Summary
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On July 13, 2026, Office apps on Apple devices may have reduced functionality.
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Office 2021 and Microsoft 365 users can restore the edition by updating the device and Office apps.
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Office 2019 on macOS, iPad, and iPhone will be view/print only after July 13; No update fixes it.
The next few weeks are going to be a little strange for people who use Microsoft Office on an Apple device. Because of how certificates for Office work on iOS and macOS, productivity apps will soon “lock” and prevent users from editing documents. The good news is that Office 2021 and Microsoft 365 users will receive an update that will fix this. The bad news is that if you’re still using Office 2019, your app will soon prevent you from editing, and Microsoft won’t help you.
Office 2019 users on Apple products will soon lose editing capabilities
People using Office 2021 and Microsoft 365 will be fine after a few updates
On July 13, 2026, Microsoft you need to perform a license update for people who use their Office products on Apple devices. Once that date arrives, the current certificate will expire and people who continue using the app without updating will run into a strange problem. As Microsoft explains in its Support Blog:
From July 13, 2026Some users may notice that Office applications (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, or OneNote) can open and print files, but cannot edit, save, or create new files, called “reduced functionality mode.” This happens when support for Microsoft Office applications no longer continues for older operating systems or devices.
Microsoft claims that this is quite easy to fix for Office 2021 and Microsoft 365 users. All they need to do is update their device and then update Office. This should give your software a shiny new license and you will be able to continue using it as normal.
However, there is a problem. Office 2019 ended support on October 10, 2023, meaning users will no longer receive updates. That means anyone still using the software package is out of luck; the app will simply prevent people from taking important actions. Office 2021 users will lose support in December 2026, meaning they will still be covered for this update.
Microsoft explains what Office 2019 users can and can’t do with its app once it arrives on July 13. People will be able to use Office 2019 to open, view and print documents, but anything beyond that, such as basic editing, will be blocked. Microsoft adds that all Apple devices will be affected by this Office 2019 restriction, including macOS, iPad, and iPhone. However, devices that are not in the Apple ecosystem should work fine.
