren't online. There are also fewer features than the full Microsoft 365 versions.

However, there are still a number of benefits, including the ability to share links to your work and collaborate in real time, similar to G Suite tools. If you're looking for basic versions of each of these apps, the free version should work well for you.

Read more: Windows 10 hacks: 11 hidden tricks to master after you upgrade