Fix: Cannot Open Word, Excel, or PowerPoint After macOS Big Sur Upgrade
Question details
Users are unable to open Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint applications after updating their Mac to macOS Big Sur, and the app icons display a prohibition symbol.
- Product
- Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
- Device & OS
- macOS Big Sur
- Scenario
- Attempting to launch older installed versions of Microsoft Office applications after successfully upgrading the Mac operating system to macOS Big Sur.
- Observed behavior
- The Office applications fail to open and are overlaid with a prohibition symbol because macOS Big Sur drops support for older 32-bit software architectures.
Verify whether your previously installed Microsoft Office version was an older 32-bit release like Office 2008 or 2011, and ensure you have access to your Microsoft account credentials or a recent Time Machine backup.
Install a Supported 64-Bit Version of Microsoft Office
macOS Big Sur strictly requires 64-bit applications. To resolve the prohibition symbol, you must download and install a newer, supported version of Microsoft 365 or Office.
Starting with macOS Catalina and continuing into Big Sur, Apple permanently removed support for 32-bit applications. If your Mac was running Office 2008 or 2011, these apps are fundamentally incompatible with your new OS. You will need a modern 64-bit release or a Microsoft 365 subscription to continue using native Microsoft apps.
Open your web browser and navigate to office.com/myaccount. Sign in using the Microsoft account associated with your Office purchase or student email address.
Locate your Office or Microsoft 365 subscription in your account dashboard and click the 'Install' button to download the latest 64-bit macOS installer package.
Run the downloaded .pkg file and follow the on-screen instructions to install the updated applications. Once installed, log in with your account to activate them.
Restore macOS from a Time Machine Backup
If you do not wish to purchase a new Office subscription, you can downgrade your Mac's operating system back to a version that supports 32-bit apps using Time Machine.
Use WPS Office as a Free Alternative on macOS Big Sur
If your older 32-bit Microsoft Office applications are blocked on macOS Big Sur and you prefer not to pay for a costly new Microsoft 365 subscription, WPS Office is the ideal solution. It is completely free, natively built for 64-bit macOS architectures, and seamlessly opens all your existing Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files.
- 1. Download WPS Office for Mac: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free macOS installer tailored for modern 64-bit and Apple Silicon Macs.
- 2. Install the Application: Open the downloaded file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder to complete the installation.
- 3. Open Your Existing Files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your older Word, Excel, or PowerPoint documents. They will load perfectly with all formatting preserved.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is there a prohibition symbol over my Office apps on macOS Big Sur?
The prohibition symbol indicates that the application is built on a 32-bit architecture. Apple permanently removed support for 32-bit software starting with macOS Catalina, meaning older programs like Office 2008 and Office 2011 are strictly blocked from running on Big Sur.
Can I use my old product key to activate a newer version of Office on Big Sur?
No, older one-time purchase keys for Office 2008 or 2011 are not valid for activating modern 64-bit versions like Office 2019, Office 2021, or Microsoft 365. You must acquire a new license or subscription to use the updated software.
Are there free ways to view or edit my old Word and Excel files on Big Sur?
Yes, you can use the free web-based versions of Microsoft Office at office.com, install a free, highly compatible desktop alternative like WPS Office for Mac, or use Apple's built-in Pages and Numbers applications to open your files.
