How to Fix Microsoft Office 16.54 Problems on macOS Monterey
Question details
Users need to resolve compatibility and performance issues affecting Microsoft Office applications after updating their operating system to macOS Monterey.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 16.54 for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS Monterey
- Scenario
- Launching and using Microsoft Word, Excel, or other Office applications immediately after completing a Mac operating system upgrade.
- Observed behavior
- Office applications experience performance drops, unexpected crashes, or general compatibility bugs that prevent normal workflow.
Ensure you have saved all open documents and completely quit all running Microsoft Office applications, including any running in the background, before troubleshooting.
Update Office and Clear Corrupted Application Containers
Updating to a newer version resolves known compatibility bugs, while clearing existing application containers resets preferences that may have been corrupted during the macOS upgrade.
Major macOS updates can cause existing cache files to conflict with new system frameworks. Moving these container and preference files to the desktop forces Office to generate fresh, error-free configurations upon the next launch.
Open a functioning Office app, click on 'Help' in the top menu bar, and select 'Check for Updates'. Download and install version 16.55 or newer.
Open Finder, press 'Command + Shift + G' to open the 'Go to Folder' dialog, and type '~/Library/Containers' before pressing Enter.
Find the folders named 'Microsoft Word' and 'Microsoft Excel' in the Containers directory, and drag them to your Mac's desktop.
Press 'Command + Shift + G' again, navigate to '~/Library/Preferences', locate the file named 'com.microsoft.office.plist', and move it to your desktop as well.
Click the Apple menu, select 'Restart', and try launching Microsoft Office applications once the system reboots.
Boot Mac in Safe Mode
Use Safe Mode to determine if the Microsoft Office issues are caused by system cache conflicts or third-party startup applications.
Try WPS Office for Seamless Mac Compatibility
If Microsoft Office continues to struggle with macOS Monterey, consider switching to WPS Office. It is a highly compatible, free alternative that runs smoothly on all recent macOS versions, supporting essential document workflows without performance hiccups.
- 1. Download for Mac: Visit the official WPS website and download the free macOS installer tailored for your system.
- 2. Install the Application: Open the downloaded file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 3. Open Your Office Files: Launch WPS Office and simply drag and drop your existing Microsoft Office documents into the application to continue working instantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will deleting the Microsoft Word container delete my saved documents?
No. Moving or deleting the Microsoft Word container from the Library folder only resets application preferences and caches. Your actual documents saved in your Documents folder, Desktop, or OneDrive remain completely unaffected.
Why did macOS Monterey break my Microsoft Office installation?
Major macOS updates introduce new system architectures and security protocols. Older versions of Office, such as 16.54, may lack the necessary framework updates to communicate properly with macOS Monterey, resulting in glitches or crashes.
Can I upgrade directly to the latest Microsoft Office version from 16.54?
Yes. You can use the Microsoft AutoUpdate tool by going to Help > Check for Updates inside any Office application to install version 16.55 or the newest available version for your Mac.
