Fix Office 2016 for Mac Not Working After macOS Ventura Upgrade
Question details
Users are unable to use certain features in Office 2016 for Mac, such as the Mailings tab in Word, after upgrading to macOS Ventura.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2016 for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS Ventura 13.1
- Scenario
- Attempting to edit documents or use advanced Word features after updating the Mac operating system.
- Observed behavior
- The application stops working correctly, specific tabs like Mailings fail to respond, and general compatibility issues occur due to the unsupported software.
Since Microsoft Office 2016 reached its end of support in October 2020, verify if your document is saved in a standard format and back it up to a safe location before troubleshooting.
Restart Mac and Isolate the Issue
Performing a fresh restart and testing different files can help determine if the problem is application-wide or limited to a specific document.
Operating system upgrades can leave temporary background processes that interfere with older software. Restarting your Mac clears the system cache.
It is important to test whether the glitch affects a single corrupted document or if the entire Office suite is malfunctioning.
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select 'Restart'. Wait for the computer to fully boot up.
Open Microsoft Word 2016, click on 'File' > 'New from Template', and select a blank document. Navigate to the Mailings tab to see if it allows editing.
Launch Excel or PowerPoint 2016 to check if their core functionalities are also compromised on macOS Ventura.
Repair or Reinstall Office 2016 for Mac
Reinstalling the software replaces any missing or corrupted application files that may have been damaged during the macOS Ventura upgrade.
Upgrade Your Productivity with WPS Office for Mac
Since Office 2016 for Mac no longer receives updates and struggles with macOS Ventura, WPS Office provides a free, lightweight, and fully compatible alternative. It offers a familiar interface so you can transition seamlessly without losing your formatting or data.
- 1. Download and Install: Visit the official WPS website, download the Mac version, and drag the app into your Applications folder.
- 2. Open Your Documents: Right-click your existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files and choose 'Open with > WPS Office' to load them with intact formatting.
- 3. Resume Your Work: Access all your essential tools directly from the top ribbon menu, which functions exactly like the classic Office layout you are used to.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Office 2016 stop working after the macOS Ventura update?
Microsoft ended mainstream support for Office 2016 for Mac in October 2020. As Apple releases new macOS versions like Ventura, structural OS changes occur that older, unsupported software can no longer accommodate, leading to crashes and broken features.
Are there any official patches for Office 2016 on macOS Ventura?
No. Because the product has reached its end-of-support date, Microsoft no longer provides security updates, bug fixes, or compatibility patches for Office 2016.
Can I still download my purchased Office 2016 for Mac?
Yes, you can still download the installer from the Services & Subscriptions section of your Microsoft account, but it will remain the final, outdated version (v16.16.27).
How can I fix the Mailings tab issue on macOS Ventura?
Since this is an inherent compatibility block between the outdated app and the new OS, the only reliable solutions are to upgrade to a newer version of Microsoft Office (like Microsoft 365) or switch to a free, compatible alternative like WPS Office.
