How to Download Microsoft Word on Mac

How to Download Microsoft Word on Mac

It feels good to work on MacOS however there are some apps that are not compatible with Mac. Users may find it difficult to download Microsoft Office for Mac. MS Office comes preinstalled with a trial version on Windows PCs however MacOS is missing out on this utility. These tips and tricks to download Word for Mac will allow you to use Microsoft Word on Mac.

Why is it Tricky to Download MS Office on Mac?

It can be challenging sometimes to download Microsoft Office for Mac. There can be various reasons behind it but the most common reasons are as follows.

  •       You may face compatibility issues while installing MS Office on a Mac.
  •       There are different MS Office versions and plans that can be confusing at times.
  •       MacOS has a different installation process to download and install third-party applications.
  •       You will need an active Microsoft account and a valid license key to install MS Office on Mac.
  •       Active Internet connection is required to download Microsoft Office for Mac.

How to Download Microsoft Word on Mac

You can follow these steps to download Microsoft Word on a Mac :

Step 1. Open Safari or any web browser on your Mac and access the official Microsoft website.

Step 2. Browse through the Microsoft Office products page or directly search for “Microsoft Word for Mac” on the website.

Step 3. Go through different subscription plans and purchase options. You can opt for the latest version and select the one that suits your needs.

Step 4. Click on the “Buy now” button or “Get started” button to proceed to go for a subscription.

Step 5. Sign in with a Microsoft account or create one as it is mandatory to have a Microsoft account to download Microsoft Office for Mac.

Step 6. Once signed in, follow the on-screen instructions to complete the purchase or subscription process. Enter the payment details and agree to the terms and conditions.

Go TO Downloads

Step 7. Once you register and buy the subscription, you will be redirected to the download page. Click on the “Download” button to initiate the download of the Microsoft Office installer file (typically in .pkg format).

Install microsoft Office on mac

Step 8. Once the download is complete, you will be able to find the installer file in your Downloads folder or the selected folder.

installer password

Step 9. Double-click on the installer file to start the installation process.

Microsoft Word on mac

Step 10. Follow the on-screen prompts to install Microsoft Word on your Mac.

Once the installation is complete, you will be able to find Microsoft Word in your Applications folder or on the Launchpad screen. You can also pin MS Word to your Dock for quick access.

Please Note: You can also find Microsoft Word in the Mac App Store. You can search for “Microsoft Word” in the App Store and download it from there.

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Troubleshoot MS Word Not Working on Mac

If Microsoft Word is not working on your Mac, here are some troubleshooting steps you can try to resolve the issue.

Software Update

Check for Updates: Ensure that your Microsoft Word and macOS are up to date. Open the App Store on your Mac, go to the “Updates” tab, and check if there are any available updates for Microsoft Word or macOS. Install any pending updates and then relaunch Word to see if the issue persists.

Restart Microsoft Word or Mac: Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve temporary glitches. Close Microsoft Word completely, including any background processes, and then relaunch the application to see if it starts working normally. You can also try to restart your Mac to resolve the issue.

Reset Word Preferences: Resetting the Word preferences can resolve issues caused by corrupted settings. Quit Microsoft Word, then hold down the Option key on your keyboard and click on the “Go” menu in Finder. Select “Library” from the dropdown menu. Locate the “Preferences” folder and find the file named “com. Microsoft.Word.plist.” Move this file to the Trash or a backup location. Restart Word, and it will create a new preferences file.

Microsoft Autoupdate

Run Microsoft AutoUpdate: Microsoft AutoUpdate is a utility that keeps Microsoft Office applications updated. Open any Microsoft Office application other than Word (such as Excel or PowerPoint) and go to the “Help” menu. Select “Check for Updates” or “Check for Updates… via Microsoft AutoUpdate.” Install any available updates for Word and other Office applications.

Repair Microsoft Office: Microsoft Office includes a built-in repair option. Open the “Applications” folder, find the Microsoft Office folder, and open it. Look for an application called “Microsoft Office Installer” or “Office Setup Assistant.” Open the application and follow the prompts to repair the Office installation. Restart your Mac after the repair process is complete and check if Word is functioning properly.

Disable Add-ins: Third-party add-ins can sometimes cause conflicts with Word. Try starting Word in Safe Mode by holding down the Option key while launching Word. If Word opens in Safe Mode, go to the “Word” menu and select “Preferences.” In the Preferences window, click on “Add-ins.” Disable any add-ins that are enabled and restart Word normally to see if the issue is resolved.

Additional Tip: If you accidentally close a Word document without saving it, you can try and recover unsaved documents using MS Word or through the AutoRecovery feature in preferences. You can follow these steps to Recover an Unsaved Word Document on Mac.

Final Words

This article on how to download Microsoft Office for Mac has the best tips and tricks to install MS Office or download Word for Mac. You can also explore troubleshooting steps if your Word stops working or you accidentally closed a Word document without saving it. Keep up your work and access MS Office applications on Mac without any hurdles.