Installing Office on a Mac is straightforward once you know the flow. Here’s how to do it and activate with your license.
Redeem and download
Go to the Microsoft setup/redeem page, sign in (or create) your Microsoft account, and enter your product key if your license uses one. Then download the Mac installer.
The download is a single .pkg file.
Install and activate
Run the .pkg, follow the prompts, then open Word or Excel and sign in with the account tied to your license to activate.
Office for Mac ties activation to your Microsoft account, so keep those credentials handy.
Common issues
If activation fails, confirm you’re signed in with the correct account and that the license covers Mac. Quitting and reopening the app often completes activation.
For a Home & Business Mac license, make sure you didn’t redeem a Windows-only edition.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Microsoft account?
Yes — Office for Mac ties your license to a Microsoft account.
Where do I download it?
From the Microsoft setup page after redeeming your key.
Activation failed — why?
Usually the wrong account or a non-Mac edition; sign in with the right account.
Before you install
Office for Mac needs a supported macOS version and enough free disk space. A Microsoft 365 subscription or a Mac-specific perpetual key (for example Office 2021 or 2024 for Mac) is required — a Windows key will not activate the Mac version.
Sign in with the Microsoft account tied to your license so activation is automatic.
Install and activate
Download the installer from office.com after signing in, run it, then open any app such as Word and sign in to activate. For a perpetual key, enter the key at setup.office.com to link it to your account first.
If activation fails, confirm you are signing in with the correct Microsoft account and that the license is a Mac-compatible one.
Will a Windows Office key work on Mac?
No — you need a Mac-compatible license or a Microsoft 365 subscription.
Where do I activate a perpetual key?
Redeem it at setup.office.com, then sign in inside the app.
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