A July 13 deadline means some Mac, iPhone and iPad users will be able to view but not edit.
Millions of Apple users could soon lose the ability to edit, save or create new files in Microsoft Office, as an expiring digital certificate sets up a hard deadline of July 13. While Word, Excel and other Office apps will not disappear entirely, users on outdated devices may find themselves locked into what Microsoft calls reduced functionality mode, able to open and print files but unable to make changes.
The issue stems from a security certificate that verifies Office software licenses. Once it expires, devices that have not updated to a newer Office build will lose full access to editing features, even though the apps themselves remain installed.
What’s actually changing on July 13
According to Microsoft’s own support documentation, the shift affects Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote across both subscription based Microsoft 365 accounts and standalone software versions such as Office 2019 and Office 2021. Beginning July 13, certain users will notice their apps still open existing files but stop allowing edits, saves or new file creation.
The change applies broadly, touching Mac, iPhone and iPad users running older operating systems or app versions that fall outside Microsoft’s current support window.
Who can fix it with a simple update
For most affected users, the solution is straightforward. Microsoft has said that updating both the operating system and the Office apps themselves should resolve the issue before the deadline hits. The company’s minimum requirements for full functionality on Mac currently sit at macOS 14, also known as Sonoma, paired with Office app version 16.83 or later. On iPhone and iPad, the threshold is iOS or iPadOS 17.0, with app version 2.93 or newer.
Microsoft typically supports only the three most recent major versions of macOS, and as new versions roll out, older ones fall out of that support window. Anyone whose device can still update to a current operating system version should be able to download the renewed certificate and continue working without disruption.
Who gets locked out entirely
The bigger problem lies with users whose hardware simply cannot run the newer operating systems required. Apple devices typically remain eligible for updates for five to eight years before being classified as vintage or obsolete, at which point security patches and software support stop altogether. Those users will not be able to install the updated Office build carrying the renewed certificate, regardless of how recently they tried.
For this group, existing Office documents will remain accessible to view, but further editing will require either workaround software or, more likely, a new device altogether.
Security risks extend beyond Office access
The Office certificate issue is part of a broader pattern tied to how Apple phases out support for aging hardware. Older Macs that can no longer update their operating systems also stop receiving security patches, leaving them vulnerable to malware and other threats well beyond the scope of Office functionality alone. Devices stuck on outdated software become increasingly risky to use for everyday browsing and file management, not just document editing.
Given how widely Apple devices are used, the scale of this shift is significant. Estimates put the number of iPhone users in the United States alone at roughly 143 million as of 2024, underscoring how many people could be touched by this kind of support transition even if only a portion ultimately lose Office functionality.
What users should do before the deadline
Anyone uncertain whether their device qualifies for continued full Office access should check their current macOS, iOS or iPadOS version against Microsoft‘s minimum requirements and update both their operating system and Office apps as soon as possible. Even users already running a current macOS version need to manually update their Office apps, since the renewed certificate is bundled into the new app build rather than applied automatically.
For those with devices too old to meet the update thresholds, the only lasting fix will be upgrading to newer hardware, a familiar trade-off as Apple and Microsoft both gradually narrow the range of devices they continue to support.