If you’re still using Office 2019 on your Mac, your time may be running out.
Microsoft has confirmed that from 13 July, Office 2019 for Mac will lose the ability to create, edit and save documents due to an expiring security certificate. While the apps themselves won’t suddenly disappear, they could become far less useful. This is especially problematic for anyone who still relies on Word, Excel or PowerPoint as part of their daily workflow.
The situation is unusual because Microsoft sold Office 2019 as a one-time purchase rather than a subscription. Many buyers picked it up specifically to avoid recurring Microsoft 365 fees and were happy to stick with a version that covered the basics without constantly adding new features.
Microsoft officially ended support for Office 2019 for Mac back in October 2023. Until now, that largely meant no new features or security updates, while the apps continued working as normal. The upcoming certificate expiry changes that.
Microsoft says it has already updated newer versions of Office to recognise the renewed security certificate. However, because Office 2019 is no longer supported, Microsoft cannot deliver the same update to that version.
That leaves existing users with a choice to make.
The first option is to move to Microsoft 365, which provides access to the latest versions of Office across multiple devices via a monthly or annual subscription. The second option is to purchase Office Home 2024 for Mac or Office Home and Business 2024 for Mac. Both remain available as one-time purchases.
Neither route is likely to please users who expected Office 2019 to keep functioning indefinitely. Besides, some customers have pointed out that Microsoft previously suggested the software would continue to work after support ended. However, references to that wording have reportedly disappeared from the company’s website.
For some users, free alternatives such as Apple’s Pages, Numbers and Keynote may be enough. However, for those who rely on Microsoft’s file formats for work, school or collaboration, switching isn’t always practical.
The result is that many long-time Office 2019 users now face an unavoidable decision: pay for a newer version or risk losing access to some of the software’s most important functions.
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