How to Install Microsoft Office: Subscribe and Download

This wikiHow teaches you how to download and install Microsoft Office on your Windows or Mac computer. Microsoft Office is a suite of software that includes Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and more. This guide covers downloading Microsoft 365, Office 2024, and earlier versions, such as Office 2021, Office 2019, and Office 2016.

Quick Guide to Installing Office

As of late 2022, the Microsoft Office subscription is now part of the Microsoft 365 subscription. Subscribe at microsoft.com.
To install on Windows or Mac, go to m365.cloud.microsoft/apps, sign in, and click Install Apps.
Double-click the installer or setup file in your Downloads folder to begin the installation process.

Section 1 of 4:

Subscribing to Microsoft 365

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1
Go to microsoft.com and navigate to the Microsoft 365 page. On the Microsoft website, select Microsoft 365 in the top menu bar. This is the official product page for Microsoft 365.
- In late 2022, Microsoft Office became part of Microsoft 365. Subscribing to Microsoft 365 gives you access to the apps that were part of Microsoft Office (e.g., Word, Excel, and PowerPoint).
- There is also the option for a one-time purchase of Office Home & Business 2024, which includes the 2024 versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
2
Click See plans and pricing. This is located near the top of the page.
- By default, this will take you to the page with individual plans. If you want to see different options, click For business, For enterprise, or For education in the menu just below the See plans and pricing button.
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3
Select a plan. Click Buy Now below the plan you want to start the purchasing process for a subscription plan. There are a few options:^{[1]
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- If you’re just planning to use Office for yourself, Microsoft 356 Personal is probably the best option.
- If you want to share your license with other people in your household, opt for Microsoft 365 Family or Microsoft 365 Premium. Both allow you to share your account with up to 6 other people.
- You can also buy Office Home (or Business) 2024 for a one-time fee of $179.99. You can only install this version of Office on 1 PC or Mac.
- For all of these options (except for Office Home or Business), you can pay either monthly or yearly.
4
Sign in to your Microsoft Account. When you click Buy now, you’ll be prompted to sign in. If you don’t have an account, you can create one now for free. Then, follow the instructions to complete your purchase.

Section 2 of 4:

Installing from the Microsoft Website (PC & Mac)

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1
Go to m365.cloud.microsoft/apps. Click Sign in if you aren’t already signed in.^{[2]
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- Make sure you sign in with the account you used to buy your license!
2
Click Install Apps. This is a blue button at the top right corner of the page.
3
Select Microsoft 365 apps. It’s the option at the top of the dropdown menu.
4
Click Install. A new tab will open, and a window will pop up explaining what you are about to install. The Microsoft website should automatically detect your operating system and the type of subscription or license you purchased. Click Install to begin the download process.
- Depending on your operating system, you might see dropdowns where you can select your installation language and what version of Microsoft 365 you want to install (the default version for your system detected by the website, the 32-bit version, or the 64-bit version).
5
Launch the setup file. The next steps will vary slightly depending on whether you’re on a Windows PC or a Mac.
- Windows:
  - Open the OfficeSetup.exe file in your Downloads folder. This will open the installation wizard.
  - If you’re prompted to allow the app to make changes to your system, click Yes.
  - Follow the prompts to agree to the terms and complete the installation process. Once it’s finished, you should see a message telling you that Office is installed.
- Mac:
  - Double-click on the installer file in your Downloads folder. This will launch the installation wizard.
  - Follow the prompts to agree to the terms of the license and choose how you want to install Microsoft 365. If prompted, enter the administrator password for your Mac, then click Install Software.
  - Once the process is complete, you can find the Office apps in your Applications folder.
6
Open an Office app and follow the prompts to activate your account. Once Microsoft 365 is installed, launch any Office app (e.g., Word or Excel). If you’re on a Windows PC, you can find these apps in your Start menu. On a Mac, go to the Applications folder or search for the app you want to open in the Apps widget in your Dock.
- The first time you open an Office app, you may be prompted to accept the license agreement and/or sign into your account. Once you do this, your account should be activated automatically.
- If there’s a problem activating your account, an Activation Wizard may open. Follow the prompts to complete activation.

Section 3 of 4:

Installing from the App Store (Mac)

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1
Launch the
App Store. It’s the icon in your Dock that looks like a white A on a blue background.
2
Search for microsoft 365 and select the Microsoft 365 bundle. This search will pull up a variety of individual Office apps, plus the Microsoft 365 bundle. This bundle contains Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, OneNote, and OneDrive.
3
Click Get. When prompted, verify with your Mac’s administrator account or Touch ID. Wait for the app bundle to finish downloading.
4
Open any Office app to activate your account. You can find the downloaded apps in your Applications folder. Launch Word, Excel, or any other app from the bundle.
- The first time you launch one of these apps, you’ll be prompted to sign in with your Microsoft account. Log in with the account you used to purchase your Office 365 subscription.
- If you haven’t signed up for a subscription already, you can do so now.

Section 4 of 4:

Installing Older Versions of Office

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1
Go to account.microsoft.com. This will take you to your Microsoft account dashboard.^{[3]
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- Click Sign in to sign in if you aren’t already.
- This method will allow you to re-download older versions of Microsoft Office you’ve purchased in the past. You can no longer buy these versions of Microsoft Office older than Office 2024 directly from the Microsoft website.
2
Click Subscriptions. This is a tab on the left side of the Microsoft account dashboard page.
3
Click Install. This is located next to the version of Office you’ve purchased. Clicking Install will download the setup file to your computer.
4
Open the setup file and follow the prompts. Locate the installation or setup file you downloaded and double-click it. It should be in your computer’s Downloads folder. Follow the prompts to complete the installation process.
5
Open an Office app to activate your account. Once Office is installed, open an Office app. On a PC, you can find these apps in your Start menu. On a Mac, look for them in the Applications folder. If you’re prompted to do so, sign in with your Microsoft account or agree to the terms of the license. You might also need to activate your account using an activation wizard.

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How can I install MS Office 2007?

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For detailed instructions with images to assist you on installing Microsoft Office 2007, see the article How to Install Microsoft Office 2007.

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How do you install Microsoft Office 2010?

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You’ll need to either download the MS 2010 software (and run the installer) or obtain it via a CD disk (place in the disk drive). You'll need to enter your product key, email and account security details before you can proceed (the product key is on the packaging or should have been provided with your download). The software will then provide prompts for full installation, or follow the installation instructions outlined above in this article.

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Can I download Microsoft Word for free?

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There are various ways to get Microsoft Word for free. As a student at a school, college or university, you are often able to download Microsoft Word for free as part of your schooling package. You can also use Word Mobile for Windows devices (it has read-only limitations on anything other than a phone) and Microsoft Word for Android on a Chromebook or Android device can be downloaded for free. Or try Office Online as another option for various platforms and operating systems, and if you’re a non-profit, there is a non-profit version of Microsoft Word available for free. For more help, see How to Get Microsoft Office for Free.

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It used to be possible to purchase and install Microsoft 365 from the Microsoft Store, but this version of Microsoft 365 is no longer supported. If you bought Microsoft 365 this way in the past, it’s recommended that you update your office apps to the Click-to-Run installation type you can get from the Microsoft 365 website.^{[4]
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If you need help transferring an existing Microsoft Office to another computer, you'll find some help here: How to Transfer Microsoft Office to Another Computer.

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There are free Office apps (e.g., Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, etc.) that you can download onto a smartphone or tablet. You can also use the web app versions of Office for free.

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Warnings

Your 365 subscription will renew automatically. Make sure you cancel your subscription ahead of time if you don't want to be charged again.

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