I'm currently using a MacBook and I'm finding the Microsoft Word version on macOS quite different from what I'm used to on Windows. The menu bar is at the top and the layout really throws me off. Is there any method to get the standard Windows-style version of Word on macOS, or are there any tweaks or tools I can use to make it function like the Windows version? I'd appreciate any tips or suggestions to help me out!
6 Answers
One option is to set up a virtual machine using software like Parallels or VMware. You can install the Windows version of Microsoft Office there and it can work pretty seamlessly on your Mac.
Honestly, the current versions of Office for Mac have pretty good feature parity with the Windows versions. If you're really keen on having it act more like Windows, using Parallels or VMWare Fusion could help, or you might want to try the Web App version of Word instead.
If all else fails, just get a Windows laptop. I had a Mac once and found that the Office apps felt like a version behind their Windows counterparts.
Why not just try adapting to the Mac version? Learning new layouts can be frustrating at first, but it could save you a lot of hassle. Every Mac app has that top menu, so it’s pretty standard.
I've spent years using both types of systems and I have to say, stick with the Office suite for Mac. Outlook for Mac is actually better than its Windows counterpart, and you'll get used to the layout changes soon enough. Just keep in mind that VBA functions differently on Mac, but all the main features are still there!
If you’re on an Intel Mac, using Parallels is a solid choice to run Windows. But just a heads up, you'd need to buy licenses for Parallels, Windows, and Microsoft Word, so it's a bit pricey. For Apple Silicon Macs, the performance isn't great, although there's an ARM version of Windows that works better. I'd suggest trying to get comfortable with the Mac version instead; everything else in macOS uses the menu bar at the top!

Yeah, and adapting can save you money too! It might be a more efficient way to work in the long run.