How to Install Office 2019 on an Older Mac Running macOS High Sierra
Question details
The user needs to install Microsoft Office 2019 on an older MacBook Pro that is capped at macOS High Sierra, which does not support the latest Office installers.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2019
- Device & OS
- macOS High Sierra 10.13
- Scenario
- Attempting to download and install a purchased copy of Microsoft Word/Office 2019 on an older Mac device.
- Observed behavior
- The standard Microsoft Office 2019 installer requires a newer macOS version (macOS 11 or later), preventing the user from successfully downloading and installing the software.
Verify your exact macOS version by clicking the Apple logo in the top-left corner and selecting 'About This Mac'. Ensure you have your Microsoft account credentials and Office 2019 license ready before proceeding.
Download and Install a Compatible Older Build (Version 16.42)
Use an official older release of Office for Mac that was published when macOS High Sierra was still actively supported.
Since the newest Microsoft Office installers require macOS 11 (Big Sur) or later, the standard download link will not work on High Sierra.
You must manually download an older build, such as version 16.42 or 16.43 (released around October or November 2020), which was the last version to officially support macOS 10.13 High Sierra.
Navigate to the official 'Update history for Office for Mac' page on the Microsoft Learn website. Locate the release from October 2020 (version 16.42) and download the Office suite installer package (.pkg).
Double-click the downloaded .pkg file and follow the on-screen prompts to install the Office applications on your Mac.
Open Microsoft Word from your Applications folder. Click 'Sign In' and enter the Microsoft account credentials associated with your Office 2019 purchase to activate the product.
Open the 'Help' menu in Word and select 'Check for Updates'. Uncheck the option to automatically keep Microsoft apps up to date. This prevents the system from attempting to install newer, incompatible versions that will fail to run.
Use WPS Office on Your Older Mac
If your older Mac struggles with heavy Microsoft Office installations or incompatible macOS versions, WPS Office is an excellent alternative. It is highly optimized, lightweight, and completely free to use while offering a familiar interface.
- 1. Download for Mac: Visit the official WPS Office website and click 'Free Download' to get the Mac version installer.
- 2. Install the Application: Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag the WPS Office icon into your Applications folder.
- 3. Open Your Office Files: Launch WPS Office and directly open, edit, and save any existing Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I upgrade my older MacBook Pro to a newer macOS to run the latest Office?
It depends on your Mac's hardware model. Click the Apple menu, select 'System Preferences', and choose 'Software Update' to check if your Mac is eligible for an upgrade to macOS 11 (Big Sur) or newer. If it says your Mac is up to date on High Sierra, your hardware does not support newer OS versions.
Is it safe to download older versions of Office 2019?
It is safe only if you download the older installer directly from the official Microsoft Learn or Microsoft Update catalog pages. Avoid downloading .pkg files from third-party or unverified websites to prevent malware infections.
Will my older version of Word sync with OneDrive?
Basic syncing may still work for a time, but Microsoft frequently updates its cloud services. Because version 16.42 is unsupported, you may eventually experience sign-in errors or syncing issues with OneDrive on older macOS systems.
