Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac entered a reduced functionality mode on July 13, 2024. This renders perpetual licenses effectively useless for editing, saving, or creating documents, according to Engadget. Some reports, like Mezha, suggest applications will stop working entirely. This move cripples the software two years before its official end-of-life, disrupting workflows for perpetual license holders.
Microsoft cites an expiring digital certificate for Office 2019 for Mac's reduced functionality. However, the company provides an update for Office 2021 and Microsoft 365. The provision of an update for Office 2021 and Microsoft 365 suggests a selective enforcement of the technical barrier, raising questions about Microsoft's intent.
Companies increasingly use technical means to push users towards subscription models. Consumers should be wary of perpetual software licenses. Office 2019 for Mac exemplifies this strategic shift.
Who is Impacted?
- Users holding perpetual licenses for Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac lost core editing and saving capabilities by July 13, 2024.
- Subscribers of Microsoft 365 and customers of Office 2021 must update their software before July to avoid the same fate, according to CNET.
The selective enforcement of technical barriers reveals a vulnerability across all licensing models, not just perpetual ones.
The Unspecified Reason
Microsoft provides a certificate update for Office 2021, but Office 2019 for Mac cannot be updated to the required version, according to The Verge. This technical explanation contrasts with Mezha's report of unspecified reasons for the disablement. The differing accounts and selective solutions warrant scrutiny.
