The past two updates to Word for Mac 2016 Preview have locked me into a permanent [Compatibility Mode] cycle. New documents and even old documents created prior to the updates now open in compatibility mode and I'm unable to get out of it. I prefer using the Office 2013 for Windows color palate which was included in first two update version of the Office for Mac 2016 Preview, but I'm now forced back in the old Office 2011 color palate without any way of switching back. Has anyone else encountered this issue, and have you been able to find a workaround / bandaid / permanent solution? I suspect your Normal.dotm is in the old format.

• Close all documents • Use File>Open from within Word • Open /Users//Library/Group Containers/UBF8T346G9.Office/User Content.localized/Templates.localized/Normal.dotm • Click Convert on that file. • Save and close • Exit and re-launch Word. That 'might' fix it for you. Note that Word 16 seems to copy in a new copy of your 'old' Normal.dotm from /Users//Library/Application Support/Microsoft/Office/User Templates when it installs, so you might want to re-name that file. But I would not do that yet, since I believe this mechanism is still being worked on.

Word 2010 DOCX files can be opened by Word 2007 and by Word 2003, 2002 (XP) and 2000 if the user has installed the Compatibility Pack, which has been available since late 2006, so there shouldn.

Hope this helps John McGhie, Microsoft MVP (Mac Word), Consultant Technical Writer.

How to set language option in spelling and grammar in microsoft word for mac version 15.33. The solution has 3 steps. Select part of the problem paragraph where the spell checker is not working 2. Follow some of the instructions above – ie go to the Review tab –>Language–>Set proofing language–>untick the “Do not check spelling or grammar box” –>click OK 3.