Windows version
Press the Windows key, type winver and press Enter. A small box shows your edition and build. If it says Windows 11, you are fully supported.
Free tool · Updated 30 July 2026
Microsoft Office Compatibility Checker
Find out in seconds whether Microsoft Office 2024, Office 2021, Project or Visio will install and activate on your computer. We read your operating system from your browser, you confirm your memory and disk space, and we show you every licence that fits your machine.
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We have filled in what your browser reports. Change anything that looks wrong. Your browser cannot see memory or free disk space, so please pick those yourself.
Every operating system we are asked about, and what each Microsoft licence does on it.
| Your operating system | Office 2024 for Windows | Office 2024 for Mac | Office 2021 for Windows | Office 2021 for Mac | Project & Visio 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 | Supported | Not available | Supported | Not available | Supported |
| Windows 10 | Installs, no longer supported | Not available | Installs, no longer supported | Not available | Installs, no longer supported |
| Windows 8.1 and older | Will not install | Not available | Will not install | Not available | Will not install |
| macOS 26 Tahoe | Not available | Supported | Not available | Supported | Not available |
| macOS 15 Sequoia | Not available | Supported | Not available | Supported | Not available |
| macOS 14 Sonoma | Not available | Supported | Not available | Supported | Not available |
| macOS 13 Ventura and older | Not available | Not supported | Not available | Not supported | Not available |
| ChromeOS, iPadOS, iOS, Android, Linux | Will not install | Will not install | Will not install | Will not install | Will not install |
Source: Microsoft, Office suites for individuals and families, system requirements, revised January 2026.
| Requirement | Office 2024, Project 2024, Visio 2024 | Office 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 11 | Windows 11 |
| Processor | 1.1 GHz or faster, 2 cores | 1.1 GHz or faster, 2 cores |
| Memory | 4 GB RAM | 4 GB RAM |
| Free disk space | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Display | 1280 × 768 (64-bit needed for 4K and above) | 1280 × 768 (64-bit needed for 4K and above) |
| Graphics | Direct3D 9.1 or higher adapter with a WDDM 1.3 or higher driver | DirectX 9 or later |
| .NET | Some features need .NET 3.5 or 4.6 and above | Some features need .NET 3.5 or 4.6 and above |
| Browser | Current Microsoft Edge, Chrome or Firefox | Current Microsoft Edge, Chrome or Firefox |
| Internet | Needed to download, redeem, activate and stay activated | Needed to download, redeem, activate and stay activated |
| Account | A Microsoft account is required to redeem the licence | A Microsoft account is required to redeem the licence |
About Windows 10. Windows 10 reached end of support on 14 October 2025, and Microsoft now lists Windows 11 as the supported operating system for both Office 2021 and Office 2024. These licences still install and activate normally on Windows 10, and we sell to Windows 10 customers every day. Microsoft simply no longer supports that pairing, so we recommend upgrading to Windows 11 when you can.
On ARM-based Windows devices, such as Snapdragon-powered Surface laptops, Windows 11 is the minimum.
| Requirement | Office 2024 for Mac | Office 2021 for Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | One of the three most recent versions of macOS | One of the three most recent versions of macOS |
| Processor | Intel or Apple Silicon | Intel or Apple Silicon |
| Memory | 4 GB RAM | 4 GB RAM |
| Free disk space | 10 GB | 10 GB |
| Display | 1280 × 800 | 1280 × 800 |
| Browser | Current Microsoft Edge, Safari, Chrome or Firefox | Current Microsoft Edge, Safari, Chrome or Firefox |
| Internet | Needed to download, redeem, activate and stay activated | Needed to download, redeem, activate and stay activated |
| Account | A Microsoft account is required to redeem the licence | A Microsoft account is required to redeem the licence |
Which three versions? As each new version of macOS ships, Microsoft drops support for the oldest and keeps the newest plus the previous two. As of 30 July 2026 that is macOS 26 Tahoe, macOS 15 Sequoia and macOS 14 Sonoma. When macOS 27 arrives in September 2026, Sonoma will drop off the list.
Office for Mac runs natively on Apple Silicon, including M1, M2, M3 and M4 chips. Microsoft Project and Microsoft Visio are Windows-only, with no Mac edition.
These licences do not work on:
- Chromebooks and ChromeOS
- iPad and iPadOS
- iPhone and iOS
- Android tablets and phones
- Linux, including Ubuntu and Mint
Desktop Office needs Windows or macOS. If you use one of the devices above, the free browser versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint at office.com will work, but a licence bought here will not install. Please check before you order so we do not have to refund you.
Windows memory and disk
Open Settings → System → About for installed RAM. Open File Explorer → This PC to see free space on your C: drive.
macOS version
Click the Apple menu and choose About This Mac. The version name and number appear at the top, along with your chip and memory.
Mac free storage
Apple menu → About This Mac → More Info → Storage. You need at least 10 GB free to install Office for Mac.
Does Microsoft Office 2024 work on Windows 10?
Yes, Office 2024 installs and activates on Windows 10, but Microsoft no longer supports that combination. Windows 10 reached end of support on 14 October 2025, and Microsoft's current system requirements list Windows 11 as the required operating system for Office 2024. Your licence will work, you simply will not receive Microsoft support for the operating system underneath it. Upgrading to Windows 11 is free for eligible PCs.
Does Microsoft Office 2021 still work in 2026?
Yes. Office 2021 remains supported by Microsoft under the Modern Lifecycle Policy and continues to receive security updates. It has the same hardware requirements as Office 2024 and installs on Windows 11 and on the three most recent versions of macOS. Office 2019 and Office 2016, by contrast, both reached end of support on 14 October 2025.
Which versions of macOS does Microsoft Office support?
Office for Mac supports the three most recent versions of macOS. As of 30 July 2026 that means macOS 26 Tahoe, macOS 15 Sequoia and macOS 14 Sonoma. Microsoft drops the oldest version each time Apple releases a new one, so macOS 13 Ventura and anything older is no longer supported. If your Mac is on an older release, update macOS first and Office will then install normally.
Does Microsoft Office work on Apple Silicon M1, M2, M3 and M4 Macs?
Yes. Office 2021 for Mac and Office 2024 for Mac both run natively on Apple Silicon, with no emulation and no performance penalty. The same installer covers Intel and Apple Silicon Macs, so you do not need a different licence for an M-series machine.
Can I install Microsoft Office on a Chromebook?
No. Chromebooks run ChromeOS, which cannot install desktop Windows or Mac software, so a perpetual Office licence will not work on one. Chromebook users can use the free web versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint at office.com with a Microsoft account. Do not buy a desktop licence for a Chromebook.
Can I install Microsoft Office on an iPad or an iPhone?
No. A desktop Office licence cannot be installed on iPadOS or iOS. Microsoft publishes free Word, Excel and PowerPoint apps on the App Store for basic editing on those devices, but they are separate products and are not activated by a desktop product key.
Is Microsoft Project or Visio available for Mac?
No. Microsoft does not publish a Mac version of Project or Visio in any edition, including 2021 and 2024. Both are Windows-only. Mac users generally either run Windows in a virtual machine such as Parallels, or use Project for the web through a browser.
How much RAM and disk space does Microsoft Office need?
Microsoft's minimum is 4 GB of RAM on both platforms. For free disk space, Windows needs 4 GB and Mac needs 10 GB. These are minimums rather than comfortable figures. On a machine with exactly 4 GB of RAM, Office will run, but Excel with large workbooks or Outlook with several accounts will feel slow. 8 GB is a better real-world target.
Do I need a Microsoft account to use a lifetime Office licence?
Yes. A Microsoft account is required to redeem the product key and tie the licence to you. The account is free and takes about a minute to create at account.microsoft.com. Once redeemed, the licence stays attached to that account permanently, which is what lets you reinstall Office later if you replace your hard drive or reset Windows.
Does Microsoft Office need an internet connection?
You need internet to download the installer, redeem your key, and activate the apps. After that, Word, Excel and PowerPoint work fully offline. Office does reconnect periodically to confirm the licence is still valid, so a permanently offline machine is not a good fit for a consumer Office licence.
Can I install one Office licence on two computers?
No. Office Home, Office Home & Business and Office Professional licences each cover a single PC or a single Mac. If you need more than one machine, buy the number of licences you need, or choose one of our three-device packs. Attempting to activate a single key on a second computer at the same time will fail.
Should I install the 32-bit or the 64-bit version of Office?
Choose 64-bit unless you have a specific reason not to. Both Office 2021 and Office 2024 offer 32-bit and 64-bit builds for Windows, and 64-bit is the default and the right answer for almost everyone. It is also required if you use a 4K monitor or larger. Office for Mac is 64-bit only.
Still not sure your computer will run it? Call 1-844-414-0391 or start a live chat, and we will check your specifications with you before you spend anything.
Atom Software is a Microsoft Authorised Partner (Partner #6285889) operated by Arsom Technologies LLC. The requirements on this page are taken directly from Microsoft's published system requirements documentation and were last verified on 30 July 2026.