Run Microsoft Office 365 on your Mac

Do you love everything about your Mac — except how you can’t use the Windows-only plugins for Microsoft Office 365? Solve that problem with Parallels Desktop and access a wider range of tools and features plus seamlessly leverage Windows-only Office plugins on your Mac.

You can even use your Windows perpetual licenses on Mac with no additional cost.

Trusted by over 7 million Mac users worldwide

"Parallels Desktop is the go-to app for the new MacBooks. It helps me use Microsoft Office 365."

Student

"Great to use other OS seamlessly on Parallels Desktop. I can run Microsoft Office and PC gaming natively. I tried VirtualBox, but Parallels Desktop is much more seamless and value for money."

Parallels Desktop Customer

"I am a long time Windows user as CIO in corporate environments and wanted to try Mac OS and hardware but not willing to give up certain Windows apps, like Microsoft Office, that either did not exist on Mac OS or were not as full-featured on Mac OS. I used VMware Fusion for years, and their product updates were relatively infrequent, and overall product quality seemed to be deteriorating. I got Parallels Desktop and found it to be more reliable, faster, and full-featured."

Retired CIO/Software Developer

Here’s why Microsoft Office 365 is better in Parallels Desktop

Missing the full functionality of your favorite Microsoft Office apps and plugins?

Your solution is here — running a virtual machine with the Windows OS on your Mac enables you to use the plugins and features you need for peak productivity. Maximize the value of your Microsoft Office subscription with Parallels Desktop.

Use macros for advanced automation

Accomplish more in less time — and with less effort — by automating repetitive tasks and streamlining workflows on your Mac with macros.

Run Visual Basic Scripts

Experience the full functionality of Windows-based scripting including access to libraries and APIs not available on Mac and enjoy enhanced productivity without needing to switch devices.

Run Microsoft Office apps on your Mac

No compromises are necessary to get the full Microsoft Office Professional experience on your Mac. Create and use Microsoft Access databases directly within Office, use ActiveX controls directly within Office documents, and more.

Use Windows-only plugins

Avoid platform limitations and seamlessly leverage Windows-only plugins, tools, and features including Zapier, Salesforce, Evernote, and Grammarly extensions (among others).

Windows PowerShell integration

PowerShell integration for task automation and configuration management is available in some Office applications on Windows, it is not available on Mac.

Preserve your Microsoft Office 365 perpetual licenses

Maximize your software investments and avoid additional costs or hassle when switching between Windows and Mac environments.

Get the full SharePoint experience

The Mac and Windows versions of Office 365 both support integration with SharePoint and other Microsoft services, but the Windows version offers a deeper integration and the complete feature set, including SharePoint Designer.

Use the Office 365 keyboard shorts and interface you prefer

Certain keyboard shortcuts are optimized for the Windows keyboard layout and do not directly translate to the Mac keyboard layout. Interface elements like menu layouts, ribbon design, and contextual menus differ between the Mac and Windows versions to accommodate platform-specific conventions and user expectations.

See what features are available in Windows Office vs Mac Office

Features
Office 365 on Mac
Office 365 on Windows
Visual Basic Scripting capabilities
No
Yes
Ability to use macros
No
Yes
Microsoft Access Database
No
Yes
ActiveX Controls
No
Yes
Sharepoint Designer
No
Yes
PowerShell
No
Yes
Full Salesforce feature integration
No
Yes
Full Adobe Acrobat feature integration
No
Yes
Grammarly APIs
No
Yes
Full Evernote feature integration
No
Yes
Full Zapier feature integration
No
Yes

Using Microsoft Office on Mac FAQs

Can I use Microsoft Office on a Mac using Parallels Desktop?

Yes, you can use Microsoft Office 365 on a Mac with Parallels Desktop if you own or purchase the necessary license keys.

Will I get Word and Excel on my Mac?

You will get Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and the rest of the Microsoft Office 365 suite on your Mac if you own or purchase the necessary license keys.

I have the online application version of Microsoft Office. Can I download the desktop version?

Yes, you can download and use the desktop version of Microsoft Office on your Mac with Parallels Desktop. Just follow these steps:

  1. Open your Windows 11 virtual machine in Parallels Desktop.
  2. Open a web browser inside the Windows 11 virtual machine and navigate to the Microsoft Office website.
  3. Sign in with your Microsoft account that has an active Microsoft 365 subscription.
  4. Once signed in, click on the "Install Office" button.
  5. Select "Other install options" from the drop-down menu and then click on "Download" under the "Office for Windows" section.
  6. Choose the desired version of Office to download and click on "Download".
  7. Once the download is complete, locate the downloaded file and double-click to begin the installation process.
  8. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.

Once the installation is complete, you are ready to use the desktop version of Microsoft Office on your Windows 11 Parallels virtual machine. Note that you may need to activate the software using your Microsoft account credentials for full access to all the features.

Can I install two instances of the same Office 365 license on the same computer?

Yes, you can install Microsoft Office 365 on your Windows virtual machine and the macOS side of your Mac with Parallels Desktop.