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Fix Office 2016 Crashing on Mac High Sierra (EXC_BAD_ACCESS)
Question details
Microsoft Office 2016 applications fail to open on macOS High Sierra (10.13.6), displaying error codes, and the user cannot remember the Microsoft account used for purchase.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2016 for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS High Sierra 10.13.6
- Scenario
- Launching Word, Excel, or PowerPoint 2016 on an older Mac operating system.
- Observed behavior
- The applications crash immediately on startup, displaying EXC_BAD_ACCESS and KERN_MEMORY_ERROR alerts.
Check your Mac's model and year in 'About This Mac' to determine if your hardware supports upgrading to a newer macOS version, as Microsoft only supports the three most recent macOS releases.
Upgrade to a Supported macOS Version
Updating your Mac operating system resolves the underlying version incompatibility causing the EXC_BAD_ACCESS crashes.
Microsoft's policy is to support only the three most recent major versions of macOS. macOS High Sierra (10.13.6) is no longer supported by modern Office updates, leading to memory and access errors when launching the software.
Click the Apple menu and select 'About This Mac' to identify your Mac model and confirm it can run a newer macOS like Mojave, Catalina, or later.
Go to System Preferences and click on 'Software Update', or open the Mac App Store and search for the latest macOS version available for your device.
Click 'Upgrade Now' or 'Get' to download the macOS installer. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation and restart your Mac.
Recover Your Original Microsoft Account
If you need to reinstall Office or purchase a newer version, you must locate the Microsoft account tied to your original Office 2016 license.
Use WPS Office as a Free, Lightweight Alternative for Older Macs
If your Mac cannot be upgraded past High Sierra or you cannot recover your original Microsoft account, WPS Office is an excellent replacement. It provides powerful productivity tools without the strict OS limitations or expensive subscription fees.
- 1. Visit the WPS Website: Go to the official WPS Office website on your Mac.
- 2. Download for Mac: Click the 'Free Download' button to get the Mac installation file (.dmg).
- 3. Install the App: Open the downloaded file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 4. Open Your Files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Microsoft Office 2016 display an EXC_BAD_ACCESS error on Mac?
This error typically indicates a memory management failure caused by software incompatibility. In this case, running Office 2016 on an unsupported, older operating system like macOS High Sierra triggers the memory fault because the app requires frameworks present only in newer macOS versions.
Which macOS versions are supported by Microsoft Office?
Microsoft officially supports only the three most recent major versions of macOS. When Apple releases a new major macOS version, Microsoft drops support for the oldest of the three and begins supporting the newest one.
Can Microsoft support help me find the account I used to buy Office?
No, Microsoft support cannot view, retrieve, or change the email address linked to your purchase due to strict privacy and security policies. You must use your own payment records and email history to identify the correct account.
Do I have to buy a new version of Office if my Mac can't be updated?
If your Mac hardware cannot support a newer macOS version, newer versions of Microsoft Office will also not install. Instead of buying a new Mac, you can use a free, lightweight alternative like WPS Office, which is highly compatible with older Apple hardware.
