Classic Outlook for Windows on a Mac, with COM add-ins
Many companies run Outlook with COM or VSTO add-ins: CRM integrations, mail archiving, document management and ticketing. Those add-ins only load in classic Outlook for Windows. CrossDriver App runs it on your Mac.
Every Pro feature is free during the preview, until December 31, 2026
Outlook for Windows on a Mac today
Outlook for Mac supports only web add-ins; COM and VSTO add-ins built for Windows can't load there, and many business integrations exist only in that form.
What you get with the Windows version
Classic Outlook for Windows with your mail, calendar and contacts
COM and VSTO add-ins installed with their own Windows installers
Sits in the Dock and switches with ⌘Tab like any Mac app
Versions with a ready-made setup
Pick one in the Setup Center of CrossDriver App. It creates its own environment, installs the components the app needs and runs the official installer; you bring the installer and your license.
Microsoft Office 2016 (retail key) Experimental
Office 2016 retail, Click-to-Run Version 2002 (16.0.12527.22286, x64)
Download Office 2016 from Microsoft and activate it with your own Office 2016 retail product key (Home & Student, Home & Business, Professional and others).
What you need Bring your own Office 2016 retail product key. You enter it in Office and Office activates online with Microsoft; CrossDriver never activates or bypasses activation.
Good to know
Office 2016 activates through Office's own licensing service (OSPP), which runs on Windows 7; that is why this container reports Windows 7. Office 2019, 2021 and 2024 keys can't be used here.
On first launch Office asks for your product key. If the key is for a different edition (for example Home & Student), Office downloads that edition from Microsoft and restarts; keep the Mac online.
Updates stay off: this is the last Office build Microsoft still serves for Windows 7.
PowerPoint needs Office's own riched20.dll; the compatibility layer already sets this for POWERPNT.EXE.
If an app failed to start once, the next start asks about safe mode; answer No.
.NET Framework 4.8 and the IE11 engine are downloaded from Microsoft and generated on this Mac; you confirm Microsoft's license terms once for each.
Only Microsoft's own setup program is run. Don't use third-party activation tools that come with downloaded packages: CrossDriver supports only Microsoft's own activation.
Microsoft Office Professional Plus 2016 (volume license) Experimental
2016 Professional Plus, volume license MSI (16.0.4266.1001, x64)
Install Office Professional Plus 2016 from your organization's volume license (VLSC) media and activate it with your MAK or KMS.
What you need Bring your organization's volume license. You enter the MAK in Office (or Office finds your KMS host) and Office activates with Microsoft or your KMS; CrossDriver never activates or bypasses activation.
Good to know
Office 2016 activates through Office's own licensing service (OSPP), which runs on Windows 7; that is why this container reports Windows 7.
MAK: open any app, File > Account > Change Product Key, enter your MAK, then let Office activate online.
PowerPoint needs Office's own riched20.dll; the compatibility layer already sets this for POWERPNT.EXE.
If an app failed to start once, the next start asks about safe mode; answer No.
.NET Framework 4.8 and the IE11 engine are downloaded from Microsoft and generated on this Mac; you confirm Microsoft's license terms once for each.
Only Microsoft's own setup program is run. Don't use third-party activation tools that come with downloaded packages: CrossDriver supports only Microsoft's own activation.
Microsoft 365 Apps (online install, latest) Experimental
Microsoft 365 Apps, Current Channel, latest build (online installer, x64, zh-CN)
Install the latest Microsoft 365 Apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook and more) with Microsoft's own online installer. Office downloads itself from Microsoft during setup.
Needs a Microsoft 365 subscription; sign-in support is limited
Microsoft 365 apps are licensed by signing in, not by product key. On CrossDriver, work or school accounts can sign in; personal Microsoft accounts cannot sign in yet. Whether Office then shows as licensed has not been verified yet.
Alternatives
Native Office for Mac: retail Office 2021/2024 (Home & Student, Home & Business …) installs on a Mac with the same license; organizations can get Office LTSC Standard for Mac 2024
What you need Needs your own Microsoft 365 subscription: sign in inside Office to activate. CrossDriver never activates Office for you.
Good to know
Setup downloads about 3–4 GB from Microsoft; on a slow connection this takes hours. Keep the Mac awake and CrossDriver open until the setup step finishes.
Until you sign in with a Microsoft 365 account that has an Office license, Office runs unlicensed (title bar says so).
On first launch Office shows Microsoft's privacy notice; click Next once.
Excel and PowerPoint need Office's own riched20.dll; the compatibility layer already sets this for EXCEL.EXE and POWERPNT.EXE.
If an app failed to start once, the next start asks about safe mode; answer No.
.NET Framework 4.8 and the IE11 engine are downloaded from Microsoft and generated on this Mac; you confirm Microsoft's license terms once for each.
Microsoft Outlook LTSC 2024 Experimental
Outlook LTSC 2024 volume (Click-to-Run, x64, zh-CN)
Classic Outlook for Windows with COM / VSTO add-in support (enterprise mail integrations that only exist on Windows). Installed offline from volume media downloaded with the Office Deployment Tool.
Installs, but cannot be activated: read-only use
Office 2019, 2021 and 2024 can only be activated through Windows' own licensing service (SPP), which CrossDriver cannot provide. After installing, Office keeps showing "Unlicensed Product" and runs in reduced functionality mode: you can open, view and print documents, but not create or edit them. CrossDriver does not provide or support any third-party activation tool.
Alternatives
Have an Office 2016 retail key: the "Office 2016 (retail key)" plan, activates normally
Have an Office 2016 volume license (MAK/KMS): the "Professional Plus 2016 (volume license)" plan
Native Office for Mac: retail Office 2021/2024 (Home & Student, Home & Business …) installs on a Mac with the same license; organizations can get Office LTSC Standard for Mac 2024
What you need Bring your own volume license. CrossDriver never activates Office for you.
Good to know
Outlook stays unlicensed (title bar says so) until you activate it with your own volume license.
First launch: click through Microsoft's privacy notice (three pages), then add your mail account (Exchange / Microsoft 365, IMAP or POP).
Outlook COM / VSTO add-ins: install the add-in's own installer into this container (drag it onto the container). .NET Framework 4.8 and the VSTO runtime that Office ships are already in place.
If Outlook failed to start once, the next start asks about safe mode; answer No (safe mode does not load add-ins).
The labels are the ones the App shows. Experimental: works in our tests but not yet verified end to end on every Mac. Known issues: works, with the limits listed.
How to run Outlook for Windows on your Mac
Download CrossDriver AppDrag it into Applications like any other Mac app. The preview includes every Pro feature for free, and the free edition needs no account.
Drag in the installerOr pick an app in the Setup Center. CrossDriver App gets the runtimes, fonts and settings it needs ready for you.
Open it like a Mac appDouble-click and go. Add it to Applications, and from then on open it from Launchpad or Spotlight.
Questions about Outlook for Windows on a Mac
Which Outlook versions can I use?
Outlook from Office 2016 (Home & Business, Professional or Professional Plus) activates with your own key. Microsoft 365 Outlook works with a work or school account; personal Microsoft accounts can't sign in yet. Outlook 2021 and 2024 install but can't be activated.
Will my add-in work?
Install it with its own Windows installer, as on a PC. Try it with the free edition first; if it doesn't work, send us its name from the home page.
Try Outlook for Windows on your Mac
Every Pro feature is free during the preview, until December 31, 2026
