Thousands of Mac users are about to lose access to core Microsoft Office functionality as the company prepares to retire a key digital certificate used by older versions of its software. From 13 July, Office 2019 applications on macOS, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote, will be limited to opening and printing documents only.

Microsoft says affected apps will enter what it calls a reduced functionality mode. While users will still be able to view existing files, creating new documents, editing content and saving changes will no longer be possible.

The issue stems from an expiring certificate that affects Office and Microsoft 365 applications running on macOS and iOS. Users with Microsoft 365 subscriptions or Office 2021 installed on supported devices can avoid disruption by updating their software. However, Office 2019 users have few options, as Microsoft ended support for the suite in October 2023 and no longer provides updates.

Photo by Diana Light

To regain full functionality, affected users will need to move to a Microsoft 365 subscription or purchase Office 2024, which currently starts at around A$249 in Australia. Alternatively, Microsoft’s web-based versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint remain available free through a Microsoft account.

The change does not affect Windows or Android users. It has also reignited criticism from some customers who say earlier Microsoft guidance suggested unsupported Office applications would continue functioning even after support had ended.