Both Office 2016 and Office 2019 for Mac are available for installation and updating via Jamf Pro. The default for DEP imaged machines and EPM's third-party patching system is still 2016, but you are free to install or upgrade to 2019 with the instructions below.
- Microsoft Office For Mac Free
- Office 2019 Serializer
- Microsoft Office For Mac Serializer Shortcut
- Microsoft Office For Mac Volume License Serializer
Now we will try to activate Mac Office 2019 using Mac Serializer. Open Word 2019 to make sure it is activated. Now we will perform the update for Mac Office 2019. These instructions may help with troubleshooting activation by removing all Office license files from your Mac. For example, if you previously installed a one-time purchase of Office for Mac and have switched to Microsoft 365, you may not be seeing subscription features because your copy of Office.
Version numbering and names
Microsoft's application versions for 2016 and 2019 are very similar, so it's important to verify that you are installing the correct version. Version numbers up through 16.16.x are Office 2016, while 16.17 and higher are Office 2019. The licensing for these two are mutually exclusive, so be sure to install the matching serializer and application packages. See below for the two sets of packages.
Note that Microsoft's naming scheme for packages has also changed to use underscores instead of spaces for the 2019 packaging. This naming scheme is reflected in our Jamf Pro package names, which means that 2019 packages will appear separately from 2016 packages when sorting them by name.
Deploying the latest Office 2016 with EPM's custom triggers.
You can install the entire Office 2016 suite in one step by calling the epm-thirdparty-office trigger. You can do this either manually on a computer from Terminal by entering `sudo jamf policy -event epm-thirdparty-office` or execute it via Jamf policy by entering that same command into 'Execute Command' field under the 'File and Processes' payload.
If you want only individual applications rather than the entire suite, you can call the following custom triggers. Note that these will install only the application, not the license or Microsoft AutoUpdate. See the next section for the additional packages you will need to install for those components.
epm-thirdparty-excel
epm-thirdparty-onenote
epm-thirdparty-outlook
epm-thirdparty-powerpoint
epm-thirdparty-word
Deploying Office 2016 with custom policy setup
If you prefer to build out deployment policies yourself rather than use the custom trigger outlined above, you can install the 7 component packages yourself. You will want to deploy the serializer, the AutoUpdate, and any or all of the individual applications (like Word and Excel):
- Microsoft Office 2016 Serializer 2.0.pkg
- Microsoft AutoUpdate_3.11.17101000_Updater.pkg (or latest number)
- Microsoft Excel-16.16.18111001.pkg
- Microsoft OneNote-16.16.18111001.pkg
- Microsoft Outlook-16.16.18111001.pkg
- Microsoft PowerPoint-16.16.18111001.pkg
- Microsoft Word-16.16.18111001.pkg
The version numbers here are examples, and the latest as of 12/01/2018. New versions of Office 2016 are released periodically. It's best to install the latest version of 16.16 that you see available. |
Follow the steps in the below link for software deployment for more details on setting up policies to deploy packages.
Deploying the latest Office 2019 with EPM's custom triggers.
Microsoft Office For Mac Free
You can install the entire Office 2019 suite in one step by calling the epm-thirdparty-office-2019 trigger. You can do this either manually on a computer from Terminal by entering `sudo jamf policy -event epm-thirdparty-office-2019` or execute it via Jamf policy by entering that same command into 'Execute Command' field under the 'File and Processes' payload.

If you want only individual applications rather than the entire suite, you can call the following custom triggers. Note that these will install only the application, not the license or Microsoft AutoUpdate. See the next section for the additional packages you will need to install for those components.
epm-thirdparty-excel-2019
epm-thirdparty-onenote-2019
epm-thirdparty-outlook-2019
epm-thirdparty-powerpoint-2019
epm-thirdparty-word-2019

Deploying Office 2019 with custom policies

If you'd like to install Office 2019 with your own policies, the process is similar to 2016; you need to install the newer Serializer package, the newer 2019 application packages, and AutoUpdate.
- Microsoft_Office_2019_VL_Serializer.pkg
- Microsoft_AutoUpdate_4.5.18110402_Updater.pkg
- Microsoft_Excel_16.19.18110915.pkg
- Microsoft_OneNote_16.19.18110915.pkg
- Microsoft_Outlook_16.19.18110915.pkg
- Microsoft_PowerPoint_16.19.18110915.pkg
- Microsoft_Word_16.19.18110915.pkg
The version numbers here are examples, and the latest as of 12/01/2018. New versions of Office 2016 are released periodically. It's best to install the latest version that you see available. |
Follow the steps in the below link for software deployment for more details on setting up policies to deploy packages.
Deploying updates
If you want to just deploy the latest updates, you can deploy just the individual application packages listed above. Alternatively, you can execute the custom trigger epm-thirdparty to update any outdated packages of Office 2016 and 2019. For details on using the epm-thirdparty trigger, see [Jamf Pro - epm-thirdparty patching]
If you need assistance creating policies for the installation packages please contact the Endpoint Management team at endpointmanagement@mit.edu.
Related articles
See Jamf Pro - Software Deployment for more information on how to create deployment policies.
See [Jamf Pro - Third-party software patching] for information on deploying new updates as they are released.
See [Jamf Pro - epm-thirdparty patching] for more information on using EPM's custom triggers for patching and installing.
Office 2019 Serializer
Installing office
- Download the installer from IS&T.
- Double-click the downloaded zip file to decompress it.You'll have a folder with Installer pkg and a Serializer pkg.
- Double-click the Microsoft_Office_16.20.18120801_Installer.pkg icon.
Result: The installer launches: - Click Continue.
Result: The Software License Agreement is displayed: - Click Continue.
Result: You are asked to agree to the Software License: - Click Agree
Result: The Installation Type is displayed: - Click Install.
Result: You are prompted for your name and password: - Enter the username and password for your local computer account and click OK.
Note: You may have to close certain applications for installation to complete.
Result: Installation will take some time. - When it completes, the summary screen is displayed:
- Click Close.
Result: Microsoft Word automatically starts and presents you with a Get Started window:
Microsoft Office For Mac Serializer Shortcut
First time running office
Office 2019 Activation Please run the Microsoft_Office_2019_VL_Serializer.pkg to properly activate Microsoft Office 2019 for Mac |
Microsoft Office For Mac Volume License Serializer
- Click Get Started
Result: You are asked to optionally sign in to your Microsoft account: - Click Continue.
Result: Configuration is complete: - Click Start Using Word.
Result: You might be prompted to install updates, if any are available. If so, follow the prompts: - Click Install. If you're prompted for authentication, enter your user name and password again.
Result: Microsoft AutoUpdate prompts you for configuration: - Accept the defaults and click Check for Updates. You might be prompted to install one or more updates in succession. Follow the prompts until no more updates are available.
- Microsoft Office for Mac 2019 is now ready for use.
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