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Fix Microsoft Office 2019 Update Error on macOS Catalina
Question details
The user is unable to update Microsoft Office 2019 on an older Mac running macOS Catalina due to operating system compatibility restrictions.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2019
- Device & OS
- macOS Catalina 10.15.7
- Scenario
- Attempting to install or update Office 2019 on an older Mac that cannot be upgraded to macOS 11 or later.
- Observed behavior
- The Office update fails, displaying an error message stating that macOS 11 or later is required. Even when the user downloads the compatible version 16.66, upgrade-required prompts continue to appear.
Verify your current macOS version by clicking the Apple menu and selecting 'About This Mac' to confirm you are running Catalina (10.15), and ensure you have your Microsoft Office product key or account login details handy before reinstalling.
Perform a Clean Installation of Office Version 16.66
Remove corrupted or partially updated Office files and install the last known compatible version for macOS Catalina.
Microsoft officially ended updates for macOS Catalina after Office version 16.66. To stop the upgrade errors, you must completely remove any newer, incompatible Office files that Microsoft AutoUpdate may have downloaded, and freshly install the 16.66 build.
Open Finder, go to the Applications folder, and drag all Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) to the Trash. Empty the Trash to completely remove them.
Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen and select 'Restart' to clear out temporary system caches.
If you are running any third-party antivirus software, temporarily disable its real-time scanning feature, as it can occasionally interfere with the installation of older software packages.
Download the official Microsoft Office 16.66 installer package designed for older macOS versions. Double-click the downloaded .pkg file and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation.
Open Microsoft Word, navigate to 'Help' in the top menu bar, and click 'Check for Updates'. Uncheck the box for 'Automatically keep Microsoft Apps up to date' so your Mac stops trying to download unsupported macOS 11 versions.
Use WPS Office on Older Macs Without Update Errors
Since Microsoft Office 2019 requires macOS 11 or later for the newest updates and security patches, keeping it running on macOS Catalina can be a frustrating experience. WPS Office is a free, lightweight alternative that offers excellent compatibility with older Mac hardware while fully supporting all your Microsoft documents.
- 1. Download the Mac installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free version optimized for Mac.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Open the downloaded file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 3. Open your Microsoft documents: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files to continue working immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Microsoft Office require macOS 11 for new updates?
Microsoft’s support lifecycle policy typically only covers the three most recent versions of macOS. Once a macOS version like Catalina drops out of this window, new Office updates and security patches are no longer provided for it, requiring users to upgrade their OS to continue receiving updates.
Will Office version 16.66 still work on macOS Catalina?
Yes, version 16.66 is the last officially supported build for macOS Catalina. It will continue to function normally for your daily tasks, but it will not receive any new feature updates or security patches from Microsoft.
How do I stop the 'Upgrade Required' prompts in Office on my Mac?
To stop these prompts, you need to turn off the Microsoft AutoUpdate tool. Open any Office application, click on 'Help' in the top menu bar, select 'Check for Updates', and disable the automatic update setting.
