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How to Reinstall Microsoft Office 2021 on macOS Monterey
Question details
The user needs to reinstall Microsoft Office 2021 on a Mac running macOS Monterey, but newer installation files block the process due to operating system requirements.
- Product
- Microsoft Office 2021 for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS Monterey (12.7.6)
- Scenario
- Reinstalling Office 2021 software on a Mac running an older operating system.
- Observed behavior
- The current Office 2021 for Mac installers require macOS Ventura or later, preventing standard installation on macOS Monterey.
Verify that your Mac is running macOS Monterey (click the Apple menu > About This Mac) and ensure you have your Microsoft account credentials linked to your Office 2021 license ready for activation.
Download and Install the Last Supported Build (Version 16.88)
Since current versions require macOS Ventura, you must manually download and install version 16.88, which is the final Microsoft Office build compatible with macOS Monterey.
Microsoft periodically updates the minimum macOS requirements for Office 2021. Currently, it requires macOS Ventura (macOS 13) or newer. To successfully reinstall Office on macOS Monterey (macOS 12.7.6), you have to use a legacy installer package (version 16.88).
Copy and paste the following official Microsoft link into your browser to download the installer: https://officecdn.microsoft.com/pr/C1297A47-86C4-4C1F-97FA-950631F94777/MacAutoupdate/Microsoft_365_and_Office_16.88.24081116_BusinessPro_Installer.pkg
Locate the downloaded .pkg file in your Mac's Downloads folder and double-click it to launch the Microsoft Office installation wizard.
Follow the on-screen prompts, agree to the software license agreement, select your installation destination, and enter your Mac administrator password to install the applications.
Open any installed application, such as Microsoft Word, click 'Get Started', and sign in with the Microsoft account associated with your Office 2021 purchase.
Try WPS Office for Mac – Lightweight, Free, and Fully Compatible
If you are having trouble with Microsoft Office compatibility on an older Mac, WPS Office is an excellent alternative. It offers a familiar interface, is fully updated even on older macOS versions, and allows you to create, edit, and save standard Office documents completely free of charge.
- 1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website and download the free installation package for Mac.
- 2. Install on your Mac: Open the downloaded file and drag the WPS Office application into your Applications folder.
- 3. Open your files instantly: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files without losing formatting.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my Office 2021 product key work with version 16.88?
Yes. As long as your Microsoft account has a valid Office 2021 for Mac license linked to it, version 16.88 will recognize your credentials and activate successfully on macOS Monterey.
Can I get security updates for Office 2021 on macOS Monterey?
No. Because Microsoft requires macOS Ventura or later for newer releases, version 16.88 is the final update for Monterey. It will not receive any further security or feature updates.
How do I stop Microsoft AutoUpdate from prompting me to install unsupported updates?
Open the Microsoft AutoUpdate tool on your Mac and uncheck the 'Automatically keep Microsoft apps up to date' option to prevent it from constantly trying to fetch updates that require a newer macOS.
Is version 16.88 safe to use for daily tasks?
While the software will function perfectly for document creation and editing, the lack of ongoing security updates means you should exercise standard caution, such as not opening untrusted files from unknown sources.
