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Which Microsoft Office Version Supports macOS Catalina 10.15.7?
Question details
The user needs to identify and locate the most recent version of Microsoft Office that is fully compatible with an Apple Mac running macOS Catalina 10.15.7.
- Product
- Microsoft Office for Mac
- Device & OS
- macOS Catalina 10.15.7
- Scenario
- Attempting to install or update Microsoft Office on an older Mac operating system.
- Observed behavior
- Newer releases of Microsoft Office fail to install or display an error indicating that a later version of macOS is required.
Verify your exact macOS version by clicking the Apple menu in the top left corner of your screen and selecting 'About This Mac' to confirm you are running Catalina 10.15.7.
Download and Install Office for Mac Version 16.66
Office for Mac version 16.66, released in October 2022, is the final build that officially supports macOS Catalina.
Microsoft typically supports only the three most recent major versions of Apple's macOS. Because macOS Catalina is an older release, it no longer receives updates for newer Microsoft Office builds. However, you can manually download the last compatible release (version 16.66) directly from Microsoft's update history.
Open your web browser and navigate to the official Microsoft documentation page for 'Office for Mac update history'.
Scroll down the page to the release history table and locate the October 11, 2022 release, which corresponds to version 16.66 (22101101).
Click the download link for the full 'Office suite' to get the comprehensive .pkg installation file, or select individual apps like Word or Excel if you prefer.
Double-click the downloaded .pkg file to launch the installer. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation, then open any Office app and sign in with your Microsoft account to activate it.
Try WPS Office for Your Older Mac
If you are struggling to find or install legacy versions of Microsoft Office on macOS Catalina, WPS Office provides a highly compatible, modern, and free alternative that runs beautifully on a wide range of macOS versions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I install Microsoft Office 365 on macOS Catalina?
You can only install the Office 365 desktop apps up to version 16.66 on macOS Catalina. If you try to download the latest installer directly from your Microsoft 365 portal, it may require a newer macOS like Monterey or Ventura.
Is it safe to use an older version of Office on macOS Catalina?
Yes, version 16.66 is safe to use, but because Microsoft no longer releases security patches for this version, you should be cautious when opening documents from unknown or untrusted sources.
Will my current Office installation stop working on Catalina?
No. If you already have a compatible version of Office installed on macOS Catalina, it will continue to work normally. However, you will not receive prompts for newer feature updates.
How do I stop Microsoft AutoUpdate from asking to update on macOS Catalina?
Open any Office application, click on 'Help' in the top menu bar, and select 'Check for Updates'. When Microsoft AutoUpdate opens, uncheck the box that says 'Automatically keep Microsoft Apps up to date' to stop the update notifications.
