Microsoft is set to restrict document editing for Office 2019 for Mac users starting July 13 due to the expiration of the suite’s digital certificate. This change will affect applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote, which will enter a “reduced functionality mode.” Users will still be able to open, view, and print documents, but editing, creating, and saving will be disabled. The restriction also extends to iPhone and iPad apps that cannot be updated.
Although Microsoft has renewed the certificate, the update needed to resolve the issue is only available through newer software versions. Users of Microsoft 365 and Office 2021 are unaffected, as they will receive the necessary updates. However, Office 2019 support ended on October 10, 2023, and it will not be updated to the necessary version 16.83.
Microsoft advises affected users to switch to the free Microsoft 365 web apps, subscribe to Microsoft 365, or purchase Office 2024. Users with supported versions on macOS 12 Monterey or later should update to build 16.83, while iPhone and iPad users on iOS 17 or later should update to build 2.93.
Office 2021 will continue to receive updates until October 13, 2026, after which it will no longer get security or feature updates but will still function. Some critics argue that Microsoft’s decision not to update Office 2019 is a deliberate choice to phase out older software. Microsoft’s communication has faced criticism, as its initial assurance that Office 2019 apps would continue to function was later revised to suggest accessing data through supported Microsoft 365 or Office products. Alternatives like Apple’s iWork suite and the open-source LibreOffice are available for users seeking options beyond Microsoft’s offerings.
