Microsoft 365 not able to upgrade

Question

Microsoft 365 not able to upgrade

Dawn Lafferty 0

My laptop and desk top mac's are NOT able to be upgraded to accommodate the new version required for Microsoft 365.

They are too old \and now I can't update my excel or word documents.

WHAT do I do now???? My account is paid up until Sept. 2026!

Dawn Lafferty

EmilyS726 256K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-07-20T21:27:28.8466667+00:00

Hello

What is your macOS version, Dawn?

Is your subscription via Msft or Apple?

3 answers

Your answer

EmilyS726 256K Reputation points Independent Advisor

2026-07-20T21:27:28.8466667+00:00

Hello

What is your macOS version, Dawn?

Is your subscription via Msft or Apple?

Answer 1

EmilyS726 256K Independent Advisor

Dawn, you actually never shared what macOS version you have. If yours is macOS 11 or lower, then yes, it is unfortunately not supported, but if yours is 12 or above, even if it is under 14, there's still a way to make it work. Also, even if yours is under 12, you can use LibreOffice for free, but definitely cancel the subscription in that case.

0 comments

Answer 2

Dawn Lafferty 0

The information that you have sent above does not solve my issue. I know my laptop is outdated and beyond capable of downloading updates. Therefore, please cancel my subscription to microsoft 365 which is supposed to be expired in September.

Since there is no solution, other than purchasing a new laptop, I don’t feel I should have to pay for even one month of service that is not usable.

Dawn Lafferty

Kai-H 24,160 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-07-28T06:17:55.21+00:00

Hi, Dawn Lafferty

I understand why you want to cancel. However, this is a public support forum, so nobody here can access your Microsoft account, cancel the subscription, or approve a refund.

Here are some suggestions you can try:

Sign in to Microsoft Services & subscriptions using the same Microsoft account that purchased Microsoft 365.

Find the subscription, select Manage, then Cancel or Upgrade or Cancel, and follow the prompts. If you only see Turn on recurring billing, the subscription is already scheduled to expire in September and will not renew.

The cancellation page will automatically check whether the remaining subscription period qualifies for a refund. Refund eligibility depends on the purchase date, renewal date, subscription type, and country. Not every cancellation results in a refund.

If no refund option appears, contact Microsoft Support, enter Microsoft 365 refund, then choose Contact Support and request chat or callback assistance. A billing agent can review the account, but the forum cannot guarantee or authorize the refund. If the subscription was purchased through Apple or another retailer, the refund must be requested from that seller.

Please be advised that this is a user-to-user support forum. Moderators and contributors, including external Microsoft employees, are not allowed to directly interfere with Microsoft product features or access back-end systems. Our role is limited solely to providing technical guidance on reported incidents, requests, or ideas.

Answer 3

Hi, Dawn Lafferty

This is caused by a licensing update that took effect on July 13, 2026. Older Macs that cannot run at least macOS 12 Monterey and Office version 16.83 may enter reduced functionality mode, allowing files to be opened and printed but not edited or saved. Your documents are not deleted.

Here are some suggestions you can try:

On each Mac, select Apple menu > System Settings > General > Software Update. If macOS 12 or later is available, install it first. Then open Word or Excel and select Help > Check for Updates > Update All.

If the Mac cannot be upgraded to macOS 12, the desktop apps cannot receive the required update. Sign in to Microsoft 365 on the web and use Word or Excel in the browser. Files stored only on the Mac can be uploaded to OneDrive first.

Your subscription can also be installed on another supported Mac or PC from the Microsoft account Services page. Paying through September does not override the device requirements, but the subscription remains usable on supported devices and online.

Thank you for your patience in reading, I hope this information has been helpful to you.

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Kai-H 24,160 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-07-27T07:04:08.4133333+00:00

Hi, Dawn Lafferty

It has been a while and I am writing to see how things are going with this issue.

Have you had a chance to check the replies provided?

Any update would be appreciated.