How to download and install LibreOffice on Mac
LibreOffice is a free office suite — Writer, Calc, Impress and more — from The Document Foundation, and it opens Word, Excel and PowerPoint files. Here is which build to download, how to install it and how to add another interface language.
LibreOffice
- macOS 11 or later
- Apple Silicon and Intel
- Free, open source
Or the installer straight from the developer’s server:
The links go to the developer’s website (libreoffice.org, download.documentfoundation.org). MacWashing is not affiliated with the developer and keeps no installers.
Open Terminal (Applications › Utilities) and run:
brew install --cask libreofficeHomebrew downloads the app from the developer’s server, checks the file and puts the app in Applications.
No Homebrew yet? How to install Homebrew: one command from brew.sh.
Which version to download
The download page offers the newest LibreOffice in separate builds for Apple Silicon and Intel. The previous version, which has had more fixes, is lower on the same page, under Configure your download. To check your chip:
- Choose Apple menu › About This Mac.
- If you see Chip with Apple M1, M2 or later, choose macOS (Apple Silicon). If you see Processor with Intel, choose macOS (Intel).
LibreOffice needs macOS 11 Big Sur or later. Download it only from libreoffice.org: the page then hands the file to a nearby mirror of The Document Foundation, which is normal.
How to install LibreOffice
- Open
LibreOffice_…_MacOS_aarch64.dmg(or…_x86-64.dmgfor Intel) in your Downloads folder. - In the window that opens, drag LibreOffice to the Applications folder. Enter your Mac password if asked.
- Eject the LibreOffice disk: click the eject button next to it in the Finder sidebar.
- Open LibreOffice from Applications and click Open when macOS asks about an app downloaded from the internet.
What to set up after the first launch
- Interface language. The Mac build comes with an English interface. For another language, download the Translated User Interface language pack for the same version and chip from the download page, quit LibreOffice, open the pack’s
.dmgand run LibreOffice Language Pack inside. Then pick the language in LibreOffice’s settings, under Language Settings › Languages. - Offline help. Help opens in the browser. For help without the internet, install the help pack from the same page.
- Java. Most of LibreOffice works without it, but LibreOffice Base needs it for some features.
- The installer. Move the
.dmgfrom Downloads to the Trash once LibreOffice runs.
If LibreOffice won’t install or open
- «LibreOffice is damaged and can’t be opened». The download was incomplete. Delete the file and download it again from
libreoffice.org. - LibreOffice won’t open on an Intel Mac. You probably took the Apple Silicon build. Download the build for Intel.
- LibreOffice won’t start on an older Mac. Check your macOS in About This Mac: LibreOffice needs macOS 11 or later.
- It crashes or keeps old settings. Remove LibreOffice completely, with its user profile, and install it again: see how to uninstall LibreOffice on Mac.
Alternatives to LibreOffice
Keep your Mac tidy
System Junk in MacWashing finds the caches apps build up over time and shows how much space they take. And if you decide to remove LibreOffice, the Uninstaller takes its files with it.
Free trial · macOS 14 or later
Questions and answers
Is LibreOffice free?
Yes. LibreOffice is free and open source, for home and business use alike. The Document Foundation asks for an optional donation on the download page.
Is LibreOffice in the Mac App Store?
Yes, The Document Foundation sells it there to fund the project. The suite is the same, but the App Store version can’t use Java-based features. The version from libreoffice.org is free.
Can LibreOffice open Word and Excel files?
Yes. Writer, Calc and Impress open and save .docx, .xlsx and .pptx files. Complex layouts may look slightly different than in Microsoft Office.