Microsoft launches Office for Mac with Apple Silicon compatibility, universal version still in beta [Updated]

Following Apple’s unveiling this week of Macs equipped with M1 technology, Microsoft has released a new version of its Mac Office 2019 for Mac that includes macOS Big Sur support and compatibility with Apple Silicon machines.

This means that the latest version of apps, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and OneDrive, can be installed and run on Apple’s latest 13-inch MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini on the go. help from Appel’s Rosetta 2 translation layer.

Using Apple’s Rosetta 2 translation software, Macs with Apple’s M1 can run x86-64 code written for Intel Macs. Unlike OG Rosetta – the version that allowed PowerPC applications to run on Intel Macs – the code is not interpreted in real time. Instead, the Rosetta 2 translation process takes place entirely on first launch, although performance is slightly affected during the initial translation of x86–64 instructions.

Microsoft’s announcement highlights how back-end work manifests itself to the user during the initial launch of their applications:

Are there any performance considerations for running Office under the Rosetta 2 translation?

The first launch of each Office application will take longer because the operating system must generate code optimized for the “Apple Silicon” processor. Users will notice that apps ‘bounce’ in the dock for about 20 seconds while this process is complete. Subsequent app launches will be quick.

Microsoft advises users to install the November 2020 release (build 16.43) or later, which includes the latest optimizations for macOS 11 Big Sur. This version will eventually need to be replaced with a version that uses the new Universal 2 binary format that was introduced at WWDC 2020 in June.

Apple says Rosetta 2 is a temporary solution for developers to run their existing Intel programs on Arm-based Macs, which means they will eventually need to build native applications for “Apple Silicon” machines. Notably, Apple ended support for OG Rosetta three years after its release.

Update: The original article incorrectly referred to this version of Office for Mac as the “universal version,” but this version is would have currently only available to users registered on Microsoft’s “Insider Fast” beta channel, and has not yet received a final release date.