To download Word from Microsoft 365, you need an active subscription and must sign in to the Microsoft account associated with it. This process installs the full desktop version of Word on your PC or Mac, giving you offline access and advanced features not available in the free browser version. If you need the standalone suite instead, you can download office 2013 with a one-time purchase.
Before you download word from Microsoft 365
Microsoft 365 offers two versions of Word: the free Word for the web, which runs in your browser with limited features, and the desktop app, which you install on your computer. A Microsoft 365 subscription is required to download and install the desktop version of Word. Before proceeding, ensure your system meets the requirements: for Windows, you need Windows 10 or 11, a 1.6 GHz 2-core processor, 4 GB RAM, and 4 GB of available disk space. For Mac, you need one of the three most recent versions of macOS, an Intel or Apple Silicon processor, 4 GB RAM, and 10 GB of available disk space. Microsoft 365 subscriptions generally allow installation on up to 5 PCs or Macs, 5 tablets, and 5 mobile devices per user. Internet access is required for the initial download, activation, and periodic connection to keep your Microsoft 365 apps activated.
Step 1: Sign in to your Microsoft account
To download Word, you must sign in to your Microsoft account associated with your Microsoft 365 subscription. Navigate to the Microsoft 365 login page and enter the email address and password for the account tied to your subscription. If you have multiple accounts, choose the one with the active subscription. After signing in, you will be taken to your account dashboard.
Step 2: Go to the Microsoft 365 apps page
Navigate to the Microsoft 365 Apps page at m365.cloud.microsoft/apps or your "My account" page. On the "My account" page, locate the "Office apps & devices" section. This is where you manage installations for your subscription.
Step 3: Select 'Install apps' to download the installer
Select "Install Office" or "Install apps" to begin the download. An installer file, typically named OfficeSetup.exe for Windows or Microsoft_Office.pkg for Mac, will download to your device. The download time depends on your internet speed.
Step 4: Run the installer and allow changes
Once the download is complete, open the installer file to start the installation process. On Windows, when prompted with "Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?", select "Yes" to proceed. The installation may take several minutes, depending on your internet speed and system.
Step 5: Launch Word and activate your license
After installation, Word and other Microsoft 365 applications will appear in your Start menu (Windows) or Launchpad (Mac). Find Word there and open the application. To activate Word, open the application and accept the license agreement, ensuring you are signed in with your Microsoft 365 account. Enter your credentials when prompted and sign in again to complete activation.
Troubleshooting: Are you using the web version?
If new documents open in browser tabs, it indicates you are using the web version; switch to the installed desktop app for a full-featured experience. Word for the web is a free, browser-based version that does not require installation but offers fewer features than the desktop application. To ensure you are using the installed app, launch Word directly from your Start menu or Launchpad rather than opening documents from a browser.
