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I can't install older version of MS Office using macOS El Capitan

have Mac DT runnin El Capitan version 10.11.6. Tried to install Microsoft 365 for Word, Excel, etc.. Info said to uninstall my old version of MS Office, which I did. When trying to install the new MS Offic 365, said c ould not install on old ver. Mac


[Edited by Moderator]

iMac, OS X 10.11

Posted on Jan 20, 2022 3:45 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Jan 20, 2022 4:43 PM

The following indicates MacOS 10.13 is the minimum system. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/system-requirements-and-supported-accounts-46a8d501-0d1f-4145-ab0f-286bc7dcf780


If you want to see if you can upgrade your iMac;

The model year of an iMac is available at Apple menu > About This Mac.

An early 2009 iMac can be upgraded to El Capitan 10.11.6 but no later version. See: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211683

A late 2009 through mid 2011 iMac can be upgraded to High Sierra 10.13.6 but no later version. See: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211683

A late 2012 through late 2013 iMac can be upgraded to Catalina 10.15.7 but no later. See: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211683

A mid 2014 and late 2014 can be upgraded to the latest version of Big Sur macOS 11 but no later. See: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211683

A late 2015 or later can be upgraded to the current version of Monterey macOS 12. See: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212735


If you can't or don't want to upgrade your iMac some alternatives for Office are:

The free and very good Libre Office https://www.libreoffice.org/

or the free Microsoft Office on the web: https://products.office.com/en-us/free-office-online-for-the-web

or Google Docs: https://www.google.com/docs/about/

or Apple’s Pages and Numbers

2 replies
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Jan 20, 2022 4:43 PM in response to elwood4

The following indicates MacOS 10.13 is the minimum system. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/system-requirements-and-supported-accounts-46a8d501-0d1f-4145-ab0f-286bc7dcf780


If you want to see if you can upgrade your iMac;

The model year of an iMac is available at Apple menu > About This Mac.

An early 2009 iMac can be upgraded to El Capitan 10.11.6 but no later version. See: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211683

A late 2009 through mid 2011 iMac can be upgraded to High Sierra 10.13.6 but no later version. See: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211683

A late 2012 through late 2013 iMac can be upgraded to Catalina 10.15.7 but no later. See: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211683

A mid 2014 and late 2014 can be upgraded to the latest version of Big Sur macOS 11 but no later. See: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT211683

A late 2015 or later can be upgraded to the current version of Monterey macOS 12. See: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT212735


If you can't or don't want to upgrade your iMac some alternatives for Office are:

The free and very good Libre Office https://www.libreoffice.org/

or the free Microsoft Office on the web: https://products.office.com/en-us/free-office-online-for-the-web

or Google Docs: https://www.google.com/docs/about/

or Apple’s Pages and Numbers

Jan 24, 2022 8:32 AM in response to elwood4

Currently, Microsoft requires macOS Catalina (10.15.7) or later to install Microsoft 365, or either of Office 2019 for Mac, or Office 2021 for Mac. Additionally, Microsoft has disabled their unsupported products (Office 2011 for Mac, etc.) license servers so reinstalling Office 2011 for Mac on El Capitan may fail, or fail to accept its license code.

I can't install older version of MS Office using macOS El Capitan

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