Update & Upgrade Problems

How to Stop Microsoft AutoUpdate Notifications on an Older Mac

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to stop Microsoft AutoUpdate from continuously opening and checking for updates when starting Word or Excel on an older Mac that is unable to install newer Office versions.

Product: Microsoft Office
Device & OS: Mac OS
Scenario: Launching Microsoft Word or Excel on an older Mac that has reached its software update limit.
Observed behavior: Microsoft AutoUpdate repeatedly launches in the background and displays notifications about newer versions that cannot be installed on the current operating system.

Before you start

Check your current macOS version to confirm whether your Mac can support newer Office updates before completely disabling the AutoUpdate tool.

Solution 1Recommended

Disable Automatic Updates via Microsoft Office Settings

The safest and easiest way to stop the constant update notifications without modifying system files.

By modifying the built-in update preferences, you can prevent the Microsoft AutoUpdate tool from automatically running in the background and downloading files your older Mac cannot install.

Open an Office Application

Launch Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint on your Mac.

Access Update Settings

Click on 'Help' in the top menu bar, then select 'Check for Updates' to open the Microsoft AutoUpdate window.

Disable Automatic Downloads

Click on 'Advanced' settings, and uncheck the box next to 'Automatically Download and Install Updates'.

Security Warning: Disabling automatic updates means you will no longer receive important security patches. Only do this if your Mac is too old to support new versions of Office.

Solution 2

Restrict Microsoft AutoUpdate via Terminal

An advanced method to completely stop the AutoUpdate application from functioning if standard settings fail.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Switch to WPS Office for a Seamless Experience on Older Macs

If your older Mac can no longer receive Microsoft Office updates or handle heavy background processes, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative that runs smoothly on older macOS versions without annoying update loops.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the Mac installer compatible with your operating system version.
2. Install the Suite: Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag the WPS Office icon to your Applications folder.
3. Open Your Files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Microsoft Office files without any conversion.

Highly compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx).Lightweight design ensures smooth performance on older MacBooks.All-in-one suite with tabs for documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.No forced background update tools causing startup delays.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Microsoft AutoUpdate keep popping up on my old Mac?

Microsoft AutoUpdate runs in the background to ensure your software is current. On older Macs, it may detect an available update but fail to install it due to macOS incompatibility, causing a continuous loop of notifications every time you open Word or Excel.

Can I just delete the Microsoft AutoUpdate application?

Yes, you can manually delete it from the '/Library/Application Support/Microsoft/' folder, but doing so completely breaks the update mechanism for all Microsoft apps on your Mac, preventing even critical security patches from being installed.

Will disabling AutoUpdate affect my Microsoft Office subscription?

No, disabling the AutoUpdate tool will not affect your Office 365 subscription or local licenses. It only prevents the software from checking for and downloading new application versions automatically.

Installation & Activation