OpenOffice
Apache OpenOffice is a desktop office suite for creating documents, spreadsheets, presentations, drawings, and databases on macOS.
What is OpenOffice?
Apache OpenOffice is a productivity suite for everyday document work on macOS. It helps users write text documents, build spreadsheets, create presentations, draw diagrams, and work with simple databases in one desktop package. The suite includes familiar components such as Writer, Calc, Impress, Draw, and Base, making it useful for home users, students, and small offices that want a traditional office workflow. It can open and save common office file types and also export files to PDF for sharing. Apache OpenOffice is distributed by the Apache Software Foundation and is available for macOS as a downloadable desktop application rather than a Mac App Store app.
Key features
- Create and edit word processing documents with Writer
- Build spreadsheets with formulas, charts, and data tables in Calc
- Design slide presentations with layouts, graphics, and speaker content in Impress
- Make diagrams, illustrations, and simple page layouts with Draw
- Work with database files and forms using Base
- Open and save common office document formats
- Export documents directly to PDF for sharing
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Safety overview
Status: Use with caution
Apache OpenOffice is legitimate office software, but macOS users should be cautious because the project's own release information and current support pages focus on older macOS versions, and widely reported unresolved security issues have persisted in recent years. If you use it, download only from the official OpenOffice site, keep sensitive documents backed up, and avoid using it for files that require the strongest current compatibility or security protections.
Recommendation: Keep OpenOffice if you actively use it for local document work and it still fits your files and workflow. If you no longer use it, removing it is reasonable and will mainly affect your ability to open or edit documents with this suite. If you need stronger current macOS support, ongoing security maintenance, or better compatibility with modern office documents, consider switching to a more actively maintained office app.
Common paths
/Applications/OpenOffice.app
Support paths
~/Library/Application Support/OpenOffice
Preference paths
~/Library/Preferences/org.openoffice.script.plist
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