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Fix Microsoft Office Installation Failed on MacBook Air Apple Silicon
Question details
Users are unable to successfully install Microsoft Office 2021 or Microsoft 365 on an Apple Silicon MacBook Air.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2021 and Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- macOS Ventura 13.3.1 (MacBook Air M2)
- Scenario
- Setting up a new MacBook Air or reinstalling Office applications, but the installation process repeatedly fails.
- Observed behavior
- The Office installation fails to complete. This can happen due to leftover partial installation files, corrupted cache data, or licensing conflicts, even on newly purchased Mac devices.
Ensure you have administrator privileges on your Mac and verify your internet connection is stable before downloading the installer package.
Clear Office Cache and Reinstall from Microsoft
Remove partial installation files and clear the macOS container cache to resolve corrupt data preventing a clean install.
Even on a relatively new Mac, broken installer files or corrupted cache directories can interrupt the setup of Microsoft 365 or Office 2021. Clearing these remnants manually often allows the installer to run successfully.
Open Finder, go to the Applications folder, and drag any Microsoft apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote) to the Trash. You may be prompted to enter your Mac administrator password.
Open Finder, press Cmd+Shift+G to open the 'Go to Folder' window, and paste '~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.OsfWebHost/Data/'. Delete the contents inside this folder, then restart your Mac.
Visit www.office.com in your browser, sign in with the Microsoft account linked to your license, click on 'Install Office', and follow the prompts to download the latest Mac package.
Open the downloaded .pkg file from your Downloads folder and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the clean installation.
Try WPS Office for Mac: Fast, Free, and Apple Silicon Optimized
If Microsoft Office continues to throw installation errors on your M1, M2, or M3 MacBook Air, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, highly compatible alternative that installs quickly without complex licensing hurdles.
- 1. Download the Mac Installer: Visit the official WPS website and click 'Free Download' to get the macOS DMG file.
- 2. Install WPS Office: Open the downloaded DMG file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 3. Open and edit your files: Launch WPS Office from Launchpad and instantly open any existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Microsoft Office fail to install on a brand-new Mac?
Even on new Macs, macOS Ventura might conflict with the specific version of the Microsoft installer you downloaded, or a brief network interruption during download could have corrupted the .pkg file.
Where is the Microsoft Office cache located on a Mac?
The primary web host cache for Microsoft Office on macOS is located at '~/Library/Containers/com.microsoft.OsfWebHost/Data/'. Clearing this directory can resolve stuck installations and login loops.
Will I lose my documents if I uninstall Office for Mac?
No, uninstalling the Microsoft Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) by dragging them to the Trash will not delete your personal documents, spreadsheets, or presentations stored on your hard drive.
Is WPS Office compatible with the M2 MacBook Air?
Yes, WPS Office offers native compatibility for all Apple Silicon chips (M1, M2, and M3), meaning it runs smoothly without needing the Rosetta 2 emulator.
