Problem with Terminal Commands on my iMac

You typed /Library/PriviliegedHelperTools. I don't think you want the 'i' between the 'Privil' and the 'e'. This looks like a typo (whether Microsoft made it, or you did). To the computer, it would indicate that you were trying to do the chmod on a different file or directory – one that I'm guessing doesn't exist (hence the error message).

Here's a rough translation of what those commands do. I have taken the liberty of removing the extra letter in the first chmod command and the trailing double-quote in the launchctl command – both of which look suspicious to me.

sudo -s
chmod 0755 /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools
chmod 4755 /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.microsoft.office.licensingv2.helper
launchctl load -w /Library/LaunchDaemons/com.microsoft.office.licensingv2.helper

sudo -s

Launches a shell (command interpreter) in which you are able to temporarily execute commands with Administrator privileges. In macOS, Administrator users normally don't run with full privileges all of the time, just with the right to temporarily gain elevated privilege if they authenticate.

chmod (two commands)

Changes file and directory permissions.

• /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools is a macOS system directory in which applications may install helper tools.
• /Library/PrivilegedHelperTools/com.microsoft.office.licensingv2.helper is something Microsoft Office installed.

launchctl load -w

Loads the Microsoft Office configuration file or directory whose permission you just changed.

I have Microsoft Office 2021 for Mac Home and Business installed on Sonoma 14.3.1. When I ran the installer, and entered the license key , I never had any further issues with it.

Before you get tangled up with the Microsoft Terminal instructions above, I suggest that you run the installer again, enter the license when prompted, and see if that resolves the issue. Let Microsoft AutoUpdate get you version current.

The permissions that Microsoft has shared with you above are different than are presently set on my /Library/PrivilegedHelperTool folder itself, or files within it.

Are you still trying to use an Office 2016 license key? Since Office 2016 for Mac was retired several years ago, Microsoft has likely disabled its license server and you will need a new license key for Office 2021 for Mac. If you need a new license key for Office 2021 for Mac, you can get one for around $34USD at the StackSocial site. It is what I did.

The Terminal commands you have shared do not match the file or folder permissions that I have for a functional Office 2021 for Mac installation.

brian mck wrote:

Your statement "both of which look suspicious to me" makes me nervous to run these commands.

I have decided to just leave it and hope that Microsoft comes up with the bug fix ASAP.

They don't look suspicious as in malware. They look suspicious, as in typos and syntax errors that will keep the commands from working.

As to whether the permissions that Microsoft recommended are right, I didn't spend time looking at that.