In a surprising move, Microsoft has introduced free, ad-supported versions of its flagship desktop applications—Word, Excel, and PowerPoint—available exclusively for Windows users. While these versions retain a significant portion of functionality, they come with notable limitations and a requirement to save documents solely to OneDrive.
This development was first uncovered by Beebom, which reported that Microsoft has not publicly acknowledged the existence of these free versions or the motivations behind their release. Users can expect to encounter a persistent advertisement in a sidebar on the right side of the applications, alongside short video ads that play every few hours.
Feature Limitations
Despite their free status, the applications are not without restrictions. Each app is stripped of several advanced features that many users may rely on:
- Word: Lacks commands such as Dictate, Line spacing, WordArt, and all Draw and Design tools.
- Excel: Missing Add-in support, Pivot Table functionality, various chart types, and additional features.
- PowerPoint: Excludes Add-ins, Dictate, Screenshot, SmartArt, among others.
Although these free versions can be used offline, they represent a compromise between the Office Web Apps and the full desktop Office suite.
Historically, many users have perceived the desktop Office applications as integral to the Windows operating system, largely because they were often bundled with new PC purchases. Microsoft has further blurred these lines by including the Microsoft 365 desktop apps in the standard Windows installation image provided to most PC manufacturers.
This unexpected release raises questions about the timing, particularly as it coincides with the first-ever price increase for Microsoft 365 subscriptions aimed at consumers. Additionally, Microsoft has begun distributing AI credits to account holders, allowing them to access Copilot features at no extra cost each month.
For those interested in trying out the free desktop versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, the process is straightforward. Users can visit the Microsoft 365 website’s Download Office page to download and install the Windows version. However, the Mac version currently does not offer a similar free option, leaving some to speculate about potential future changes.
Upon installation, users should launch one of the applications and select “Skip now” on the sign-in prompt. Following that, they can choose “Continue for free” on the subsequent welcome dialog. It is important to note that agreeing to save documents to OneDrive is mandatory to access editing features; otherwise, users are prompted to purchase Microsoft 365 to edit files saved locally.
However, some users, including those in different regions, have reported inconsistencies in the installation process, with the “Skip now” option not appearing as expected. This raises the possibility of regional variations in the rollout of these free versions.
