<p>The purpose of this paper is to investigate the influence mechanism and boundary conditions of digital transformation on successful aging at work (SAW). Grounded in the cognitive appraisal theory of stress and the socioemotional selectivity theory, we propose a cross-level moderated mediation model. We conducted an empirical investigation using a three-wave time-lagged survey design with three-month intervals. The data were collected from 218 employees aged 45 and above working in five enterprises from the manufacturing, insurance, and telecommunications sectors, encompassing state-owned, private, and joint-venture ownership types. We tested the hypothesized model using Mplus 8.0. The findings indicated that occupational future time perspective (OFTP) moderates the relationship between digital transformation and the cognitive appraisal of older employees. Specifically, older employees with an open-ended OFTP tend to appraise digital transformation as a challenge, whereas those with a limited OFTP tend to appraise it as a threat. Challenge appraisal positively influences SAW, while threat appraisal negatively influences it. Bootstrapping results further revealed that the interaction between an open-ended OFTP and digital transformation positively influences SAW through the mediating effect of challenge appraisal. Conversely, the interaction between a limited OFTP and digital transformation negatively influences SAW through the mediating effect of threat appraisal. These findings offer important theoretical insights into the fields of ageing, digital transformation, and cognitive appraisal. Moreover, they provide an empirical foundation for capacity building, optimizing organizational practices, and policymaking regarding active ageing at work and beyond.</p>