Office on Mac - cannot connect to catalog error in Office on Mac version 16.70+

About this article

This article explains an issue identified with Microsoft Web add-in distribution method on Mac devices using Office on Mac version v16:70+. It prevents users from accessing and installing centrally distributed Web add-ins.

Technical details

Symptoms

Mac users trying to access Templafy Web add-ins in Office on Mac applications (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook) will see the yellow message "Cannot connect to catalog" under Office add-ins < Admin managed section.

Work arounds

Templafy Web add-ins can still be accessed via Office Online or alternatively via the Templafy Web App.

The current work around is to downgrade the version of Office on Mac being used to version 16.69 or lower using the below steps. 

1. Removed/uninstall the entire office install of version 16.70+, including the license tool and update tool. (https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/how-to-remove-office-license-files-on-a-mac-b032c0f6-a431...)
2. Restart device.
3. Installed an older version of Office on Mac, version 16.69 for example. (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/officeupdates/update-history-office-for-mac#release-history-for-of...)

Microsoft have been notified of the problem and continued discussions can be followed as part of the threads below. Please follow the Github (3221 and 3240) thread for updates from Microsoft.