Office on Mac & iPhone Goes Read-Only July 13: How to Fix It

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If your team’s Office on Mac or iPhone apps drop into read-only mode on July 13 because they are running an older build, they will need an immediate update. Without it, users will be able to open files, but they won’t be able to edit, save, or create them.

A licensing certificate that Microsoft 365 apps on macOS and iOS rely on expires July 13, 2026. It’s not a security issue and no data is at risk, but any version below the supported minimum drops into read-only mode after that date. To stay fully functional, devices need macOS 12 or later on app version 16.83+, or iOS 17 or later on app version 2.93+.

Who is Affected by the July 13 Office Update? Office 2019 for Mac and the Office 2021 one-time purchase have no update path and stay read-only permanently. Windows and Android are unaffected — this is a Mac and iOS story.

Managing the Office on Mac Read-Only July 13 Exposure

To prevent unexpected business disruptions, IT administrators need to actively audit their environments. Use these direct action items to clear your exposure before the licensing certificate expires:
• Inventory the Office versions on every Mac, iPhone, and iPad.
• Update macOS 12+ and iOS 17+ devices past the minimum app versions before July 13.
• Flag any Mac on Office 2019 or a 2021 perpetual license — those need a Microsoft 365 plan to keep editing.

Not sure which devices sit below the line? Let’s pull a version inventory and clear the exposure before the certificate expires.

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