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Office Installation Errors

How to Fix Cannot Open Proplus2021Retail.img on Mac

Maira MehtabMaira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is unable to open or use the downloaded Proplus2021Retail.img file to install Microsoft Office on a Mac.

Product
Microsoft Office 2021
Device & OS
macOS
Scenario
Attempting to install Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2021 on a Mac using an .img disk image file.
Observed behavior
The Mac system cannot open the .img file, preventing the installation of the Microsoft Office suite.
Before you start

Check your downloaded file extension to ensure you are using a Mac-compatible installer, as macOS requires .pkg or .dmg files for software installation.

Solution 1Recommended

Download the Correct Mac-Compatible Office Installer

Obtain a legitimate macOS installer for Microsoft Office instead of using a Windows-specific .img file.

The file Proplus2021Retail.img is a Windows disk image meant for Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2021, an edition that is typically intended for Windows volume licensing. macOS cannot natively install Windows executables contained within this image. Additionally, this specific version has been superseded. To resolve this, you must download the native Mac installer (.pkg) from your official Microsoft account.

1
Log into your Microsoft Account

Open a web browser on your Mac and navigate to account.microsoft.com. Sign in with the account associated with your Office or Microsoft 365 purchase.

2
Navigate to Subscriptions

Click on the 'Services & subscriptions' tab from the top navigation menu to view your active Microsoft products.

3
Download the Installer

Locate your Office or Microsoft 365 product in the list and click the 'Install' button. The website will automatically detect your operating system and provide the correct .pkg installation file for macOS.

Version Availability: Office Professional Plus 2021 is no longer available through official sellers. Make sure you are using a currently supported subscription or license.
Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Mac as a Lightweight Alternative

If you are having trouble installing Microsoft Office or have an unsupported installer file, WPS Office is an excellent free alternative for Mac. It is lightweight, offers a familiar user interface, and allows you to open, edit, and save Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files seamlessly.

  1. 1. Visit the WPS Office Website: Go to the official WPS website and navigate to the Mac download section.
  2. 2. Download the Mac Installer: Click the download button to get the official Mac-compatible .dmg installation file.
  3. 3. Install and Launch: Open the downloaded .dmg file, drag the WPS Office icon to your Applications folder, and launch it to start working immediately.
Completely free to download and use on macOS.Highly compatible with Microsoft Office formats, including .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx.Lightweight installation package that avoids complex setup errors.All-in-one suite combining Word, Spreadsheet, and Presentation tools.
microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Mac say the .img file is unrecognized?

Macs primarily use .dmg and .pkg files for software installation. While macOS can mount some .img files, Windows-specific installation disk images like Proplus2021Retail.img often use file systems or contain Windows executables (.exe) that macOS cannot recognize or run.

Can I install Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2021 on a Mac?

Microsoft Office Professional Plus is a volume license edition designed specifically for Windows computers. Mac users require the standard Mac version of Office, such as Office Home & Business or a Microsoft 365 subscription.

How do I know if my Office installer is for Mac?

A legitimate Mac installer for Microsoft Office will be in a .pkg format. If you downloaded an .exe, .iso, or .img file, it is intended for a Windows PC.