Welcome to the free version of the Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote desktop apps for Windows. These apps are available in select markets to individuals who don't have an existing Microsoft 365 subscription, excluding Microsoft 365 Basic subscriptions, or a non-subscription version of Microsoft 365, such as Office Home & Student.
Note
- The free desktop versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote are currently available in a select number of countries.
- In order to save your files to OneDrive, you must be signed in and of the age of majority in your respective country.
- Your Microsoft account can’t already be associated with an existing Microsoft 365 subscription or non-subscription version of Office, such as Office Home & Student.
What’s included
With the free version of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote desktop apps for Window, you can edit, create, and share documents, spreadsheets, and presentations using basic editing tools.
To get access to all editing tools, and to remove ads, you will need to purchase a Microsoft 365 subscription.
| Free desktop version | Paid Microsoft 365 subscription | |
|---|---|---|
| Read, create, and edit file | Available | Available |
| Save files to OneDrive to access anywhere | Available | Available |
| Available on mobile, web, PC, and mac | Available | Available |
| Access to premium features | Not supported | Available |
| Ad-free application | Not supported | Available |
Go ad-free
The free desktop versions are supported by advertising and have limited functionality. Advertisements are displayed in a side panel when a document, spreadsheet, or presentation is open. Document editing will also be paused periodically for a video advertisement break.
You can use the free web versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint without advertisements. Or, you can buy a Microsoft 365 subscription and get all of the benefits from a premium subscription.
FAQ
What data is being used for advertising?
Microsoft respects your privacy. No user information, document content, or document metadata is used for advertising, targeting purposes, or to train AI models.
No user information, document content, or document metadata is shared with third parties for advertising or targeting purposes.
Ads shown in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are randomly selected from a pool of content localized to the currently selected display language.
If you would like an ad-free experience, buy Microsoft 365 Personal or Family to enjoy premium features.
Do I need to sign in?
Yes, you must sign in to a Microsoft account to edit and save files in the free desktop version.
How do I access this version of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote?
Currently, these versions are available only in select markets. To determine if you are eligible:
1. Update your Office build to >= 16.0.17830.20104 or latest version.
2. Make sure you are connected to the internet
3. Reboot the Desktop Word, Excel, PowerPoint or OneNote app to see the Welcome dialog to enter
Do I have access to all my files?
Yes, all existing files are accessible in the free desktop version. A file must be uploaded to OneDrive to edit. If the file is saved locally on your computer, the file will open in read-only mode. Files saved to OneDrive can be accessed in your browser or on your desktop.
Which features do I have access to?
The free desktop version gives access to basic features that enable light editing and access to existing documents. Features may differ across apps and feature availability may change without notice.
You'll have access to collaboration, sharing, and accessibility features.
Do I need to have an internet connection to use this version of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote?
You can temporarily use Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote without internet connection. Changes will be saved and sync to OneDrive the next time this apps are connected to the internet. You'll continue to see advertisements even when not connected to the internet.
Feedback
Help us improve our products by providing feedback to an engineer.