Resolved - Catalina killed my Microsoft Office...so why am I being given updates?

[Rob JJ]

Ok, so with Catalina, my non-64 apps don't work any longer...wish someone (APPLE) had made this clear before I did the upgrade. So, I upgrade and find out I can't use my MS Office apps...ok, I'll make the switch to Apple equivalents, such as Numbers and Pages.

So, then WHY am I being presented with an upgrade for Excel and Powerpoint? Why upgrade something that is now worthless to me. Can someone please explain this? I am stuck with these showing in my updates...with no option to ignore them, delete the notice, etc.


TIA

 

[konqerror]

Ok, so with Catalina, my non-64 apps don't work any longer...wish someone (APPLE) had made this clear before I did the upgrade.

Uh, the Catalina installer scans for incompatible apps and shows you what will fail before installation

32-bit app compatibility with macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 and later - Apple Support

About the transition to 64-bit technology and how it affects 32-bit apps.

support.apple.com

And what do you mean "in your updates"? Microsoft uses a proprietary updater, unless you got them from the App Store, in which case they would be 64-bit to begin with.

Troubleshoot Office for Mac 2011 issues by completely uninstalling before you reinstall - Microsoft Support

Follow these steps to completely uninstall Office for Mac 2011 from your computer.

support.office.com

 

[weaztek]

I'd also suggest looking into NeoOffice as an alternative to Office, Pages, etc. I've been using it for 20 years and love it.

 

[Rob JJ]

Uh, the Catalina installer scans for incompatible apps and shows you what will fail before installation

32-bit app compatibility with macOS High Sierra 10.13.4 and later - Apple Support

About the transition to 64-bit technology and how it affects 32-bit apps.

support.apple.com

And what do you mean "in your updates"? Microsoft uses a proprietary updater, unless you got them from the App Store, in which case they would be 64-bit to begin with.

Troubleshoot Office for Mac 2011 issues by completely uninstalling before you reinstall - Microsoft Support

Follow these steps to completely uninstall Office for Mac 2011 from your computer.

support.office.com

Hmm...not saying you are wrong, but I don't recall being told about any incompatible apps. I probably would have continued regardless as I try to stay up to date...just don't recall any notice.

Days after I upgraded to Catalina and had pretty much decided MS Office was a thing of the past for me, I see that I had a red 2 tacked on to my App store icon in my bottom bar, indicating I had 2 updates available...so, I go to see what App store thinks I need to update, and see this. I had already decided it was time to dump MS Office, but what do I do about these updates? First, why am I being told there is an update at all, since Catalina made my Office 2011 obsolete. If I remove MS Office 2011 from my MBP, will this notice go away? I can't just select "ignore"...I either update (but why...and would it even work if I tried), or am stuck with that red 2 attached to my App store icon.

 

[konqerror]

Those are there because you installed the App Store version of Office 365. If you don't want to use them, find them and delete them, like any App Store app.

 

[DeltaMac]

Hmm... Those are app icons for newer versions of Office apps.
Those apps can be purchased in the App Store.
If you ONLY have MS Office 2011, then the App Store will ignore your Office, as updates for 2011 don't come through the App Store, and only come through the Office update app.

Yes - you can't use Office 2011. 2011 has not had ANY updates for a couple of years.
Any NEW updates (such as Oct 17, 2019 as your screenshot shows) would indicate that you have something newer than 2011
Are you certain that you don't have Office 365 (or the stand-alone versions, either 2016, or 2019 Office apps?). The newer apps can co-exist with the 2011 Office, no problem.

What happens if you choose to click the Update button

 

[TheSkywalker77]

Hmm, those are the newer icons that should be 64-bit supported. Try updating them and see if they work then. I have that version of Office and it works just fine for me on Catalina.

 

[honestone33]

Ok, so with Catalina, my non-64 apps don't work any longer...wish someone (APPLE) had made this clear before I did the upgrade. So, I upgrade and find out I can't use my MS Office apps...ok, I'll make the switch to Apple equivalents, such as Numbers and Pages.

Shortly after Apple stated that OS 10.15, Catalina, was being developed, they made it crystal clear that 32 bit applications would no longer be supported with Catalina. Also, that same warning has been mentioned numerous, numerous times all over the internet. Cannot understand how you missed that.
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I'd also suggest looking into NeoOffice as an alternative to Office, Pages, etc. I've been using it for 20 years and love it.

Another excellent one is LibreOffice, which is free. I'be been using it for about 6 months, and am very pleased. And it works flawlessly in Catalina.

 

[Strangedream]

You probably have the 32-bit MS Office package. Just upgrade and you'll get the 64-bit version from the App Store. Costs nothing to try.

 

[TheSkywalker77]

You probably have the 32-bit MS Office package. Just upgrade and you'll get the 64-bit version from the App Store. Costs nothing to try.

"To try". Meaning it won't be the full version? Or will it recognise the older version and activate it from that?

 

[konqerror]

You probably have the 32-bit MS Office package. Just upgrade and you'll get the 64-bit version from the App Store. Costs nothing to try.

"To try". Meaning it won't be the full version? Or will it recognise the older version and activate it from that?

The App Store version is Office 365. It requires a subscription or else it runs in a read-only lite mode.

Office 2016 was the version that came out as 32 bit and was upgraded to 64 bit about two years ago. You can download the latest 2016 version from Microsoft and it should activate fine with a valid 2016 serial. (https://macadmins.software)

Office 2011 never had a 64-bit version and went out of support in 2017.

 

[TheSkywalker77]

The App Store version is Office 365. It requires a subscription or else it runs in a read-only lite mode.

Office 2016 was the version that came out as 32 bit and was upgraded to 64 bit about two years ago. You can download the latest 2016 version from Microsoft and it should activate fine with a valid 2016 serial. (https://macadmins.software)

Office 2011 never had a 64-bit version and went out of support in 2017.

Ah thanks, I was confused.

 

[Strangedream]

"To try". Meaning it won't be the full version? Or will it recognise the older version and activate it from that?

No I mean to try downloading. If you already had the full version before you'll be simply be updated to the latest full version.

 

[Rob JJ]

Yup, turns out somehow I added the 365 version I guess...possibly a trial??? Anyway, got rid of those and the updates went away, so all good now. I'll just say adios to my last Microsoft product and call it good. I had given Numbers a try many years ago and it lacked some features I wanted, but it appears it now has them, so all should be good. Thanks to all who responded.

 

[seabreeze56]

That's why i got cold feet on upgrading to Catalina. I read that it would not support any 32 bit apps. I don't use any apps like office. Looks like I only have adobe in 32bit and my computer is always asking me to upgrade it, I just have never done it. Right now I just do basics on my macbook pro and everything is working so well in mojave so I stopped the download and I'm just leaving it for a while longer. I just got my husband a imac desktop and I'm debating whether or not to upgrade it. It's a much newer computer than my mid 2012 laptop.

 

[honestone33]

That's why i got cold feet on upgrading to Catalina. I read that it would not support any 32 bit apps. I don't use any apps like office. Looks like I only have adobe in 32bit and my computer is always asking me to upgrade it, I just have never done it. Right now I just do basics on my macbook pro and everything is working so well in mojave so I stopped the download and I'm just leaving it for a while longer. I just got my husband a imac desktop and I'm debating whether or not to upgrade it. It's a much newer computer than my mid 2012 laptop.

Understand. Myself, I abandoned Office 2016 after having a serious problem with Outlook 2016. Have since used Thunderbird for EMails, and LibreOffice. Both products are 64 bit, are compatible with Catalina, and work well. And they are free!