I do not want to update. I was advised against accepting updates since I bought and paid for the product so that I would not have to update or subscribe. I was told to IGNORE notices to update and I definitely do not want to buy or activate microsoft 365. I can open microsoft word but all functions are grayed out. I want to uninstall and reinstall microsoft office
[Re-Titled by Moderator]
iMac 24″, macOS 14.1
Since you purchased Office 2021, any updates it applied would be for the same perpetual 2021 version. I don't know who told you to never apply any updates, but they were completely wrong.
According to your tagline, you're running Sonoma, 14.1. That's a problem. The 2021 version only supports Mojave, Catalina and Big Sur. You will not be able to activate the 2021 suite under Sonoma. That's why it's pushing you to upgrade to Office 365.
If you want a non-subscription version of Office, you're going to have to purchase Office 2024, which supports Ventura, Sonoma and Sequoia.
Since you purchased Office 2021, any updates it applied would be for the same perpetual 2021 version. I don't know who told you to never apply any updates, but they were completely wrong.
According to your tagline, you're running Sonoma, 14.1. That's a problem. The 2021 version only supports Mojave, Catalina and Big Sur. You will not be able to activate the 2021 suite under Sonoma. That's why it's pushing you to upgrade to Office 365.
If you want a non-subscription version of Office, you're going to have to purchase Office 2024, which supports Ventura, Sonoma and Sequoia.
the one I am using on my Mac Book Pro (OS Sonoma 15.3) is working fine. Are you saying that one is going to stop working ..... maybe the next time I upgrade OS?.
That's part of the confusion MS created with the upgrade options for Mac users. The 2021 version will only activate under Mojave, Catalina and Big Sur; per Microsoft's own specs of only three major Mac OS releases from the time a perpetual version is released.
Once you pass that third OS, what you have will keep working since it's already activated, but supposedly won't let you apply any more updates. For the one that stopped recognizing its activation, you can't reactivate it since the OS version is beyond what the 2021 activation servers will allow.
The last official update for Office 2021 (according to MS's update page) was back on February 16, 2022.
Do you have any older backup files for the non-working Office 2021 install of the user account /Library/Group Containers subfolders? There are several created by Office. Besides all of your Outlook data and other app settings and files, the files that tell Office it has been activated are also in there.
You have to be careful about bringing in old folders like that, if you can find them. Mostly so you don't lose your current Outlook data, which may have newer information in it than are in the backup files.
Unrelated. Shouldn't I be getting OS update notifications on my iMac?
The OS will only tell you when the OS, or installed App Store purchases have updates. Office is supposed to keep track of its own updates and inform you if there are any. If for some reason it hasn't been, you can go to the Help menu from within any Office app that's open and choose the option to check for updates.
When you do that under Sonoma, Office may very well inform you that updates are no longer available under the version of macOS you're running. In which case, just cancel out.
Thanks Kurt. The crazy thing is I bought two of the office for student home editions 2021 from Apple at the same time.... the one I am using on my Mac Book Pro (OS Sonoma 15.3) is working fine. Are you saying that one is going to stop working ..... maybe the next time I upgrade OS?. I thought buying these editions out right was a way to avoid ongoing subscription fees ... in other words I thought they worked forever no matter the OS?
Unrelated. shouldn't I be getting OS update notifications on my iMac?
The "Activate" is for ACTIVATE Microsoft 365 which I do not have and did not want to subscribe to. I assume if I click "Activate" it will take me to a page to buy and start a subscription with monthly fee/
What happens when you click on "Activate"?
How to reinstall Microsoft Office Home & Student 2021 on iMac Pro without updates?
