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Fix Microsoft Office Apps Not Opening on macOS Big Sur
Question details
The user is unable to launch Microsoft Office applications after upgrading their Mac to macOS Big Sur.
- Product
- Microsoft Office for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS Big Sur
- Scenario
- Attempting to open Word, Excel, or PowerPoint after performing a macOS system upgrade.
- Observed behavior
- Office applications fail to open or immediately crash because the installed Office build requires a newer version of macOS than Big Sur.
Before making changes to your software, verify your current macOS version in the Apple menu and ensure you have your Microsoft account login credentials available for re-activation.
Reinstall a Compatible Office Build for macOS Big Sur
Completely remove the incompatible version of Microsoft Office and install an older build that officially supports macOS Big Sur.
Microsoft Office for Mac only supports the three most recent versions of macOS. If your Office apps updated to a version requiring macOS Monterey or newer, they will stop working on Big Sur. You must roll back to an older build.
Open the Finder, navigate to the Applications folder, and drag all Microsoft Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) to the Trash.
In Finder, press Command+Shift+G, type '~/Library', and navigate to the 'Containers' and 'Group Containers' folders. Delete any folders starting with 'com.microsoft' to ensure a completely clean uninstallation.
Visit the official 'Office for Mac update history' page on Microsoft's support website and download an older installation package (typically version 16.77 or earlier) that supports macOS Big Sur.
Run the downloaded installer package. Once installed, open any Office app and sign in with your Microsoft account to activate the software.
Upgrade Your Mac to a Newer macOS Version
If your Mac hardware permits, upgrading to a newer macOS will allow you to run the latest, most secure versions of Microsoft Office.
Try WPS Office for Mac - Fast, Compatible, and Free
If you cannot upgrade your macOS or prefer not to use outdated versions of Microsoft Office, WPS Office is an excellent solution. It provides a lightweight, full-featured office suite that runs flawlessly on older macOS versions while maintaining perfect compatibility with Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files.
- 1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the Mac version.
- 2. Install on macOS: 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 to continue your work seamlessly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which version of Microsoft Office works on macOS Big Sur?
Microsoft Office versions 16.77 and older generally support macOS Big Sur (macOS 11). Newer versions require macOS Monterey (macOS 12) or later. You can find these older installers on Microsoft's Office for Mac update history page.
Will I lose my saved documents if I uninstall Microsoft Office?
No, uninstalling Microsoft Office applications only removes the software itself. Your Word documents, Excel spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations remain safe on your Mac's hard drive.
Why did my Office apps suddenly stop working on Big Sur?
This usually happens if Microsoft AutoUpdate was left running in the background and automatically installed a newer Office update that no longer supports your current operating system.
Can I prevent Microsoft Office from automatically updating to incompatible versions?
Yes. Once you install a compatible older build, open any Office app, click 'Help' in the top menu bar, select 'Check for Updates', and turn off the automatic update feature in the Microsoft AutoUpdate tool.
