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How to Downgrade Excel for Mac from Version 16.85 to Fix Crashes
Question details
The user needs to revert Microsoft Excel for Mac from the 16.85 update to an earlier version (16.84) because the application is crashing or running out of resources when opening certain workbooks.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel for Mac
- Device & OS
- Mac
- Scenario
- Opening existing workbooks after upgrading the Excel for Mac application to version 16.85 or 16.86.
- Observed behavior
- Excel crashes completely or experiences resource exhaustion errors upon opening specific files, making it impossible to work.
Before beginning the downgrade process, ensure all your current work in other Office applications is saved and closed, and verify your current macOS version to ensure compatibility with older Office builds.
Uninstall Version 16.85 and Install Version 16.84 Manually
This solution involves removing the problematic Excel application and downloading the stable 16.84 installer from Microsoft's official update history.
Downgrading a single application on Mac requires you to first delete the current version from your Applications folder. Reinstalling an older build will act as a temporary workaround until the compatibility bug in 16.85 is officially patched.
Open Finder and navigate to your 'Applications' folder. Locate 'Microsoft Excel', right-click it, and select 'Move to Trash'. Empty the Trash to completely remove version 16.85.
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select 'Restart' to ensure all background processes tied to the newer Excel version are completely terminated.
Open your web browser and search for 'Update history for Office for Mac'. On the official Microsoft support page, find the release links for version 16.84 and download the standalone Excel installer package.
Run the downloaded installer package and follow the on-screen prompts to install Excel version 16.84. Once the installation is finished, restart your Mac one more time.
Open the newly installed Excel. Go to the 'Help' menu at the top of the screen and select 'Check for Updates'. In the Microsoft AutoUpdate window, uncheck the option to 'Automatically keep Microsoft Apps up to date' to prevent version 16.85 from reinstalling.
Try WPS Office for Mac to Avoid Excel Update Crashes
If downgrading Excel for Mac is too time-consuming or the crashing issue persists, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a highly stable, lightweight spreadsheet solution for Mac users without being impacted by recent Office update bugs.
- 1. Download WPS Office for Mac: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free macOS installation package.
- 2. Install the Application: Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 3. Open Your Workbooks Seamlessly: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Excel workbooks to resume your work without crashes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will I lose my Excel workbooks if I delete the Microsoft Excel app?
No. Your Excel files (.xlsx, .csv) are saved independently in your documents or cloud storage. Deleting the Microsoft Excel application from the Applications folder will only remove the software, not your personal files.
Where can I find the official version 16.84 installer?
You can find genuine older installers by searching for 'Update history for Office for Mac' on the Microsoft Support website. This page lists all historical release versions along with direct download links for the full suite or individual applications like Excel.
Can I downgrade just Excel without affecting Microsoft Word and PowerPoint?
Yes. If you only move the Microsoft Excel application to the Trash and download the standalone Excel 16.84 installer from the update history page, your Microsoft Word and PowerPoint applications will remain at their current updated versions.
