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How to Restore Excel 2019 After App Store Upgrade on Mac
Question details
The user needs to revert their Excel application back to the 2019 version after an unintended Mac App Store update upgraded it to Microsoft 365, causing license discrepancies with Word and PowerPoint.
- Product
- Microsoft Excel 2019
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Reverting an unintended application upgrade from the Mac App Store to restore the original software license.
- Observed behavior
- Excel behaves as Microsoft 365 and requires a subscription, while Word and PowerPoint continue to successfully use the Office 2019 one-time purchase license.
Ensure you have your Microsoft account login details associated with your Office 2019 purchase ready, and verify your current macOS version's compatibility with older Office installers.
Downgrade Excel to Version 2019 via Microsoft Update History
Uninstall the Microsoft 365 version of Excel and manually download the 2019 standalone installer from Microsoft's official update history archive.
Because the Mac App Store only hosts the latest Microsoft 365 versions of Office applications, automatic updates can override your Office 2019 standalone license. To fix this, you must completely remove the newly installed Excel app and manually install the older package that matches your Word and PowerPoint versions.
Ensure Excel is completely closed. Open Finder, navigate to your 'Applications' folder, locate 'Microsoft Excel', and drag it to the Trash. Empty the Trash to remove it entirely.
Open your web browser and go to Microsoft's official 'Update history for Office for Mac' page (https://learn.microsoft.com/officeupdates/update-history-office-for-mac).
Scroll down to the Office 2019 section on the webpage. Locate the most recent update package for Office 2019, click on the download link specifically for the 'Excel' standalone installer, and save the .pkg file to your Mac.
Double-click the downloaded .pkg file and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation. Once installed, open Excel and sign in with the Microsoft account associated with your Office 2019 license to activate it.
To prevent this from happening again, open the Mac App Store, click on 'App Store' in the top menu bar, select 'Settings' (or 'Preferences'), and uncheck 'Automatic Updates'.
Switch to WPS Office for a Hassle-Free Spreadsheet Experience on Mac
Tired of dealing with forced upgrades, licensing discrepancies, and compatibility issues on newer macOS versions? WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office. It seamlessly opens your existing Excel workbooks and provides a familiar interface without subscription traps.
- 1. Download WPS Office for Mac: Visit the official WPS website and download the Mac version of WPS Office.
- 2. Install the Application: Open the downloaded installer file and drag the WPS Office icon to your Applications folder.
- 3. Open Your Spreadsheets: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing .xlsx files with perfect formatting preservation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my Excel app automatically upgrade to Microsoft 365?
If you have the 'Automatic Updates' feature enabled in your Mac App Store settings, macOS will automatically download the latest version of any installed apps. Since Microsoft transitioned the App Store listings to Microsoft 365, the update overwrote your standalone 2019 version.
Will uninstalling the Microsoft 365 Excel app delete my spreadsheets?
No. Dragging the Microsoft Excel application from the Applications folder to the Trash only removes the program itself. Your saved .xlsx workbooks and other documents remain safely stored on your Mac's hard drive.
Is Office 2019 officially supported on macOS Sequoia 15.1.1?
Microsoft Office 2019 reached its end of lifecycle in October 2023. While the application may still launch on newer operating systems like macOS Sequoia, Microsoft no longer provides updates, bug fixes, or official compatibility support for it.
How do I stop my Mac from auto-updating my Office applications?
Open the Mac App Store, click 'App Store' in the top-left Apple menu bar, select 'Settings', and disable the 'Automatic Updates' option. Additionally, if you use Microsoft AutoUpdate, open an Office app, go to 'Help' > 'Check for Updates', and turn off the automatic download option.
