Overview
- Office 2019 for Mac will enter “reduced functionality mode” and lose the ability to create, edit, or save documents on July 13, 2026, while users will still be able to open, view, and print files.
- The block is caused by a certificate used to validate licenses; Microsoft renewed that certificate but the fix must be shipped in a software update that Office 2019 is not receiving.
- The affected apps include Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote on macOS and any iPhone or iPad Office apps that cannot be updated, while Windows and Android installs are unaffected.
- Users who can update must move to Office builds 16.83 on macOS or 2.93 on iOS/iPadOS to keep full editing; Microsoft recommends Microsoft 365 web apps, a Microsoft 365 subscription, or a one-time purchase of Office 2024 as workarounds.
- Critics note Microsoft changed its support-page language in May and say choosing not to deliver the update effectively retires Office 2019, which leaves many users on older macOS versions weighing paid upgrades against free alternatives such as Apple iWork or LibreOffice.