Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Office 2021 for Mac Available October 5 With New Collaborative Features
- Thread starter MacRumors
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Someone disagreed that I don’t like Microsoft products. I assure you I don’t.
It sometimes seems like it with all of the legacy support baked in!
It would be if they kept the non-subscription compatible with the subscription version, at least while the non-subscription version is current. Those in my organization use a mixture of Office 2019 and Office 365 (don't ask me why). Using Office 365, I spent a few weekends creating a new Excel tool for my colleagues, only to find that it was unusable by those with Office 2019.
Outlook will never be anything other than a joke until MS admits that CardDAV/CalDAV exist. Otherwise it will always just be an Exchange client.
Thank you for the update. Please continue to provide new information as it becomes available.
Do I get the feeling that the pricing is only one seat and I can't have extra users without paying ? It's not clear.
Probably unchanged from 2019 https://www.microsoft.com/en-ww/microsoft-365/buy/microsoft-365?market=af
What one has to contemplate before doing that are the radical UI changes in modern versions. I cannot see myself ever getting used to the button-design, ie where all functions can only be found and used from a panel with tiny icons with unintelligible graphics.
Also, all floating windows are removed from later version, and move to sidepanels that interfere with the spreadsheet.
For example, in 2011 I can create, design and modify a pivot table in seconds. In later version I find myself spending much time just digging around th UI trying to find stuff. The same goes for charts, instead of having easy access to series and charts options you need to access multiple panels to format text and graphical elements.
For me, later versions may be snappier, but the time lost in other areas exceed any benefits by a very large factor. YMMV obviously, but if you love the structure of Excel 2011 and your muscle memory is tied to it, you need to contemplate if you can get used to clicking through numerous panels looking for tiny icons.
Anyone else tried buying this from MS this morning?
I just paid for MS office for Mac. When I attempted to access the download link, it said something about this is not a Mac version, but instead for PC. The link I clicked on to purchase indicated it was for both. I wasnt able to screenshot it. When I attempted to access the link again via my receipt email, I received a note that I have to access the link from my Microsoft Account. I clicked on that link and it says purchased the PC version. There is no customer phone support available whatsoever as their phone numbers direct you to post on their online forum only.
I just paid for MS office for Mac. When I attempted to access the download link, it said something about this is not a Mac version, but instead for PC. The link I clicked on to purchase indicated it was for both. I wasnt able to screenshot it. When I attempted to access the link again via my receipt email, I received a note that I have to access the link from my Microsoft Account. I clicked on that link and it says purchased the PC version. There is no customer phone support available whatsoever as their phone numbers direct you to post on their online forum only.
That's the name for the next Windows version. It really jerks my chain that the Mac version continues to be inferior to the Windows version. Market munipulation there, bub. By having the Windows version superior, Windows will remain dominate in the business world.
Not even the games? You're a hard man, man.
I loved the Age of Empire/Mythology series and Flight Simulator. I used to play those for hours a day before married life eliminated all my freetime/me time. I never liked the Xbox much; I'm a PlayStation guy.
The same for me.
I have right now a chat with support - and they don't know anything - not even that there is a 2021 version coming today - they say that it is only a Windows version that is coming today - and that the Mac version has a 3 Year release plan, so it would be a 2022 version.
I don't know why support doesn't know anything.
I have asked for a download link to the standalone installer, and they give the the link to the 2019 installer.
I too saw the same issue and was able to chat with someone that got it resolved. All you have to do is go here https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdates/update-history-office-for-mac and download the latest mac release (which is 16.53). I installed it and logged in to each app with the microsoft account that I made the purchase with. Everything activated and the about prompt shows 'Office 2021 for Mac'.
I already have the latest 2019 release 16.53 installed - which is the one you download from the link you posted.
But tried what you wrote - but still only 2019 release 16.53 installed.
EDIT:
I now have the 2021 license in my installed Office release 16.53 - I had to run the license removal tool - and then afterwards open one of the office apps, and activate again with the new 2021 license.
Last edited:
I have tried this, but it comes up saying Version 16.55 which is not Office 2021
The chat support guy that I had said there's an issue with the Mac version and that "engineers are working on it"
That did it for me. Except when I was guided by the phone person, they gave me Office Pro instead of home. Customer service? Anyway, I'm on 2021 lifetime now.
Those are all very good points.
I had been using the Windows version of Office, when working with various clients, so the UI changes from Excel 2011 weren't that dramatic for me. I tend to ignore the side panels as best as I can anyway, and stick with hotkeys. Definitely use whatever toolset you find to be the most productive!
The install link on my MS account is now working for me - BUT it is still the 16.53 version I got downloaded - which is Office 2019
I had the same issue, but I have 16.55 - I can't figure out how to get Office 2021; we have Office 365 through work.
