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How to Install an Older Version of Microsoft Word on macOS Monterey
Question details
The user needs to install Microsoft Word on a 2015 MacBook Air running macOS Monterey (12.7.6), but the App Store version requires macOS 13 or later.
- Product
- Microsoft Word for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS Monterey 12.7.6
- Scenario
- Attempting to download and install Microsoft Word from the Mac App Store on an older Mac device that cannot be upgraded to macOS 13 (Ventura) or later.
- Observed behavior
- The Mac App Store blocks the installation, stating that macOS 13 or later is required to download the current version of the Microsoft Word application.
Before proceeding, confirm your exact macOS version by clicking the Apple menu > About This Mac, and ensure you have the login credentials for the Microsoft account tied to your Office license.
Download a Compatible Older Build from Microsoft's Update History
Bypass the Mac App Store limitations by manually downloading an earlier, compatible release of Word directly from Microsoft's official servers.
Microsoft maintains a public repository of previous Office for Mac update packages. Because the App Store only provides the very latest version, you must download a standalone installer released before the macOS 13 requirement was implemented. For macOS Monterey 12.7.6, Office 2021 builds are a confirmed compatible choice.
Open your web browser and search for Microsoft's official 'Update history for Office for Mac' documentation page.
Scroll down to the release history tables and look for a version released prior to late 2023, such as version 16.77 or standard Word 2021 builds.
Click the download link for either the Word standalone package or the full Office suite package to save the .pkg file to your Mac.
Double-click the downloaded .pkg file and follow the on-screen installation prompts.
Open the newly installed Word app and sign in with the Microsoft account associated with your active license to activate the product.
Try WPS Office for a Seamless Experience on Older Macs
If hunting down older Microsoft installer files is too complex or leads to persistent activation errors on macOS Monterey, WPS Office provides a modern, fast, and entirely free alternative that works beautifully on older Apple hardware.
- 1. Download the Mac Installer: Visit the WPS Office website and download the free installation package for macOS.
- 2. Install the App: Open the downloaded file and simply drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 3. Open Your Documents: Launch WPS Office and instantly open your existing Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files without compatibility issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does the Mac App Store block my Microsoft Word download?
The Mac App Store is designed to only serve the most recent version of an application. Since Microsoft recently updated the minimum system requirements for the newest Word app to macOS 13 (Ventura) or later, the App Store prevents downloads on Monterey (macOS 12).
Will Word 2021 work smoothly on my 2015 MacBook Air?
Yes, many users have successfully installed and run Word 2021 builds on older Macs running macOS Monterey 12.7.6. You simply need to download the installer directly from Microsoft rather than using the App Store.
Can I still get software updates if I install an older version of Word?
Once you install an older, fixed version of Word to maintain compatibility with Monterey, you will not receive new feature updates. You may, however, continue to receive critical security patches depending on Microsoft's specific lifecycle policy for that build.
What should I do if my Mac cannot be upgraded further?
If your hardware no longer supports newer macOS versions, you must manually install compatible older software versions for the apps you need, or switch to lightweight, highly compatible alternatives like WPS Office that still support your operating system.
