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Winsage

March 27, 2025

Microsoft: New Windows scheduled task will launch Office apps faster

Microsoft is launching a feature called "Startup Boost" for its Office applications, scheduled for rollout in mid-May. This feature aims to improve loading times by introducing a background task that activates upon user logon, integrated into the Windows Task Scheduler. Users will see new tasks labeled Office Startup Boost and Office Startup Boost Logon in their task scheduler. The feature requires a minimum of 8 GB of RAM and 5 GB of free disk space and will deactivate when Energy Saver mode is activated. Users can disable Startup Boost through the Office app settings, but it will reactivate with each new Office update. Additionally, Microsoft is testing ad-supported versions of its Office desktop applications.

Winsage

March 1, 2025

Microsoft killed Skype, confirmed AI in Call of Duty, helped people pirate Windows 11, and began testing Office with ads — ALL IN A SINGLE WEEK

Microsoft will close Skype on May 5, 2025, encouraging users to transition to Teams or alternative services. Activision has confirmed the use of AI-generated content in Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 and Warzone. Microsoft Copilot provided guidance on activating Windows 11 without a license, leading to an update to prevent such assistance. Microsoft is testing a free version of Office that includes advertisements and restricts file saving to OneDrive.

Winsage

February 28, 2025

Microsoft tests free Word, PowerPoint and Excel apps for Windows — expect a lot of ads

Microsoft is testing a free, ad-supported version of its Office desktop applications, allowing users to access tools like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint without a subscription or one-time purchase fee. This version will require documents to be stored on OneDrive, as local file saving will not be available. It will also lack advanced features such as add-ins, sophisticated formatting options, and dictation capabilities, focusing instead on basic writing and editing tasks. Microsoft has confirmed that there are currently no plans for a public launch of this free version, despite the ongoing limited testing.

Winsage

February 26, 2025

Thank Goodness, That Free Ad-Supported Version of Microsoft Office Was Just a Test

Microsoft has rolled out a free, ad-supported version of its Office app, which includes basic versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, but this is part of a limited testing phase with no plans for an official launch of a free version of its desktop Office applications. The free app is only available on Windows PCs and includes basic features, with more advanced functionalities requiring a paid upgrade. Users will see persistent ads and must save files to a OneDrive account before downloading them elsewhere.

Winsage

February 25, 2025

Microsoft is testing a free desktop version of Office – but there’s a catch

Microsoft is testing a free, ad-supported desktop edition of Office, available exclusively on Windows. This version includes Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, but features persistent banner ads and muted video ads every few hours. Users face limitations such as restricted access to advanced features and the inability to save documents locally, as files must be stored on OneDrive with a maximum of 5GB for free users. The testing phase is limited, with access granted to a select group, and there are currently no plans for an official launch. Users can try the version by downloading it from the official Office website and following specific installation steps.

Winsage

February 25, 2025

Microsoft is testing free Office for Windows apps with ads

The free desktop versions of Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint are currently being tested in India, featuring advertisements and limitations compared to the paid Microsoft 365 subscription. This ad-supported version includes persistent banner ads and 15-second video ads, and requires users to store documents exclusively in OneDrive, disabling local file storage. The free version lacks several features found in the paid versions: Word does not include drawing and design tools or line spacing options; Excel does not support add-ins, pivot tables, or macros; and PowerPoint is missing dictation and custom slide shows. Microsoft has stated that there are no plans to launch a free, ad-supported version of the desktop apps, despite the current testing phase.

Winsage

February 25, 2025

Microsoft quietly launches free, ad-supported version of Office apps for Windows with limited functionality

Microsoft has introduced a new version of Microsoft Office for Windows that allows users to edit documents without a Microsoft 365 subscription or an Office license key. This free version includes persistent advertisements and limited functionality, supporting only file saving to OneDrive and excluding local file editing. Users can access it by bypassing the sign-in prompt, but features such as add-ins, dictation, advanced formatting, designer tools, and smart art are not available. The free version is currently undergoing limited testing, with reports of difficulties in bypassing the sign-in prompt, indicating possible region-specific tests or A/B trials. Microsoft has not officially announced this version or provided details in its support documentation.

Winsage

February 25, 2025

Microsoft tests ad-supported Office apps for Windows users

Microsoft has introduced ad-supported versions of its Office desktop applications, allowing Windows users to edit documents without a subscription. These applications will display advertisements in a vertical panel on the right side of the window and include prompts encouraging users to subscribe to Microsoft 365 to remove ads. Users must download and install Microsoft 365 to access these applications, and they can choose to skip the sign-in process for free access. However, a subscription is required to save documents edited with these applications directly to local drives. The ad-supported versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint have limited functionality compared to the full versions. Reports suggest that the availability of these applications may be part of a regional test, as some outlets could not replicate the findings. Additionally, Microsoft has a history of integrating ads into its products, including in the Windows 11 Start menu and Windows File Explorer.

Winsage

February 25, 2025

Microsoft’s ad-supported version of Office only saves to OneDrive

Microsoft has introduced a free, ad-supported version of the Microsoft Office suite for Windows 11 users, marking a shift from its previous paid-only model. This version includes essential applications like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint but features persistent ads and muted video ads. Over 30 key features have been removed, including line spacing, text wrapping, headers, footers, bookmarks, and hyphenation. Users of Windows 10 still encounter the traditional paid model. The free version may appeal to those needing compatibility with existing Microsoft Office workflows, but the limitations could drive users to alternatives like LibreOffice or Google Drive.

Winsage

February 24, 2025

Microsoft now lets you use Office apps on Windows for free but with ads and some limits

Microsoft has adjusted the pricing of its Microsoft 365 subscription due to enhanced AI features, leading to user backlash. In response, Microsoft is allowing Windows users to access Office applications for free without a paid license. Users can skip the Microsoft Account sign-in prompt and continue for free, but files can only be saved to OneDrive, and advertisements will appear unless users subscribe to Microsoft 365. The free versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint have limitations, including the absence of certain features like dictation, add-ins, and advanced formatting tools. This offering is currently being trialed with a select group of users and specific regions, and some users have reported issues accessing the feature.