iWork ’09 working with OS 10.14 Mojave?

Hey Guys,

I need to work with old but gold iWork ’09 (especially Numbers and Pages) on my iMac 2017 (High Sierra).

(I think, these are the best apps, Apple ever created.)


I would like to know: When I install the new OS 10.14 Mojave, will iWork '09 still work?

Has anyone been able to try that?

iMac with Retina 5K display, macOS High Sierra (10.13.6)

Posted on Oct 2, 2018 10:00 AM

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Posted on Oct 3, 2018 12:41 AM

NO. Pages '09 does NOT work with OSX 10.14. I am so unhappy. Can't they check these things out and warn users when an OS upgrade renders prior Apple software non-functional?


Pages '09 opens up, but PRIOR pages files, either created with pages '09 or exported to pages '09 WILL NOT OPEN in pages '09.

22 replies

Oct 7, 2018 7:15 AM in response to lweisenthal

Apple was not inconsiderate. The iWork '09 application suite has been officially retired by Apple since Fall 2013. Five years of warning that the future will not be tolerant of retired applications. Five years to migrate your documents to another word processing solution. Come macOS 10.15 next year, the iWork '09 applications would not have worked anyway, because they are 32-bit.

Nov 3, 2018 3:39 PM in response to trollius

I am glad I read this discussion because I have been using Numbers '09 to open .qfx files from my bank. I have made a request to Apple to have this ability added to Numbers 5.2 but I think I am like a voice in the wilderness. I have discovered that when I open a .qfx file in Numbers '09 and save it as an export file to the desktop, the file can then be opened by Numbers 5.2. This is in High Sierra but the comments here indicate I will lose this capability if I upgrade to Mojave.

Nov 26, 2018 9:41 AM in response to lweisenthal

I think the main lesson to learn in your case is to be cautious about upgrading mission critical computers until a test machine has been updated to "validate" the change.


I am still waiting to update my machines. In most cases, I would update right away but now a computer at home is the machine for my wife. She uses it daily for work and cannot really go down for very long. So, for me, even at home, I am much more cautious.


For a business, it should be essential to understand the changes to the OS and the implications those changes have on your work flow.

Oct 7, 2018 9:15 AM in response to lweisenthal

I think VikingOSXmentioned something that is technically right. However, how many of us even keep up with those memos? Also, it would have been really simple to get a pop-up or something before "upgrading" to let the user know their favorite program will be compromised. Even if it were a general note, it would make us really think about it. Of course, this is probably a lot to ask for. They might reason that the users should just know this! Duh, right?
I think Apple just wants us all to evolve to the latest and greatest version of the software. However, anyone using Pages '09 and the newest can tell you how slow and senseless the latest version is. The latest was meant to be adaptable to iPad users. Just a few clicks here and there using only your fingertips. However, palettes make much more sense on desktops. The free latest version is definitely a downgrade.

So in moving back both my Apples to High Sierra, the desktop went fine. The MacBook process didn't. Now I have to wait 1 or 2 hours talking to a mac "genius" to fix this mess. Oh joy. (Don't get me started on how you have to jump through a few more hoops just to get a reservation--even with Apple Care!). That's my Sunday. So those downgrading back to High Sierra, take your time and do it right. And don't expect anyone to care that you haven't evolved because of your sentimental longing for superior products made in the past. When you're a trillion-dollar company, you get to make up the rules. I'm grateful for the Apple products I do have that work right, but this was a customer service MISS.

Oct 7, 2018 12:55 PM in response to VikingOSX

Thank you for making this 20 year Apple user feel stupid. I am so pathetically inadequate, not to have realized that ‘09 was retired 5 years ago. So I totally deserve the punishment of not being able to access all of my medical oncology cancer patient files ... costing me nearly two days worth of work and loss of face with my referring physicians and patients with resulting tardiness.


Look, not everyone is a power user. Some of us have actual day jobs not related to software engineering.


How hard would it be for Apple to simply post a list of application which will be bricked with the latest OSX upgrade? I mean, ... geez ... simplest thing in the world and simple common courtesy.

Nov 15, 2018 8:38 AM in response to trollius

I am beyond angry about this. Yeah, yeah, those little pop-ups are supposed to be considered fair warning. But when you are not a programmer, just someone who turns on their machine and gets down to work, this is like being blindsided. No easy solution. I don't have time for this. I currently live in a rural community with virtually no internet. Thankfully, I will be moving in a couple of months and will have better internet. As a result, I am anticipating major technology upgrades: two new phones, two new tablets, new laptop. If I can't get this problem with Pages resolved to my satisfaction, NONE - I repeat NONE - of my future purchases will be Apple products. As far as I am concerned, Apple has lost their way. Try getting an actual appointment with your local Genius Bar? Ha, ha, what a joke. No button to click on on the Apple web site to make an appointment. Call.....hold.....hold some more.....answer a bunch of questions....they suggest online chat....if I wanted online chat I would have done that, right?...just let's make the appointment please....

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iWork ’09 working with OS 10.14 Mojave?

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