Office for Mac Issues

How to Add Hebrew Fonts and Typing Support in Office for Mac

Nimra Malik Sep 25, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user needs to type in Hebrew or set Hebrew as the default display language in Microsoft Office for Mac.

How to Add Hebrew Fonts and Typing Support in Office for Mac

Product: Microsoft Office for Mac
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Typing Hebrew text in Word documents or changing the entire Office application interface to Hebrew.
Observed behavior: Hebrew typing or display language is not available by default and must be configured externally through macOS system settings rather than within the Office app.

Before you start

Determine whether you need to change the entire Office interface to Hebrew or if you only want to type Hebrew text in your documents, as the configuration steps differ entirely.

Solution 1Recommended

Add a Hebrew Keyboard for Typing in Office

Add the Hebrew input source in macOS settings to type Hebrew text in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint without changing the interface language.

If you want to keep your Office menus in English but need to write documents in Hebrew, you only need to add a new keyboard input source via your Mac's system settings. Microsoft Office will automatically recognize the new language layout.

Open macOS Keyboard Settings

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your Mac screen and select 'System Settings' (or 'System Preferences' on older macOS versions). Navigate to the 'Keyboard' section in the sidebar.

Add a New Input Source

Under the 'Text Input' section, click the 'Edit' button next to 'Input Sources'. Click the '+' button at the bottom left of the window to add a new language.

Select the Hebrew Layout

Type 'Hebrew' in the search bar, select your preferred Hebrew keyboard layout from the list on the right, and click the 'Add' button.

Switch Keyboard in Office

Open Microsoft Word or any other Office app. Click the Input menu in the macOS menu bar (represented by a flag or character icon) and select 'Hebrew'. You can now start typing right-to-left Hebrew text in your document.

Add a Hebrew Keyboard for Typing in Office

Tip: You can quickly switch between English and Hebrew keyboards while working in Office by pressing the 'Control' + 'Spacebar' or 'Fn' (Globe) key on your Mac keyboard.

Solution 2

Change the Office Display Language to Hebrew

Office for Mac follows your macOS system language. To make the Office menus, ribbons, and dialogs display in Hebrew, you must change your Mac's primary language.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Experience Seamless Multilingual Typing with WPS Office

If you are struggling with language settings, right-to-left formatting, or compatibility issues in Microsoft Office for Mac, try WPS Office. It is a highly compatible, lightweight, and completely free alternative that seamlessly integrates with macOS language and keyboard settings.

1. Download the Mac Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and download the free installation package specifically designed for macOS.
2. Install WPS Office: Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Mac's Applications folder to install it.
3. Open and Start Typing: Launch WPS Office, switch your Mac's input source to Hebrew using the top menu bar, and immediately begin typing with perfect multi-language formatting support.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formatsSeamlessly supports macOS multi-language keyboards including right-to-left textLightweight application that runs extremely fast on all Mac devicesCompletely free to use with a familiar, easy-to-navigate interface

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is there no language settings menu inside Office for Mac?

Unlike the Windows version, Microsoft Office for Mac is designed to integrate deeply with the Apple ecosystem. It does not have a built-in language selection menu for the interface; instead, it directly mirrors your macOS 'Language & Region' priority settings.

Can I type in Hebrew while keeping the Office interface in English?

Yes. You only need to add the Hebrew keyboard layout in your Mac's 'Keyboard' settings. As long as English remains at the top of your 'Preferred Languages' list in macOS General settings, your Office interface and menus will stay in English.

How do I fix right-to-left typing issues in Word for Mac?

Ensure you are using the latest version of Office for Mac (Microsoft 365 or Office 2019/2021), as much older versions had limited right-to-left (RTL) support. To trigger the correct text direction formatting, make sure to switch your keyboard input to Hebrew before creating a new document or typing on a new line.

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