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How can I install Office Mac on my Mac mini without a DVD drive?

I recently acquired a Mac mini intel i5 2018. I am using Mac OS Sequoia. I recently discovered among my things an unused dvd of office Mac 2011 which I would like to install on my Mac mini. How do I do this given that the Mac mini doesn't have a dvd drive. Thanks.


[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Mac mini, macOS 15.0

Posted on Oct 24, 2024 6:15 AM

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Posted on Oct 26, 2024 11:42 PM

Unfortunately, the people at Microsoft weren't very forward thinking and compiled Office 2011 as a 32-bit app, which meant that it would be impossible to run after macOS 10.14 (Mojave). Since you're installing such an old version anyways, you can simply get the latest version of LibreOffice (a popular cross-platform alternative to MS Office) for free. LibreOffice is maintained by volunteers and supports most Microsoft Office files, and you can always download the latest version for free without any subscriptions.

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Oct 26, 2024 11:42 PM in response to Omarkg

Unfortunately, the people at Microsoft weren't very forward thinking and compiled Office 2011 as a 32-bit app, which meant that it would be impossible to run after macOS 10.14 (Mojave). Since you're installing such an old version anyways, you can simply get the latest version of LibreOffice (a popular cross-platform alternative to MS Office) for free. LibreOffice is maintained by volunteers and supports most Microsoft Office files, and you can always download the latest version for free without any subscriptions.

Oct 24, 2024 6:31 AM in response to Omarkg

I doubt it would work. I tried this myself long time ago on this mac with earlier versions of macOS and already, it was not working.


I don’t know how much you would pay for a dvd player nowadays, but above all if you can share with family (up to 5 if i recall) a family subscription may be worth and a better expense than a dvd player just for that (uncertain) purpose.


My two cents

Oct 24, 2024 6:31 AM in response to Omarkg

office Mac 2011: I recently acquired a Mac mini intel i5 2018. I am using Mac OS Sequoia. I recently discovered among my things an unused dvd of office Mac 2011 which I would like to install on my Mac mini. How do I do this given that the Mac mini doesn't have a dvd drive. Thanks.

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Request an Upgrade:

If you have a Microsoft account of sorts, then let them know that you have an older license. They gave me a free upgrade.

Oct 24, 2024 7:06 AM in response to Omarkg

You will need the current version of Office 2021 for Mac or Office 2024 for Mac (either are single-purchase), or Microsoft 365 which is a subscription. The licenses and applications are different between the first two and the latter.


Microsoft only supports new installations of the above products and all prior Office suites have been retired and their license servers no longer are available. Microsoft only supports macOS Sequoia (v15), Sonoma (v14), or Ventura (v13) operating systems.


Your Office 2011 for Mac was retired in Oct 2017.

Oct 28, 2024 9:17 AM in response to Omarkg

I like what they've done with LibreOffice, but offer this "heads up." When I got a new Mac about 6 years ago that would not run my old version of Office, l tested LibreOffice. Like Apple Pages, it changed some of the formatting in MS Word, specifically margins and image placement.


Had I only had a few dozen Word files, that would not be a problem. However, I have used Word since V4 about 1990 and have thousands of Word files! I bit the bullet and bought the latest version at the time, Office 2019. It's quite a lot nicer than the Windows version.

How can I install Office Mac on my Mac mini without a DVD drive?

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