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Will MS 360 stop working

Carlynn Thompson 20 Reputation points
2026-05-24T22:31:40.7566667+00:00

I have had notices from both MS 365 (for multiple computers) and Apple that MS Office will stop working in July. Do I need to download a new version? Can you provide more info or instructions.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For home | MacOS

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AI answer

2026-05-24T22:31:58.66+00:00

Microsoft 365 won’t suddenly “disappear,” but on Mac and iOS there are two important changes that can cause Office apps to stop working normally if no action is taken.

  1. Certificate/licensing change on Mac and iOS (July 13, 2026)
    • Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote) use a digital certificate to validate licensing. That certificate expires on July 13, 2026.
    • If the apps on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad are not updated to a supported version by that date, they go into reduced functionality mode:
      • Can open, view, and print existing files.
      • Cannot edit, save, Save As, or create new files.
    • No data is lost; full functionality returns as soon as the apps are updated to the required version.
  2. Minimum OS and app versions required after that date
    For Microsoft 365 subscription apps to keep working fully after July 13, 2026:
    • On macOS:
      • Minimum OS: macOS 12 (Monterey) or later.
      • Minimum app version: 16.83 or later.
      • Microsoft supports only the three most recent major versions of macOS. As Apple releases new macOS versions, the oldest supported version is dropped. For current supported macOS versions and Office behavior on older macOS, see “Upgrade macOS to continue receiving Microsoft 365 and Office for Mac updates.”
    • On iOS / iPadOS:
      • Minimum OS: iOS / iPadOS 17.0 or later.
      • Minimum app version: 2.93 or later.
  3. What needs to be done now On each Mac where Microsoft 365 is installed:
    1. Check macOS version
      • If macOS is 12 (Monterey) or later, it can run the required Office versions.
      • If macOS is older than 12 and cannot be upgraded (for example, older hardware), that Mac will not be able to run supported Microsoft 365 versions long‑term.
    2. Update Microsoft 365 apps
      • Open any Office app (for example, Word).
      • Use the update mechanism (for example, Help > Check for Updates or Microsoft AutoUpdate) to ensure the app version is at least 16.83.
      • On older Macs that are stuck on Monterey, Office can be updated up to the last supported build for Monterey (for example, 16.88/16.88.1 as noted in the Q&A). That build will continue to work, but after July 13, 2026, it must still meet the minimum version requirement (16.83 or later, which it does).
    On iPhone or iPad:
    1. Make sure the device is on iOS/iPadOS 17.0 or later.
    2. Update Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote from the App Store so they are at least version 2.93.
  4. If the Mac cannot be upgraded If a Mac is too old to upgrade to a supported macOS version in the future:
    • It can continue using the last Office version that runs on that macOS, but eventually it may stop receiving updates.
    • If it falls below the required minimum app version after July 13, 2026, Office will enter reduced functionality mode.
    • Options then are:
      • Move to newer hardware that supports a current macOS, or
      • Use Microsoft 365 for the web (Word, Excel, PowerPoint in a browser) as an interim solution.
  5. Why Apple is also warning Apple’s notice is likely about macOS support: Microsoft 365 for Mac and Office for Mac only support the three most recent macOS versions. When Apple releases a new macOS, the oldest supported version is dropped, and older systems eventually stop receiving Office updates. That, combined with the July 13, 2026 certificate change, is why both Microsoft and Apple are warning that Office may stop working normally if the OS and apps are not updated.

In summary: Microsoft 365 will not stop entirely, but to avoid Word/Excel/PowerPoint becoming read‑only after July 13, 2026, ensure each Mac and iOS/iPadOS device is on a supported OS and that Microsoft 365 apps are updated to at least the minimum versions listed above.

References:

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  1. EmilyS726 236K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-05-24T23:07:29.2966667+00:00

    Do you have the subscription?

    Where do you see that indicates that it will stop working in July?

    Is your subscription purchased via Apple or via Microsoft?

    If it is via Apple, check your Apple account, see if the subscription expiration date is in July, and see if you have auto renewal turned on.

    If it is via Microsoft, go to https://account.live.com > Subscriptions. Check the same, expiration date and auto renewal status.

    As long as auto renewal is turned on, there's nothing you need to do then.

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  2. Carlynn Thompson 20 Reputation points
    2026-05-30T13:16:25.05+00:00

    Question has been resolved.

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  3. Sheer Zed 20 Reputation points
    2026-05-30T08:51:04.4633333+00:00

    It states; "On older Macs that are stuck on Monterey, Office can be updated up to the last supported build for Monterey (for example, 16.88/16.88.1 as noted in the Q&A). That build will continue to work, but after July 13, 2026, it must still meet the minimum version requirement (16.83 or later, which it does)."

    If the current version of Microsoft Word is listed as 16.54 after a user has just upgraded to Monterey 12.7.6 in order to still use Word on their Macbook Pro will Word cease to edit and save after 13th July 2026? You say "for example" but do not specify if the 16.54 version is sufficient enough to run after someone has upgraded their laptop. Could you clarify this point please? Thank you.

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