Office for Mac Issues

Can You Run 32-Bit Microsoft Office on an Apple Silicon M1 Mac?

Tauseeq Magsi Sep 28, 2026 871 views

Question details

The user wants to know if it is possible to run a 32-bit version of Microsoft Office on a Mac with an Apple Silicon chip (M1) to open specific Excel files, without installing Windows.

Product: Microsoft Office for Mac
Device & OS: Mac (Apple Silicon)
Scenario: Attempting to open older Excel files or run legacy add-ins that supposedly require a 32-bit Office environment.
Observed behavior: Users are looking for a macOS-native 32-bit Office application but encounter limitations because modern macOS and Office versions are exclusively 64-bit.

Before you start

Verify whether your Excel files or add-ins strictly require a 32-bit environment, as Apple dropped all support for 32-bit applications starting with macOS Catalina (10.15).

Solution 1Recommended

Migrate Files to 64-Bit Office for Mac

Since macOS and Apple Silicon do not support 32-bit apps, the best approach is using the standard 64-bit Office and updating your dependencies.

Microsoft 365 and all modern standalone versions of Office for Mac are built exclusively as 64-bit applications to comply with Apple's architecture requirements.

Standard Excel files (.xls, .xlsx) created in 32-bit versions of Office will still open perfectly fine in a 64-bit environment. The limitation only applies to specific 32-bit legacy add-ins or Windows-specific ActiveX controls.

Install 64-bit Office

Download and install the latest version of Microsoft 365 or Office for Mac, which runs natively on Apple Silicon.

Open your files

Launch Excel and open your older files. Most standard data, formulas, and even standard VBA macros will function normally without a 32-bit environment.

Check for add-in updates

If you receive compatibility errors, go to 'Insert' > 'Get Add-ins' or check the original developer's website to download modern 64-bit or web-based replacements for your legacy add-ins.

Rosetta 2 Limitation: Apple's Rosetta 2 translation layer allows you to run 64-bit Intel apps on an M1 Mac, but it cannot run or translate 32-bit applications under any circumstances.

Solution 2

Run a Windows Virtual Machine for 32-Bit Dependencies

If your workflow relies entirely on 32-bit Windows-only Excel add-ins, you will need to virtualize Windows on your Mac.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Seamless Mac Compatibility

If you are struggling with Microsoft Office installations or compatibility on your Apple Silicon Mac, try WPS Office. It runs natively on M-series chips, requires fewer system resources, and offers exceptional compatibility with legacy and modern Office file formats—all for free.

1. Download the Mac installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the macOS version.
2. Install the application: Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag WPS Office into your Applications folder.
3. Open your files instantly: Launch WPS Office and directly open your legacy Excel documents without worrying about 32-bit architecture constraints.

Native optimization for Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) ensuring fast performanceFull compatibility with legacy and modern Microsoft Excel formats (.xls, .xlsx, .csv)Lightweight installation with an intuitive, familiar user interfaceFree to use without forcing expensive subscription models

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is there no 32-bit version of Office for Mac available?

Apple completely removed support for 32-bit applications starting with macOS Catalina (10.15) in 2019. To ensure compatibility and improve software performance, Microsoft transitioned Office for Mac entirely to 64-bit.

Will older 32-bit Excel macros still work on an M1 Mac?

Standard VBA macros typically work fine in 64-bit Office for Mac. However, if the macro specifically calls out to 32-bit Windows APIs, relies on 32-bit ActiveX controls, or uses legacy COM add-ins, it will not function on macOS.

Can Rosetta 2 help me run a 32-bit Mac application?

No. Rosetta 2 is designed exclusively to translate 64-bit Intel-based applications so they can run on Apple Silicon. It does not contain the necessary architecture to support any 32-bit code.

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