Can you use Office 2024 on a Mac? Your options explained
Short answer: Office 2024 Professional Plus keys only work on Windows. But there are good ways to get Word, Excel and PowerPoint on a Mac.
Updated 7 October 202601Why Professional Plus doesn't work on a Mac
Office 2024 and Office 2021 Professional Plus are built for Windows only. Their installers and product keys can't be used with the Mac versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint, which are separate products with their own licenses.
02Option 1: Office Home 2024 for Mac
Microsoft sells Office Home 2024 and Office Home & Business 2024 as one-time purchases that work on Mac. They include Word, Excel and PowerPoint (Home & Business adds Outlook). You redeem them with a Microsoft account.
03Option 2: Microsoft 365
A subscription that works on Mac, Windows, iPad and phones, with OneDrive storage and the newest features. Good if you use several devices. See Office 2024 vs Microsoft 365.
04Option 3: Windows on your Mac
If you also need Windows-only software, you can run Windows 11 in a virtual machine and install the Windows version of Office inside it:
- Apple silicon Macs (M1 and newer): Parallels Desktop runs the Arm version of Windows 11, which Microsoft supports on these Macs. Windows apps, including Office, run inside it.
- Intel Macs: Boot Camp or a virtual machine can run regular Windows 11.
- You need a Windows license for the virtual machine, for example Windows 11 Pro, plus Office 2024 Professional Plus.
05Free options
For light use, the free web versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint at office.com work in Safari and Chrome on any Mac, with a free Microsoft account. Apple's own Pages, Numbers and Keynote also open and save Office files.
06Not sure what to buy?
Ask us before ordering. If you bought a Windows key by mistake for a Mac, contact us within our 30-day guarantee.
