Office for Mac Issues

How to Use Microsoft 365 Office Apps on an iMac and iPad

Huma Ashraf Ch Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to know how to utilize a single Microsoft 365 Personal subscription to run Office apps on both an iMac and an iPad.

How to Use Microsoft 365 Office Apps on an iMac and iPad

Product: Microsoft 365
Device & OS: macOS and iPadOS
Scenario: Setting up Office applications on multiple Apple devices using a single Personal subscription.
Observed behavior: The user aims to have fully activated and synced Office applications functioning seamlessly on an iMac and an iPad simultaneously.

Before you start

Ensure you know the Microsoft account email address and password associated with your active Microsoft 365 Personal subscription before installing the apps.

Solution 1Recommended

Install and Activate Microsoft 365 on Both Devices

Download the Office applications on your Apple devices and sign in with the same Microsoft account to activate them via your single Personal subscription.

A Microsoft 365 Personal subscription allows you to install and sign in to Office on up to five devices concurrently. This means you can easily use the suite on both your iMac and iPad without purchasing an additional license.

Download on iMac

Open the Mac App Store or visit the official Microsoft website to download the Microsoft 365 desktop suite, which includes Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

Install on iPad

Open the App Store on your iPad, search for Microsoft 365 or individual apps like Microsoft Word, and download them to your tablet.

Sign in with the same account

Launch any Office application on both your iMac and iPad. When prompted to activate, sign in using the exact same Microsoft account email and password linked to your active subscription.

Install and Activate Microsoft 365 on Both Devices

Device Limit: You can stay signed in on up to 5 devices at the same time. If you exceed this limit, Microsoft will automatically sign you out of an older device to accommodate the new one.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Try WPS Office for Seamless Work Across Mac and iPad

If you prefer not to pay for a Microsoft 365 subscription, WPS Office provides a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative. You can create, edit, and sync documents perfectly across your iMac, iPad, and other devices without worrying about expensive recurring fees.

1. Download for Mac: Download WPS Office from the Mac App Store or the official WPS website and install it on your iMac.
2. Download for iPad: Search for WPS Office in the Apple App Store on your iPad and install the mobile application.
3. Sync across devices: Log in with the same free WPS account on both devices to automatically sync your documents via WPS Cloud.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint formats (.docx, .xlsx, .pptx).Free cross-platform support enabling seamless transitions between macOS and iPadOS.Built-in Cloud sync feature allows you to continue your work from your iMac directly on your iPad.Lightweight installation with an intuitive, familiar user interface for quick adoption.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a separate subscription for my iPad if I already have Microsoft 365 Personal on my iMac?

No. A single Microsoft 365 Personal subscription allows you to install and use the Office applications on up to five devices simultaneously, including multiple Macs, PCs, and iPads.

Can I seamlessly sync my documents between my iMac and iPad?

Yes, by saving your files to OneDrive, which is included with your Microsoft 365 subscription, you can easily access, edit, and sync your documents across both your iMac and iPad.

What happens if I try to use Microsoft 365 on more than 5 devices?

If you install and sign in on more than five devices, Microsoft will automatically sign you out of a previously used device to keep your active device count at the allowed limit.

Can I use Microsoft Office on an iPad without any subscription?

You can use Office apps for free on iPads with a screen size of 10.1 inches or smaller for basic editing. However, larger iPads (like most iPad Pro models) and iMacs require a qualifying Microsoft 365 subscription to create or edit documents.

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