Anyone know which versions of Microsoft Office are compatible with Mojave,10.14.6?

Anyone know which versions of Microsoft Office are compatible with Mojave,10.14.6? I just upgraded to Mojave, might move to Catalina on my Late 2014 iMac but no further.


I'm only interested in personal license to Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Think I'd prefer the stand alone product (Office 2016, 2019 or 2021) because it appears MS is only supporting last three Mac OS in Office 365.


Two years ago I purchased Office 2016 online (not in the box) but the link in that old email no longer contains a link to download the installer. Suspect I need a more recent version, but Microsoft's website never spells out which versions are compatible with which Mac OS.


Thanks in advance!

iMac 27″, macOS 10.14

Posted on Nov 11, 2022 9:10 PM

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Posted on Nov 12, 2022 12:33 PM

Right now, if you have the retired MS Office 2008/2011/2016 suites already installed where they are supported, you can continue to use them without further updates or Microsoft support. Any new installation of these Microsoft Office suites on the same or different Mac hardware will be blocked by Microsoft.


So, unless you have macOS Catalina (presently) or later, you cannot install the current Microsoft 365, or Office 2019/2021 for Mac suites.



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Nov 12, 2022 12:33 PM in response to TurksCap

Right now, if you have the retired MS Office 2008/2011/2016 suites already installed where they are supported, you can continue to use them without further updates or Microsoft support. Any new installation of these Microsoft Office suites on the same or different Mac hardware will be blocked by Microsoft.


So, unless you have macOS Catalina (presently) or later, you cannot install the current Microsoft 365, or Office 2019/2021 for Mac suites.



Nov 12, 2022 4:51 AM in response to TurksCap

Microsoft admitted just before High Sierra (10.13.6) was released that they did not test Office 2011 for Mac on it, and Office 2011 for Mac was retired and unsupported on 7 Oct 2017.


You are correct that Microsoft only supports the current (Ventura) and the previous two operating systems, though they are on the cusp of changing that minimum requirement from Catalina to Big Sur (and later).


Microsoft has deactivated their license servers for their retired products and that means you won't be able to install and license new installations of Office 2011 or 2016 for Mac on any operating system. Microsoft only supports new installations of Microsoft 365 (subscription) or Office 2019/Office 2021 for Mac (single purchase) on paragraph 2 operating systems. There will be a very limited time window where you can install these on Catalina.

Nov 11, 2022 9:25 PM in response to TurksCap

TurksCap Said:

"Anyone know which versions of Microsoft Office are compatible with Mojave,10.14.6? I just upgraded to Mojave, might move to Catalina on my Late 2014 iMac but no further."

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MS Office and Mojave:


A. 32-bit Incompatibility:

You likely have the 32-bit version installed. 64-bit is what you need.  Catalina is 64-bit; 32-bit applications will not run on it. So, contact Microsoft, asking for a new install key for 64-bit. Use 2019 for Mojave. Use 2021 for Catalina.


B. Contact Microsoft Via Chat:

Start Here:  Microsoft Contact Us Virtual Agent - Microsoft Support. Perform a chat session with Microsoft using a computer, as it would be more user-friendly doing so.

Nov 12, 2022 7:58 AM in response to TurksCap

Mojave is the last operating system to support 32-bit and 64-bit applications. Reread my post about what happens when you attempt to install any currently unsupported Microsoft Office suite on operating systems older than Catalina. At the very moment, Office 2019/2021 for Mac will install in Catalina, but as soon as Microsoft makes Big Sur the minimum supported operating system, installation capability ends, and all MS Office updates cease on Catalina.


One alternative is to forget about Microsoft and test drive Softmaker's Office 2021 product which is still supported on High Sierra and later. Softmaker's product is a clone of MS Office and natively opens and saves MS documents with a familiar interface. Read over the different implementations of their Office 2021 to determine the features you need prior to purchase. Alternatively, there is the free LibreOffice Suite that will be supported on High Sierra until Feb 2023, when the minimum operating system for LO updates will become Mojave.

Nov 13, 2022 10:12 AM in response to VikingOSX

VikingOSX Said:

“Even if one could get an older (retired) version of Office from Amazon/Ebay, when one attempts to install it on an operating system older than Catalina, Microsoft intervenes and one can never license it.”

———-


Based on Personal Experience:

I purchased what was labeled 2019 Microsoft Office for Mac from a local retailer. Silly code ended up being for 2008! With a verified proof of purchase, Microsoft is kind enough to make the upgrade.


As for Virtual Machines, get a version that is compatible with the version of the Operating System you’re using.

Nov 12, 2022 7:19 AM in response to VikingOSX

Thank you Viking! I just upgraded from El Capitan to Mojave (heavily invested in old software and have limited budget, cannot afford new Mac). Not sure if I want to upgrade to Catalina (Mojave upgrade almost failed) because of the 32 bit issue, but am considering it.


Ideally... I would install version of Office that works in Mojave AND Catalina. I THINK Microsoft will sunset support for 2019 in October 2023. Once these versions sunset, does that mean they automatically stop working and licenses break or just you cannot do brand new installations and get any help?


• Will 2019 run in Mojave AND Catalina? I thought 64 and 32 bits bit can run in Mojave but only 64 bit can run in Catalina?

Will 2021 work in Mojave AND Catalina? Or can 365 run on these (I'm dubious)? If latter, then maybe I'm better off with ~65 Subscription and get support for a year than spending $150 and losing it all in October?


Meanwhile, I will try to ask Microsoft via chat (will tell me to upgrade Mac OS), but very much appreciate your informed Mac opinions. MS options are SO confusing.


TIA

Nov 12, 2022 8:27 AM in response to VikingOSX

Thanks for suggestions of alternatives. Looking at them seriously. I've been mostly in the Adobe Creative Suite world but need MS Office from time to time.


I was confused by your word "new" as in "Microsoft only supports new installations of Microsoft 365 (subscription) or Office 2019/Office 2021 for Mac (single purchase) on paragraph 2 operating systems. There will be a very limited time window where you can install these on Catalina." I didn't know if you meant that once you've installed them a FIRST time, MS will continue to let you use them without deactivating your license, or MS will suddenly stop your license and all MS apps quit working.


I'm bit scared of Catalina because it "bricked" a friends Mac which was identical to mine only a year younger. I have up to date Time Machine (TM) back-ups as well as bootable external HD using Carbon Copy Cloner (CCC). Hoping that even if my Mac is "bricked" I could reformat with Disk Utility and restore from TM or CCC.

Nov 13, 2022 9:06 AM in response to VikingOSX

Thanks Viking, that's what I thought. Microsoft on the phone told me that would not allow installs in Catalina. Now that Ventura is out, they will only allow installs in Big Sur. I'm still trying to figure out if my late 2014 iMac can even run Big Sur. I may need more RAM.


Last night I remembered I had an old version of Apple's Pages 5.5.3 dating to 2015 to limp along with for few days while I decide. Apple online says free Pages 12.2 for Mac.supports Mac OS older than Mojave: "A Mac with macOS Monterey 12 or later and Pages 12.2 or later" Intro to collaboration in Pages - Apple Support But... I can't figure out how to download and install because looks like only available on the App Store which says I can only update Pages by upgrading to latest OS!


Softmaker Office is looking better and better as long as no text flow and fonts issues when collaborating with MS Office Users.



Nov 20, 2022 10:13 AM in response to TheLittles

Successfully updated to Big Sur (last Mac OS my old iMac can run) but a close call, had to do it in "Safe Mode" after failing normally and last week updating to Mojave booting in Recovery Mode. So I can install MS Office 2021 Home & Student. I am still confused by MS's licensing. It appears, but is not clear, that ALL the MS Office 2021 lifetime versions can only be installed on one Mac and cannot be moved to a new one should Mac die, which is a real possibility. Or only cheap card or emailed "code" versions can never be transferred to new, replacement Mac or same Mac but with new HD? Found a $35 "code" price recommended by a Mac User group president. TIA.

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Anyone know which versions of Microsoft Office are compatible with Mojave,10.14.6?

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