Office for Mac Issues

How to Create Long Drop-Down Lists in Word for Mac

Anum Mushtaq Nov 13, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to create a drop-down list with long or numerous entries in Microsoft Word for Mac but encounters limitations in the Mac content-control interface and legacy form field character limits.

How to Create Long Drop-Down Lists in Word for Mac

Product: Microsoft Word for Mac
Device & OS: macOS
Scenario: Creating a form or template that requires a long drop-down list in Word for Mac.
Observed behavior: Legacy drop-down form fields retain character limits, and Word for Mac does not provide the same content-control editing interface as Word for Windows; errors can occur after approximately 50 characters.

Before you start

Check whether you have access to Word for Windows for creating or editing the content control. If you plan to use VBA on Mac, enable macros and prepare the exact drop-down entries before opening the Visual Basic Editor.

Solution 1Recommended

Create the Drop-Down Content Control in Word for Windows and Open It on Mac

Use this method when you have access to Word for Windows and need a reliable drop-down list that opens in Word for Mac without hitting the legacy character limit.

Word for Windows exposes the full Drop-Down List Content Control interface. Long display names are saved inside the .docx file and remain available when the document is opened on Mac, even though editing the same control on Mac may be limited.

Enable the Developer tab

In Word for Windows, open File > Options > Customize Ribbon, and select the Developer check box.

Insert a Drop-Down List Content Control

Place the cursor where the list should appear, then go to Developer > Controls and click Drop-Down List Content Control.

Add long list entries

With the control selected, click Properties under Developer, then add each Display Name and Value. Entries longer than 50 characters can be added.

Save and open on Mac

Save the document as a .docx file and open it in Word for Mac to use the drop-down list.

Create the Drop-Down Content Control in Word for Windows and Open It on Mac

Drop-down list works on Mac: The saved content control remains usable in Word for Mac. For major list changes, return to Word for Windows or use the VBA method.

Solution 2

Create the Drop-Down Content Control with VBA on Mac

Use this method when you only have Word for Mac and need to generate a content control with long dropdown entries programmatically.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Create Long Drop-Down Lists in WPS Office Writer Instead

The drop-down list limitation is part of Microsoft Word for Mac. WPS Office Writer is a free, lightweight Office alternative that opens and saves .docx files, keeps a familiar ribbon-style workspace, and lets Mac users create and edit form lists without the same Word content-control restriction.

1. Download WPS Office for Mac: Click Download WPS Office Free and install WPS Office on your Mac.
2. Open the existing Word document: Launch WPS Office Writer and open the .docx file that needs the long drop-down list.
3. Create or edit the drop-down list: Use the WPS Writer Insert tab and form controls to add long drop-down entries, then save the file as a .docx document.

Create and manage long drop-down list entries without the Word for Mac legacy field limitOpens, edits, and saves Microsoft Word .docx files with full format compatibilityFree and lightweight Office suite with a familiar ribbon-style interfaceSeamless migration for Word for Mac documents and form templates

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Word for Mac drop-down list stop accepting text after about 50 characters?

This is a known limitation of legacy drop-down form fields in Microsoft Word for Mac. Use a drop-down content control created in Word for Windows via Developer > Controls > Drop-Down List Content Control, or create it on Mac through VBA with ContentControl.DropdownListEntries.

Can I edit a long drop-down list on Mac after it was created in Word for Windows?

Yes, you can open and use the document, but the Mac content-control editing interface is limited. For major changes, open the file in Word for Windows or modify the control with VBA on Mac.

Does WPS Office Writer support long drop-down lists in .docx files?

WPS Office Writer can open and save Microsoft Word .docx files and includes form controls for creating drop-down lists, making it a practical free alternative when Word for Mac blocks long entries.

What is the difference between legacy form fields and drop-down content controls?

Legacy fields are older controls that may retain the character limit on Mac. Content controls are newer and support the DropdownListEntries property, so they are the correct choice for long lists.

Is VBA available in Word for Mac to create a dropdown content control?

Yes. In Word for Mac, open Tools > Macro > Visual Basic Editor, insert a module, and run VBA that uses ContentControl.DropdownListEntries.

Office App Problems