Originally published at: Office 2019 for Mac Goes Read-Only on 13 July 2026 - TidBITS
If you are still using Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac, it will stop working fully on 13 July 2026. Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook will enter “reduced functionality mode”—a euphemism meaning you can view and print documents but cannot edit, save, or create new ones. Microsoft’s documentation doesn’t clarify what this means for Outlook users.
Why is this happening? A certificate expiration is forcing Office 2019 into read-only mode, though Microsoft acknowledges this only obliquely in the FAQ. Without a current certificate, the apps can’t confirm you have a legitimate license.
It’s unclear why Microsoft can’t renew this certificate, even if it would require creating a separate utility similar to the License Removal Tool it makes available to upgraders who need to clear out the Office 2019 license.
Apple navigated similar rapids earlier this year by releasing certificate-extension updates for operating systems as old as iOS 12 to ensure that iMessage, FaceTime, and device activation continue working through January 2027 (see “Apple Releases OS 26.2.1 for AirTag 2, Extends Certificates on Older Versions,” 26 January 2026, and “Apple’s Certificate-Extension Updates Continue for Older Operating Systems,” 3 February 2026). At least in this case, Apple didn’t push users of older systems to buy new hardware—it just quietly kept things working.
In contrast, Microsoft is quietly changing its story. When Office 2019 for Mac reached its end of support in October 2023, Microsoft’s support page said: “Rest assured that all your Office 2019 apps will continue to function—they won’t disappear from your Mac, nor will you lose any data.” A few weeks ago, Microsoft edited that page. It now reads: “Rest assured that all your Office 2019 apps won’t lose any data. Your data can be accessed on any supported Microsoft 365 or Office product.” So much for “continue to function.”
Who’s Affected?
Why would anyone still be using Office 2019 when Microsoft officially stopped supporting it in October 2023? As has been discussed extensively in TidBITS Talk, the best reason is macOS compatibility: Office 2021 and Microsoft 365 require macOS 12 Monterey or later. Users whose Macs can’t run Monterey—or who must stay on an older macOS for other software compatibility—have no upgrade path. Others paid for a one-time license that does everything they need and see no reason to pay again. (Microsoft sometimes uses the term “perpetual,” but it’s difficult to determine what any given purchaser might have seen.) Some people philosophically oppose subscriptions.
In fact, the 13 July 2026 deadline doesn’t affect just Office 2019 for Mac users. Some users of Office 2021 or Microsoft 365 must also update using Help > Check for Updates, and if you’re still using macOS 11 Big Sur, you’ll have to upgrade to macOS 12 Monterey first. It seems less likely to be an issue, but old versions of Office apps on the iPhone and iPad will also require updating to iOS 17 and iPadOS 17.
To see what version of Office you’re using, open Microsoft Word and choose Word > About Microsoft Word (or the equivalent in any other Office app). If your version is 16.83 or higher, you’re fine and can update. If it’s lower, you need to do something before 13 July 2026 to retain write access to your Office files.
Windows and Android users are unaffected—this certificate issue applies only to macOS and iOS/iPadOS.
Your Options
If you are using Office 2019, you have a few options:
- Microsoft 365 on the Web: You can use simplified versions of the Office apps on the Web at microsoft365.com. They’re adequate for basic editing, but you will need a Microsoft account.
- Microsoft 365 subscription: Microsoft would prefer that you subscribe to Microsoft 365, which costs $99.99 per year for Personal or $129.99 per year for Family (up to six people). You’ll still have to run a newer version of macOS—Microsoft says it supports the current and two previous versions, which suggests macOS 14 or later.
- Office 2024: One-time purchases of $179.99 (Home) or $249.99 (Home & Business with Outlook) are still available. They’re cheaper than the subscription, but you’ll probably have to jump through upgrade hoops again in the future. And the same macOS requirements apply.
- Alternatives: If your Office-related needs are relatively modest, Apple’s Pages, Numbers, and Keynote can import and export Office files and should be available in older versions, albeit without update options. LibreOffice and OnlyOffice are free, generally handle Microsoft formats well, and work on older versions of macOS. Google Docs works in a Web browser and can also import and export Office documents.
