Is your Mac now too old for certain Apps - like Microsoft 365 apps?

If you are a Mac user who is currently running macOS Ventura (the operating system released by Apple in late 2022) or an earlier operating system, you may find that certain apps on your Mac are no longer able to be updated.

In fact, certain apps - like those in the Microsoft 365 suite (Word, Excel, Powerpoint, OneDrive) - may not even be able to be downloaded and installed.

This is because Apple's support for macOS Ventura has ended, meaning no further security patches or support.

​Additionally, Microsoft has advised users of its Microsoft 365 products that they are now only supporting the current and previous two versions of the Mac operating system.

What “macOS Ventura is no longer supported” really means

“macOS Ventura is no longer supported” means Apple has stopped providing important updates for that version of the Mac operating system (macOS). Those updates include:

• Security patches (to protect your Mac from new viruses, hacking methods or software bugs) 
• Compatibility updates so that the Mac continues to work reliably with new applications or new versions of apps. 

Apple released the final security update for Ventura (version 13.7.8) in August 2025. 

What if I don't (or can't) upgrade?

If your Mac can’t (or you choose not to) upgrade beyond Ventura, here's a list of risks and implications:

• Security risk increases over time. Without further security patches, new viruses, hacking tricks or bugs discovered after the “end of support” become permanent vulnerabilities.
• New apps (or new versions of apps) may not work. Over time, software developers may stop supporting older macOS versions — which means you may no longer be able to install or update certain applications.
• Degraded experience over time. Even if apps continue to run, you may miss out on new features or improvements; some apps may start behaving strangely if they rely on newer OS capabilities.

If you aren’t confident dealing with these technical issues, it’s a bit like driving a car that no longer receives safety recalls or maintenance: it will work — perhaps for a while — but you carry increasing risk the longer you stay with it.

What about Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneDrive Outlook) if you stay on Ventura?

If you use Microsoft 365 on your Mac, staying on Ventura creates some specific concerns:

• Many software providers follow a similar policy as Apple’s: they maintain support only for current and recent OS versions. Once your macOS version falls out of support, the developer (in this case, Microsoft) may stop releasing updates for that version.
• That means newer features, bug fixes, and especially security fixes for Office apps may no longer be provided.
• Right now, Microsoft 365 apps won’t install at all on Ventura.
• If you already have installed Microsoft 365 apps on your Mac, they will keep working for now, but they won't be able to receive an further updates.
  
• This could could leave them vulnerable to security problems (e.g. if a flaw is discovered in Word or Excel).​

What you should do if you’re on Ventura or an earlier macOS version?

1. Check if your Mac can run a newer macOS.​
   1. An easy way to do this is to go to System Settings -> General -> Software Update
   2. This will show if there is an available upgrade for your Mac.
   3. If you don't see any option offered for upgrading to a newer operating system, this means your Mac has reached the end of its upgrade life.
   4. If you are unable to upgrade beyond Ventura (or an earlier operating system), your Mac is considered 'Obsolete'. 
2. ​If you are offered the option to Upgrade to a newer operating system (Sonoma, Sequoia, or Tahoe)
   1. Back up your data before you upgrade.
   2. Do this using Time Machine, or copy important documents/photos to an external drive or cloud-storage (e.g. OneDrive, iCloud, Dropbox). Better safe than sorry — occasionally upgrades don’t go smoothly.
   3. Once the backup is successfully completed, return to System Settings -> General -> Software Update and initiate the upgrade process. Make sure you are connected to power for the duration of the upgrade.
      
   4. Ideally, move to the newest version your Mac supports (for example, macOS Sonoma, macOS Sequoia or macOS Tahoe — whichever is compatible and offered).
3. If you can’t upgrade, you can continue to use your Mac but need to consider
   
   1. That there is a higher security risk to your Mac due to security vulnerabilities that may be exploited by attackers.
      
   2. Your Mac can no longer be serviced by Apple if something goes wrong.
      
   3. Consider using additional security layers: good antivirus, strong passwords, minimal use of risky websites.
      
   4. Heed any alerts about security threats to unsupported versions of Mac operating systems and Microsoft (and other) products.
      
   5. Recognise that over time, some apps — including new versions of familiar ones — might cease to work properly
      
   6. It may be time to look at purchasing a new Mac - or perhaps moving to using an iPad instead of a Mac. iPads offer a great alternative to computers for those of you who only use your computer for basic activities like emails, internet access photos, and, perhaps, documents and spreadsheeting. 

Is my Mac still supported?

To check the age and model of your Mac, go to the Apple symbol  at the very top left of the screen and choose the About option.

​Once you have this model information, here's where you can check if your Mac model is still supported by Apple, showing the models that are considered 'Vintage' (not eligible to upgrade to latest operating system, but still receiving security updates) and those that are considered 'Obsolete' (no longer supported).

Here also is where you can go to check the latest version number of each of Mac's operating systems, and which operating system can run on which Mac models.

Need help with this or any other technology question or issue?

iTandCoffee offers friendly one-on-one assistance - either in person (if you are local to Camberwell or Daylesford in Victoria) or remotely (using Zoom, FaceTime or even just over the phone or a messaging service).

If you need patient help with your technology, book online here, give iTandCoffee a call on +61 444 532 161, or email [email protected].

iTandCoffee can assist with all types of technology - Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android, Microsoft Office products and Microsoft 365, Dropbox, Google products, connecting a printer, connecting to the internet and so much more.

And we have a range of classes and videos that can help you learn about and get more from your technology - whether you are a beginner or a more advanced user. Here is our schedule of events and videos.

Join our iTandCoffee Club to gain access to our members-only tips, videos and guides - with different membership levels available to suit your needs. Note that iTandCoffee Club members with Plus or Premium membership can access free appointments to get answers to their questions and issues.

Don’t hesitate to Contact Us if you have a question about our services.