These licenses can only be used with Office apps downloaded directly from Microsoft. One-time Office licenses (also known as perpetual), such as Office 2019 Home & Business, Office 2019 Home & Student, and Volume License are not compatible with Office apps downloaded from the Mac App Store. You can activate an existing Office 365 subscription, or use the in-app purchase option to start a new subscription. To send and receive email, Outlook requires an Office 365 subscription. When downloaded from the Mac App Store, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint require an Office 365 subscription to create and edit documents. Microsoft Office apps from the Mac App Store will require an active Office 365 subscription to unlock full functionality, similar to Office apps on iOS. Office apps have long been available on the Mac, but not through the Mac App Store despite Office apps on iOS through the iPhone and iPad App Store. The company has published a new support document detailing how to activate Microsoft Office when downloaded from the Mac App Store.
But Microsoft has also signaled that its Office apps are landing on the Mac App Store any moment now.