Get a free trial and you’ll have access to the latest AI-powered apps, 1 TB of cloud storage per person, and premium mobile features to stay on top of things wherever you are on any device. Download and install Office apps for free on multiple PCs/Macs, tablets, and phones. Review, edit, analyze. Collaborate for free with online versions of Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and OneNote. Save documents, spreadsheets, and presentations online, in OneDrive. Share them with others and work together at the same time.

Since the MAC version of MS Office does not include MS Access (there is no MAC version of Access and never has been) , we often see questions similar to:

How can I run Microsoft Access on a MAC?”

in various forums. While it is true that you can’t get Access (and other programs) for MAC, there are still ways to run them on your MAC. Let’s take a closer look at each of these.

Possible Ways to Run MS Access on a MAC

Here are a couple solutions that I am aware of:

Virtualization Software

You can install any number of virtualization software programs, such as Parallels or VMWare Fusion or Oracle VirtualBox, to create a virtual machine in which you install Windows and then MS Office/Access and or any other Windows program(s) of your choosing. This does requires buying Parallels, and owing licenses for Windows and any other program you wish to install.

Once it is setup you can run launch your Windows Virtual Machine directly from within your MAC OS.

Bootcamp

Use Apple’s free Bootcamp software which will create a separate Windows formatted partition on the hard drive to install Windows and the appropriate drivers. It will run Windows as fast or faster than a PC of equivalent specification. The only downside (aside from the cost) is that you cannot run the Mac OS and the Windows OS simultaneously. Users who wanted to use Access would have to shut down the Mac OS and reboot into Windows.

So basically you split/partition your MAC hard drive to create a spot to install Windows. So your computer end up having both OSs installed and you pick which one to run at startup.

Remote Access Software

Another interesting option is to use remote access software, programs such as:

Download Microsoft Access For Mac

• Microsoft’s Remote Desktop
• TeamViewer
• etc…

to connect to a another computer. The remote access software simply transmits the image of the other computer’s screen image directly back to your local PC. So, you are in fact working directly on the other computer.

So, if you already have access to a Windows PC or server, you can use remote access software to connect to it and run your database.

CrossOver

I recently came across a program called CrossOver which states:

Run Microsoft Windows software on your Mac without buying a Windows license, rebooting or using a virtual machine

I don’t know anything more about this product, but it sounds very interesting and may be worth further investigation. Furthermore, they offer a trial version so you can take it for a test drive.

Microsoft Query

If you simply need to access the data, but not interact with it (Add/Edit/Delete) and you have a copy of MS Office for MAC then you can use Microsoft Query to access the data via ODBC.

Office for Mac that comes with a Microsoft 365 subscription is updated on a regular basis to provide new features, security updates, and non-security updates. The following information is primarily intended for IT professionals who are deploying Office for Mac to the users in their organizations.

Microsoft Office For Mac Access

Note

• Starting with Version 16.21, Microsoft Teams will be installed by default for new installations if you're using the Office suite install package. For more information, see Microsoft Teams installations on a Mac.
• For security reason, Microsoft has deprecated the use of SHA-1. Learn more
• Starting with the 16.17 release in September 2018, this information also applies to Office 2019 for Mac, which is a version of Office for Mac that’s available as a one-time purchase from a retail store or through a volume licensing agreement.
• The update history information for version 16.16 and earlier also applies to Office 2016 for Mac, which is also a version of Office for Mac that’s available as a one-time purchase. Older versions up to and including 16.16 can be activated with an Office 2016 for Mac volume license. You can’t activate version 16.17 or later with an Office 2016 for Mac volume license. For information about Office 2016 for Mac releases from September onward, see Release notes for Office 2016 for Mac
• For information about the features, security updates, and non-security updates that are included in a given release of Office for Mac, see Release notes for Office for Mac.
• If you want early access to new releases, join the Office Insider program.

Most current packages for Office for Mac

The following table lists the most current packages for the Office suite and for the individual applications. The Office suite includes all the individual applications, such as Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. All packages are 64-bit only. The build date is listed in parentheses, in a YYMMDD format, after the version number. The install package is used if you don't have the application already installed, while the update package is used to update an existing installation.

To view release notes, see Release notes.

October 13, 2020

Version 16.42 (20101102)

Release history for Office for Mac

The following table provides release history information and download links for Office for Mac. The table is ordered by release date, with the most recent release date listed first. The build date is listed in parentheses, in a YYMMDD format, after the version number. All releases after August 22, 2016 are 64-bit only. All releases prior to August 22, 2016 are 32-bit only.

Note

Office Access Macro

Download links are only provided for the most recent releases.

Download Microsoft Office Access For Mac