Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac Will Soon Stop Letting You Edit Documents
4 hours ago
- #Digital Certificates
- #Microsoft Office
- #Software Support
- Microsoft will disable editing features in Office 2019 for Mac starting July 13 due to an expiring digital certificate.
- Apps affected include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote, entering 'reduced functionality mode' where users can only open, view, and print documents.
- Microsoft has renewed the certificate, but Office 2019 won't receive the update as support ended in October 2023, so no fix is available.
- Affected users are advised to use free Microsoft 365 web apps, subscribe to Microsoft 365, or purchase Office 2024.
- Users with Microsoft 365, Office 2021, or supported newer versions on macOS/iOS need update 16.83 or 2.93 to avoid issues.
- Office 2021 will lose updates after October 13, 2026, though apps will still function without security or feature updates.
- Critics argue Microsoft's deadline is self-imposed, choosing not to update Office 2019 to retire older software.
- Microsoft updated its support page, removing assurances that Office 2019 would continue to function, and notified customers via email in May.
- Alternatives include Apple's iWork suite or the free open-source LibreOffice for users seeking other options.