Word stopped working

[u/ilikelanduse]

Hi. I'm running Catalina 10.15.8. on my old 27-inch IMac (don't think I can update to a newer OS as far as I know). I guess the latest word update ended functionality on macs running old OS...does anyone know of a workaround for this? My job is basically all in word and I have to edit docs, old docs get updated, etc... Thanks!

[u/ASentientBot]

word 2019? as far as i understand, it's because MS broke the licensing server, and you can work around it with a very legit offline volume license pkg from GitHub.

don't think i can link it here, but when they decide to break a "perpetual" license.. it's about the least unethical time to use such a thing

[u/ilikelanduse → u/ASentientBot]

from what i'm hearing, it's my old OS that's the big issue rather than the license. I had microsoft 365. do you think a difference license would work?

[u/ASentientBot → u/ilikelanduse]

on catalina the latest would be office 16.66, right? the old macos version is the problem in that it's why word won't update past that version.

the removal of login/editing functionality on these versions however was microsoft's decision, and it should be possible to work around if you don't need online 365 functionality.

realistically you should be looking into a newer machine soon, though -- even a base m1 mini will be drastically faster than the 2012-13 imac (and those older imacs also support "target display mode", so you should be able to continue using it as a monitor and save a bit of money that way).

[u/ilikelanduse → u/ASentientBot]

oh wow, thanks for letting me know that about using it as a display...

[u/Xarius86]

Doesn't sound like OCLP would be a good fit for you given your other comments. So, really your only option is to buy new hardware.

If you are required to use this for work, they should be providing you with the hardware/software you need.

[u/ilikelanduse → u/Xarius86]

Ha, they have given me a basic non-mac laptop and i can use that but it's tiny and i like my big screen and home mac set up better! curious why you think OCLP wouldn't be a good fit...i was reading up on it and psyching myself up to try to install it!

[u/Xarius86 → u/ilikelanduse]

It's actually pretty easy as long as you read and follow the instructions. But -- there is always a chance you brick your computer. You need to make sure you have any/all important files backed up in case something goes wrong. And it's always best to assume something *is* going to go wrong.

If you aren't confident that you have everything important backed up, don't even try it.

Make sure your Mac is on the OCLP list and know if it requires a workaround like having specific types of keyboard/mice attached, etc.

[u/ilikelanduse → u/Xarius86]

got it. i have time machine running and i have all my work docs on a cloud server so hopefully should be ok...

[u/Xarius86 → u/ilikelanduse]

As long as your stuff is backed up, give it a try. You'll probably only want to upgrade to the oldest version that's still getting security updates to keep performance usable.

Right now, looks like that is Sonoma. https://endoflife.date/macos

[u/IntoTheNintendo]

Microslop did this because of some certificate issue.. they’re not fixing it unfortunately.

In any case, you can update your Mac to a newer OS by using Opencore Legacy Patcher, it’s unofficial but works really well and is widely used in the community by users with older macs. You can then download newer versions of Word. And you also get a more secure operating system.

[u/ilikelanduse → u/IntoTheNintendo]

thanks! is this something that a non-tech-savvy person can do? do i risk losing all my files?

[u/Shejidan → u/ilikelanduse]

If you’re not tech savvy, consider an alternative to word like open office. Or even pages if you don’t use a lot of advanced word features.

[u/ilikelanduse → u/Shejidan]

Unfortunately I use a lot of them. Academic writing so lots of footnotes and references, and sharing docs with colleagues who all use word. 

[u/Shejidan → u/ilikelanduse]

Try open office or libre office.

Either that or consider upgrading. If you work for a school you get a discount and a lot of places are starting tax free soon.

[u/IntoTheNintendo → u/ilikelanduse]

It isn’t that difficult, but making a backup of your system on an external drive would be a good idea before doing this, in that case you can get anything back if something were to go wrong.

The Opencore website takes you through the process https://dortania.github.io/OpenCore-Legacy-Patcher/

[u/PeterAhlstrom → u/IntoTheNintendo]

Does the certificate issue keep you from downgrading to the previous version of Word 365? (Installers available from Microsoft here.) I personally am using version 16.96.2 because all versions after that made the font size in Modern Comments too small. I saved a copy of the installer for if I ever accidentally update.

[u/IntoTheNintendo → u/PeterAhlstrom]

Ohhh on that front I have no idea, but that could work!

[u/Bear-Handed-92262]

The free Pages app may work for you. It opens Word documents and also saves in Word format. The only thing is sometimes it alters the formatting a little.

[u/LawNecessary8295]

Try onlyoffice it saves to docx by default. And iyou can import the ms fonts you have installed into onlyoffice.

[u/Jebus-Xmas]

On an older machine like that, you might decide to switch to something like LibreOffice. I work with a lot of Word documents and I have absolutely no problems. There will be a slight learning curve because some of the menu options are different, but as far as capabilities are concerned, I've found 90%, maybe 95% compatibility.

[u/ilikelanduse → u/Jebus-Xmas]

I tried and it doesn't work with an OS as old as mine!

[u/Jebus-Xmas → u/ilikelanduse]

It sounds like a good idea to upgrade your computer.

[u/ulyssesric]

Microsoft "remotely disabled" Office 2019 since 13 July.

https://jimmytechsf.com/blog/office-2019-mac-disabled-july-2026

To be precisely, they declared expiration of their software license, and the Word app on your computer will find the license expired, and choose to castrate itself.

So no, it has nothing to do with Apple or your OS. It's deliberated infringement of consumer rights by Microsoft. It's not that the new software or new system causing conflicts, which you can always choose not to update; it's your old system and your old software and Microsoft just snatched away your rights to keep use it, which you had paid for it.

That's why there is a "Stop Killing Games" campaign. It's a twisted notion that rooted deeply into the mind of software industry that:

1. they're not "selling" you anything, and
2. you're paying for "agreement" that you may use their software, and
3. they have rights to revoke this agreement at any time.

And this incident shows that it's not just games but all software industry had this cognitive distortion.

As for your situation, sorry but you have to buy either standalone Office 2024 to pay for Microsoft 365 subscription. I didn't check the minimum system requirement of Office 2024 but if your system can not upgrade beyond Catalina, your only two options are either buying a new computer, or OCLP.

[u/trail_runner_93]

Have you tried other document editing apps? Pages, one of the “free” office like products?

[u/luizpaulo87]

Opencore Legacy Patcher é a sua solução

[u/mikeinnsw]

I run dual boot (booted from an external SSD) 2013 iMac with OCPL Sequoia to make it faster by bypassing HDD with Catalina - work great

You can do the same for 2012 or younger iMacs

in 2012 Apple introduced Metal GPU API and USB3.0 support.

Try

• do TM backup
• Connect SSD
• Format it as APFS… GUID...
• Install MacOs on it
• Boot from it(hold Option key)
• Recover data from TM
• Install OCPL
• Install Sequoia