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Can Office 2021 for Mac Run on macOS High Sierra?
Question details
The user wants to know if Microsoft Office 2021 can be installed and operated on a Mac running macOS High Sierra 10.13.6.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2021 for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS High Sierra 10.13.6
- Scenario
- Attempting to install or run the Office 2021 suite on an older Mac operating system.
- Observed behavior
- Office 2021 installation fails or operates unreliably because it is not officially supported on macOS High Sierra.
Check your current macOS version by clicking the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and selecting 'About This Mac' to confirm whether your hardware can support a newer operating system.
Upgrade Your Mac to a Supported macOS Version
The most secure and reliable way to use Office 2021 is to update your Mac to a macOS version officially supported by Microsoft.
Microsoft typically supports the three most recent major versions of macOS. Because macOS High Sierra is older, you must upgrade your operating system to install Office 2021 successfully.
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select 'System Preferences'.
Click on 'Software Update' to see if a newer version of macOS is available for your specific Mac model.
Click 'Upgrade Now' or 'Update Now' and follow the on-screen instructions to bring your Mac's operating system up to date.
Use Microsoft Office on the Web
If your Mac cannot be upgraded past High Sierra, you can use the free online versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint through your web browser.
Install an Older Version of Office for Mac
For offline access on High Sierra, you will need an older version of Office, such as Office 2016 for Mac.
Try WPS Office for Mac as a Lightweight Alternative
If your Mac cannot run the latest Microsoft Office 2021 due to macOS High Sierra limitations, WPS Office provides a free, highly compatible, and lightweight alternative that effortlessly handles Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files without the strict OS requirements.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the macOS version.
- 2. Install the App: Open the downloaded 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 files with full formatting retention.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why won't Office 2021 install on my Mac running High Sierra?
Microsoft officially supports only the three most recent major versions of macOS. Since High Sierra (10.13.6) is significantly older, the Office 2021 installer blocks the installation because it relies on modern system frameworks that High Sierra lacks.
Can I bypass the macOS requirement to force Office 2021 to install?
No, you cannot bypass the macOS version requirements. Even if you own a valid perpetual license for Office 2021, the application simply will not run because the underlying software architecture requires APIs unavailable in High Sierra.
Which version of Microsoft Office works natively on macOS High Sierra?
Microsoft Office 2016 for Mac is the last version fully supported on macOS High Sierra. However, Microsoft has discontinued support for it, meaning it no longer receives security or feature updates.
