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How to Fix Microsoft 365 Office Apps Not Updating on Mac
Question details
Users are experiencing issues where Microsoft 365 Office applications fail to update properly on their Mac devices.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- macOS
- Scenario
- Attempting to download and apply the latest updates for Microsoft Office desktop applications on a Mac.
- Observed behavior
- The Office applications do not update correctly, which is often caused by the installation being linked to the wrong license, Microsoft account, or inactive subscription.
Ensure you have your correct Microsoft 365 account credentials ready and confirm that your Mac is connected to a stable internet connection before troubleshooting.
Verify and Reconnect Your Microsoft 365 Account
Refreshing your account connection resolves update issues caused by synced wrong licenses or inactive subscriptions.
Often, Microsoft AutoUpdate fails because the Office suite is locally authenticated with an outdated or incorrect license. Signing out and re-authenticating forces the app to recognize your current subscription.
Open Microsoft Word on your Mac. From the top menu bar, click on 'Word' and select 'About Microsoft Word' to view the active license type.
From the same Word menu, click the option to sign out of your Microsoft account.
Close all applications, click the Apple logo in the top-left corner, and select 'Restart' to reboot your system and clear temporary session data.
Once your Mac reboots, open Word again and sign in using the Microsoft 365 account credentials associated with your active subscription.
Reinstall Office Apps from Your Microsoft Account
Bypass local update failures by downloading the latest installers directly from the Microsoft online portal.
Check macOS and Office Version Compatibility
Ensure your operating system and current app versions meet the requirements for receiving new updates.
Try WPS Office for a Seamless Mac Experience
If you are tired of dealing with Microsoft 365 update issues and subscription errors, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a highly compatible, lightweight, and free alternative that lets you edit Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files natively on your Mac.
- 1. Download the app: Visit the official WPS website and download the installation package tailored for macOS.
- 2. Install on your Mac: Open the downloaded file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 3. Open your files instantly: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Microsoft documents without any formatting loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Microsoft AutoUpdate not working on my Mac?
Microsoft AutoUpdate can fail if it is outdated, blocked by local firewall settings, or if macOS background permissions for the updater have been disabled. You can download the latest AutoUpdate tool directly from Microsoft to fix this.
How do I know if my Microsoft 365 subscription is active?
You can verify your subscription status by logging into account.microsoft.com and checking the 'Services & subscriptions' section. If it has expired, desktop apps will enter read-only mode and stop receiving updates.
Will I lose my documents if I reinstall Microsoft 365 on my Mac?
No. Uninstalling and reinstalling Microsoft Office applications only removes the software files. Your personal documents, spreadsheets, and presentations saved locally or on OneDrive will remain completely intact.
What macOS version is required for the latest Microsoft 365 updates?
Microsoft 365 updates are only provided for the three most recent major versions of macOS. If your Mac is running an older OS, you will not receive new Office features or updates.
