macOS Catalina and Compatibility Questions with Microsoft Word or Excel

1. Yes, if you have a 64-bit application capable of reading the format installed. TextEdit will do this for Word documents, but some formatting may be lost.

2. This doesn't matter. Documents don't contain runnable code and aren't either 32 or 64 bit.

3. See #1.

(181631)

Laatis1 wrote:

If I upgrade to Catalina 10.15.5, will I be able to open my Microsoft Word or Excel Document if I created the documents using Microsoft Word or Excel 32 bit?

If I deleted the original Microsoft Word and Excel App that was used to create the Documents, is there a way to determine what Microsoft Word (32 or 64 bit) was used to create the document?

FYI: "I can open the documents with the new Microsoft Office Suite 365 running 64 bit ."

Will I be able to open the Document if I upgrade to Catalina?

Office for Mac running macOS Catalina

If you have Office 2011 for Mac or before WILL NOT run.

Office 2016 for Mac needs to be v15.35 or later.

Update the software or try an alternative for word documents—

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdates/update-history-office-for-mac


The current Office for Mac; Office 365 or Office 2019 (One-time purchase) are OK with Catalina

https://support.office.com/en-us/article/how-do-i-upgrade-office-ee68f6cf-422f-464a-82ec-385f65391350

https://products.office.com/en-us/compare-all-microsoft-office-products?&activetab=tab:primaryr1

To activate a Microsoft Office 365 subscription you simply enter the email address you used when you extended the subscription with Microsoft.


A document is a document. 32 bit vs 64 bit does not apply to documents. Your 64 bit version of Office will open Office documents.