(Updated) Microsoft 365 apps on Mac and iOS require updates before July 13, 2026, due to certificate expiration

Updated June 17, 2026: We have updated the content. Thank you for your patience. 

[Introduction]

Microsoft 365 apps use a digital certificate to validate licensing on Mac and iOS devices. This certificate will expire in July 2026 and is being proactively replaced to ensure uninterrupted app functionality. Supported app versions already include the renewed certificate and will continue to work normally.

Devices that are not updated to the required versions may enter reduced functionality (read-only mode) after the expiration date. This update ensures a consistent and reliable licensing experience across supported platforms.

[When this will happen:]

• July 13, 2026:
  • The current Microsoft 365 app licensing certificate expires
  • After this date, devices running unsupported app versions on Mac or iOS/iPadOS will enter read-only mode until updated

[How this affects your organization:]

Who is affected:

• Organizations with managed Mac or iOS/iPadOS devices
• Devices running unsupported Microsoft 365 app versions
• Devices on unsupported operating systems

What will happen:

To maintain full functionality after July 13, 2026, devices must meet the following requirements:

• Mac:
  • macOS 12 (Monterey) or later
  • Microsoft 365 app version 16.83 or later
• iOS/iPadOS:
  • iOS 17.0 or later
  • Microsoft 365 app version 2.93 or later

Unified minimum‑version guidance

• Any Microsoft 365 app running at or above the minimum required version already contains the renewed certificate and is not impacted by the expiration.
• Apps running earlier versions may be impacted after July 13, 2026 and enter read‑only mode until updated.
• This applies to all Microsoft 365 apps, including OneNote on iOS, where version 16.93 is the minimum required version.

What users will experience on unsupported versions

Once the certificate expires:

• Apps will not sign users out
• The certificate is used for license validation, not authentication
• Affected versions will fail license validation and enter read‑only mode
• Users can still open and view content, but licensed features will be unavailable

Microsoft 365 apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote) will:

• Enter read‑only mode
• Allow viewing and printing only
• Block editing, saving, creating new files and other licensed functionality

There is no data loss, no impact to Windows or Android devices, and no security risk to customer data. 

Full functionality is restored once apps are updated to supported versions.

[What you can do to prepare:]

To avoid disruption, we recommend the following actions:

• Identify affected devices
  • Mac versions earlier than 16.83
  • iOS versions earlier than 2.93
  • OneNote iOS earlier than 16.93
  • Devices on unsupported OS versions
• Deploy updates
• Microsoft Intune for Mac and iOS
• Configuration Manager for co‑managed Mac devices
• Microsoft AutoUpdate (MAU) for Mac
• On Mac, use:
  • msupdate --install
• Address unsupported devices
  • Upgrade devices to supported OS versions
  • Replace devices that cannot meet minimum requirements
  • Direct users to Microsoft 365 on the web as a temporary alternative.
• Verify compliance
  • Use reporting tools in Intune or Configuration Manager
  • Users can manually check versions via About in each app
• Communicate to users
  • Inform users that updates are being deployed to prevent apps from entering read‑only mode
  • No action is required for centrally managed devices
  • Users experiencing read‑only mode should contact IT support
  • If needed, instruct users to:
    • Fully quit and reopen apps
    • Sign out then sign back in after updates are applied.

Learn more: Certificate update for Microsoft 365 apps on managed macOS and iOS devices - Microsoft 365 Apps | Microsoft Learn

[Compliance considerations:]

No compliance considerations identified, review as appropriate for your organization.