Re: Ms Office Free Download 2017
Sofie Kovalcheck
How to Download MS Office for Free in 2017
MS Office is one of the most popular and widely used productivity suites in the world. It includes applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and more. Whether you need to create documents, spreadsheets, presentations, emails, notes, or anything else, MS Office can help you get the job done.
However, MS Office is not cheap. Depending on the version and plan you choose, it can cost you anywhere from $70 to $150 per year or more. That's why many people look for ways to get MS Office for free or at a lower price.
Fortunately, there are some options to download MS Office for free in 2017. In this article, we will show you four ways to get MS Office without paying a dime. We will also discuss the pros and cons of each option, and answer some frequently asked questions about MS Office.
Option 1: Use Office Online in a Browser
One of the easiest ways to use MS Office for free is to use Office Online in your web browser. This is a web-based version of MS Office that lets you open and create Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and other files online. You can also access your files from any device using OneDrive, Microsoft's cloud storage service.
To use Office Online, all you need is a free Microsoft account. You can sign up with your existing email address or create a new one. Then, go to Office.com and sign in with your account. You will see icons for different applications that you can click to launch them in your browser. You can also drag and drop files from your computer onto the page to upload them to OneDrive and open them online.
Office Online has some advantages over the desktop version of MS Office. For example:
- It's free and doesn't require any installation or activation.
- It's always up-to-date with the latest features and security updates.
- It's compatible with any device and browser that supports HTML5.
- It allows you to collaborate with others in real-time using co-authoring and commenting features.
However, Office Online also has some limitations that you should be aware of. For example:
- It doesn't have all the features and functions of the desktop version. Some advanced options may be missing or simplified.
- It requires an internet connection to work. You can't use it offline or save it to your local drive.
- It may not support some file formats or features that are specific to the desktop version.
- It may not be as fast or stable as the desktop version, depending on your internet speed and browser performance.
Office Online is a good option if you need to use MS Office occasionally or for basic tasks. It's also a great way to collaborate with others online. However, if you need more features and functionality, you may want to consider other options.
Option 2: Sign Up for a Free One-Month Trial
Another way to get MS Office for free is to sign up for a free one-month trial of Microsoft 365. Microsoft 365 is a subscription service that gives you access to the latest version of MS Office, plus other benefits such as 1 TB of OneDrive storage, Skype minutes, and premium security features.
To sign up for a free trial, you need a valid credit card and a Microsoft account. You can choose from different plans depending on your needs and preferences. For example, you can choose Microsoft 365 Personal for one user, Microsoft 365 Family for up to six users, or Microsoft 365 Business for small businesses.
Once you sign up, you can download and install MS Office on your computer and use it for one month without any restrictions. You can also use Office Online and the mobile apps on your devices. You can cancel the trial at any time before it ends and you won't be charged anything.
The advantages of using the free trial are:
- You get to use the full-featured and up-to-date version of MS Office for one month.
- You get access to other benefits such as OneDrive, Skype, and security features.
- You can use MS Office on multiple devices and platforms.
The disadvantages of using the free trial are:
- You need a credit card and a Microsoft account to sign up.
- You have to remember to cancel the trial before it ends or you will be charged automatically.
- You can only use the trial once per account and device.
The free trial is a good option if you want to try out MS Office before buying it or if you need it for a short-term project. However, if you want to use MS Office for longer than a month or more than once, you may want to look for other options.
Option 3: Get Microsoft Office 365 Education Free if You're a Student or a Teacher
If you're a student or a teacher, you may be eligible to get Microsoft Office 365 Education for free. This is a special version of Microsoft 365 that includes MS Office, plus other tools and services for education, such as Microsoft Teams, OneNote Class Notebook, and Flipgrid.
To get Microsoft Office 365 Education for free, you need to have a valid school email address that ends with .edu or .ac. You can check your eligibility and sign up at Microsoft's website. You will also need to create or use an existing Microsoft account.
Once you sign up, you can download and install MS Office on your computer and use it for as long as you're enrolled or employed at a qualifying school. You can also use Office Online and the mobile apps on your devices. You can use MS Office on up to five devices at the same time.
The benefits of using Microsoft Office 365 Education are:
- You get to use MS Office and other educational tools and services for free.
- You get access to the latest version and updates of MS Office.
- You can collaborate and communicate with your classmates and teachers using Microsoft Teams and other features.
The drawbacks of using Microsoft Office 365 Education are:
- You need to have a valid school email address and a Microsoft account to sign up.
- You may not be able to use some features or applications that are not included in the education plan.
- You may lose access to MS Office if you graduate or leave your school.
Microsoft Office 365 Education is a great option if you're a student or a teacher who wants to use MS Office for free. However, if you're not eligible or you want to use MS Office for other purposes, you may want to consider other options.
Option 4: Use a Product Key from a Previous Purchase or a Third-Party Source
The last option to get MS Office for free is to use a product key from a previous purchase or a third-party source. A product key is a 25-digit code that you can use to activate and download MS Office on your computer. You can find the product key on the packaging or the receipt of your purchase, or you can buy it from a third-party seller online.
To use a product key, you need to go to Microsoft's website and enter the code. You will then be able to download and install MS Office on your computer. You can also sign in with your Microsoft account to access your files and settings online.
Using a product key has some advantages over other options. For example:
- You can use MS Office without paying any subscription fees or recurring charges.
- You can choose the version and edition of MS Office that you want.
- You can use MS Office offline and save your files to your local drive.
However, using a product key also has some disadvantages that you should be aware of. For example:
- You may not be able to use the latest version or updates of MS Office.
- You may not be able to use some features or applications that are exclusive to Microsoft 365.
- You may not be able to use MS Office on multiple devices or platforms.
- You may encounter some issues or risks with the product key, such as expiration, invalidation, duplication, or fraud.
Using a product key is a good option if you have already bought MS Office in the past or if you can find a reliable and cheap source to buy one. However, if you want to use the most recent and secure version of MS Office, you may want to consider other options.
Conclusion
In this article, we have shown you four ways to download MS Office for free in 2017. Each option has its own benefits and drawbacks, so you need to weigh them carefully and choose the one that suits your needs and preferences best. Here are some recommendations based on different scenarios:
- If you need to use MS Office occasionally or for basic tasks, you can use Office Online in your browser for free.
- If you want to try out MS Office before buying it or if you need it for a short-term project, you can sign up for a free one-month trial of Microsoft 365.
- If you're a student or a teacher who wants to use MS Office for free, you can get Microsoft Office 365 Education for free if you're eligible.
- If you have already bought MS Office in the past or if you can find a reliable and cheap source to buy a product key, you can use a product key to download MS Office.
We hope this article has helped you find the best way to get MS Office for free in 2017. If you want to learn more about MS Office and its features, you can visit Microsoft's website for more information and resources. Thank you for reading!
FAQs
Q1: Is it legal to download MS Office for free?
A1: It depends on how you download it. If you use one of the official options that we have mentioned in this article, such as Office Online, the free trial, or the education plan, then it is legal and safe to download MS Office for free. However, if you use an unofficial or unauthorized option, such as downloading a cracked or pirated version of MS Office from an unknown source, then it is illegal and risky to download MS Office for free. You may violate Microsoft's terms of service, expose your computer to viruses or malware, or face legal consequences.
Q2: What is the difference between MS Office and Microsoft 365?
A2: MS Office is the name of the productivity suite that includes applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and more. Microsoft 365 is the name of the subscription service that gives you access to the latest version of MS Office, plus other benefits such as OneDrive storage, Skype minutes, and premium security features. You can buy MS Office as a one-time purchase or as part of Microsoft 365 as a recurring subscription.
Q3: How can I update MS Office to the latest version?
A3: If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you can update MS Office to the latest version automatically or manually. To update it automatically, you need to enable automatic updates in your Windows settings or your Microsoft account settings. To update it manually, you need to go to Microsoft's website and download and install the latest version of MS Office. If you have a one-time purchase of MS Office, you can only update it to the latest version of the same edition that you have. For example, if you have MS Office 2016, you can only update it to the latest version of MS Office 2016, not MS Office 2019 or Microsoft 365.
Q4: Can I use MS Office on multiple devices?
A4: It depends on how you get MS Office. If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you can use MS Office on multiple devices and platforms, depending on your plan. For example, if you have Microsoft 365 Personal, you can use MS Office on one PC or Mac, one tablet, and one smartphone. If you have Microsoft 365 Family, you can use MS Office on up to six devices per user. If you have a one-time purchase of MS Office, you can only use MS Office on one device per license. For example, if you buy MS Office Home and Student 2019, you can only use it on one PC or Mac.
Q5: How can I get help and support for MS Office?
A5: If you need help and support for MS Office, you can visit Microsoft's website for various resources and options. You can find answers to common questions, tutorials, tips, troubleshooting guides, and more. You can also contact Microsoft's customer service or technical support team by phone, chat, or email. You can also join the Microsoft community forum and ask questions or share feedback with other users and experts.
886882fa58