Microsoft has quietly launched free, ad-supported desktop versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for Windows users. This offering allows individuals to use the core Office apps without a subscription but comes with significant limitations and trade-offs.
Table of Contents
Ad-Supported Model
A persistent ad banner is displayed on the right side of the interface.
A 15-second muted video ad plays every few hours.
Cloud-Only Storage
Documents can only be saved to OneDrive, with no option for local file saving.
Free users are limited to 5GB of OneDrive storage.
Limited Functionality
Many advanced features are locked behind a Microsoft 365 subscription. For example:
- In Word: No access to Dictate, Line Spacing, WordArt, Draw tools, or advanced formatting options like headers and footers.
- In Excel: Missing features include Pivot Tables, Conditional Formatting, and advanced chart types.
- In PowerPoint: Lacks SmartArt, Designer, and advanced slideshow tools.
These apps are designed for basic editing tasks rather than advanced workflows.
Offline Use
Unlike the web-based Office apps, these desktop versions can be used offline for editing.
Availability
The free version is currently available only on Windows (primarily Windows 11) and appears to be in limited testing or a regional rollout.
How to Access
To use this version, users must skip the sign-in prompt when launching the Office app and select the “Continue for free” option. This activates the ad-supported mode.
Target Audience
This version is suited for light users who need basic document creation or editing but do not require advanced features. However, the limitations may push power users or those needing local file storage toward alternatives like LibreOffice or Google Docs.
This move by Microsoft reflects an attempt to balance accessibility with monetization through ads while encouraging upgrades to its premium offerings.