'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Can I Download Office 2021 for Mac with a Microsoft 365 Subscription?
Question details
A user needs to know if an active Microsoft 365 subscription can be used to download and activate Office 2021 for Mac, as their older Mac does not support Office 2024.
- Product
- Microsoft 365 and Office 2021 for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Attempting to install a functional, supported version of Microsoft Office on an older Mac running an outdated macOS version.
- Observed behavior
- The user is unable to install the latest Office version and wants to substitute it with an older Office 2021 version using their current subscription.
Check your exact macOS version by clicking the Apple menu and selecting 'About This Mac' to determine which versions of Office are officially supported on your device.
Purchase a Standalone Office 2021 for Mac License
Since Microsoft 365 and Office 2021 are separate licensing models, you cannot use a subscription to activate the 2021 perpetual version.
A Microsoft 365 subscription provides access to the latest constantly updated versions of Office apps, while Office 2021 is a one-time perpetual purchase. Microsoft's licensing system does not allow you to convert a Microsoft 365 subscription into a perpetual Office 2021 license.
If your macOS is too old for the latest Microsoft 365 apps or Office 2024, you will need to separately purchase an eligible Office 2021 Mac license from an authorized source.
Confirm that your older macOS version meets the minimum system requirements for Office 2021 (typically requires macOS Catalina 10.15, Big Sur 11, or Monterey 12).
Purchase a standalone Office 2021 for Mac product key from an authorized retailer, as it is billed separately from Microsoft 365.
Download the Office 2021 installer, launch the setup file, and sign in with the Microsoft account associated with your newly purchased Office 2021 license to activate the software.
Use WPS Office for Older Macs
If your older Mac does not support the latest Microsoft Office updates and you do not want to purchase an additional standalone license, WPS Office is a perfect solution. It is lightweight, highly compatible with older macOS versions, and free to use.
- 1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the installation package designed for Mac.
- 2. Install the application: Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 3. Open your files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Microsoft Office documents without worrying about subscription errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I downgrade my Microsoft 365 subscription to Office 2021?
No, Microsoft does not offer a direct downgrade path from a Microsoft 365 subscription to a perpetual Office 2021 license. They are completely separate billing products.
What macOS versions officially support Office 2021?
Office 2021 for Mac is supported on the three most recent versions of macOS at the time of its release, which generally includes macOS Catalina (10.15), Big Sur (11), and Monterey (12).
Can I install older versions of Microsoft 365 apps on my old Mac?
Yes, you can download an older release build of the Microsoft 365 apps that is compatible with your macOS from the Microsoft Update History page. As long as you have an active Microsoft 365 subscription, you can activate those older app versions.
Will Office 2021 receive new features like Microsoft 365?
No, Office 2021 is a perpetual release. This means it only receives necessary security updates and bug fixes, but it will not receive the new features and tools that are regularly rolled out to Microsoft 365 subscribers.
