The IT Center will remove Office software from centrally managed university Mac computers that have old macOS versions earlier than Big Sur installed (Mojave or Catalina) starting in early 2023. Office software will be removed from these computers due to information security, as Microsoft no longer supports older macOS operating systems. We will release detailed information about the Office removal later.
The removal of Office software will be optional from week 46 onward to ensure that university staff has the opportunity to either update their operating systems to the new macOS 12 Monterey or purchase a new Mac computer, if the computer is old and a new operating system cannot be installed. You will receive a notification on your Mac computer once the Office removal option is available.
Please note: We urge you to update your Mac computer’s operating system or purchase a new Mac computer as soon as possible to ensure that your use of Office software continues without interruption once the software removal begins in early 2023. Going forward, Office software supports the following Mac operating system versions:
- macOS 11 Big Sur
- macOS 12 Monterey
- macOS 13 Ventura
You can check your Mac computer’s operating system version by selecting About this Mac from the Apple menu.
If you have an operating system earlier than Big Sur on your university Mac computer:
Upgrade your operating system to Monterey or the upcoming Ventura operating system. Please keep your computer plugged in and connected to the Internet throughout the installation. You can also install the upgrade remotely at home and no VPN connection is required. Read IT Helpdesk macOS upgrade instructions.
If you have an old Mac laptop that is no longer centrally managed by the university and/or on which a new macOS version cannot be installed:
Contact the person in charge of device purchases at your campus (e.g. the service coordinator). Mac laptops are supported for 24 months after the warranty expiration date. You can check the warranty period by opening the Support tab from the Apple menu’s About this Mac window:
- If a new computer will be purchased for you, read the computer purchase instructions. Please note: if the purchase must be included in the budget for the year 2022, place your order in November. To record the expense for 2022, the device must be delivered and invoiced. An advance invoice is not sufficient. Therefore, act as soon as possible if the purchase must be included in the budget for 2022!
- If your computer will no longer be used by you, also read the IT recycling instructions. 97% of devices recovered for IT recycling are reused. In this way, we extend the life cycle of devices and reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. A longer life cycle also saves materials and reduces waste.
By keeping university IT devices and systems up to date, we safeguard e.g. information security at the university. Thank you for upgrading!