June 15, 2026, 3:50 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
Microsoft will significantly restrict the use of Office 2019 on macOS in the future. The reason is a digital certificate required for the software’s license verification. Once this certificate expires, the software can no longer be used as before.
Limited Usability Starting July 2026
Starting July 13, 2026, users of Office 2019 on macOS will no longer be able to create or edit documents as usual. At that time, a crucial digital certificate will expire. This certificate is needed for verifying the license of programs like Word, Excel, and Outlook.
Without renewing the certificate, Microsoft will switch the software to a read-only mode. Documents can still be opened, but editing will no longer be possible. An update could fundamentally solve the problem, but it is not available for this version of Office.
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Support for Office 2019 Already Ended
The reason lies in the expired support. Support for Office 2019 on macOS ended in October 2023. Since then, Microsoft has not provided any updates. Therefore, the software will not receive adjustments for the expiring license verification. According to Microsoft’s support pages, the issue affects not only the macOS version of Office 2019 but also the versions for iOS and iPadOS.
There is at least some good news for users. Already saved documents and other files will remain intact and will not be lost.
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Those who wish to continue using Microsoft’s office software will need another solution. As a temporary option, Microsoft suggests the web version of Microsoft 365. However, this offers a significantly smaller range of functions. A paid subscription is required for all features. Alternatively, Office 2024 is available as a purchase version.
Free Alternatives for macOS
In addition to paid options, there are also free alternatives. Among the most well-known open-source software packages are LibreOffice and OpenOffice.
These applications cover many typical tasks in everyday office work. However, users will need to adjust to a different user interface. Additionally, the packages do not include all programs from the Microsoft ecosystem. Applications like Outlook or OneDrive are not part of them. Those who rely on these services will need to look for other alternatives.