A step-by-step guide to downloading and installing Microsoft Office on a Windows PC or Mac computer.
What to Know
- As of late 2022, the Office subscription became part of the Microsoft 365 subscription.
- To install Office on Mac or Windows, navigate to https://www.office.com, sign in, and select the Install Apps button.
- To begin installation on Windows, double-click the Office setup (.exe) file.
- Double-click the Office setup (.pkg) file on a Mac to launch the installation wizard. Follow the on-screen instructions to install Office.
Microsoft Office is a software suite that includes Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and more.
This article explains how to install Microsoft 365, Office 2021, Office 2019, and Office 2016 on a PC or Mac computer.
How to Install Microsoft Office
After purchasing Microsoft Office, you must download and activate the product. Detailed instructions are included in the product packaging if you bought a key card at a retail store or ordered the Office software online from a site like Amazon.
If you order directly from Microsoft, you will receive an email with the link. The receipt includes a link to the “Install Office.”
Install Microsoft Office on Windows
To install Office on a PC, follow the steps.
1. Go to setup.office.com to Install Office.
Open a browser on your Windows PC, type https://setup.office.com in the address bar, and press enter on your keyboard. That is the official webpage to set up and install Office.
2. Sign In with your Microsoft Account or Create a New One.
Sign In with your existing Microsoft Account that you want to associate with your Office subscription. However, if you do not have an Account, click Create a New Account and enter your email address & password to create a new Microsoft Account.
3. Enter your Office Product Key (or activation code).
Enter your 25-character product key (or activation code) that comes with the Office physical package or in an email receipt in XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX-XXXXX format. If prompted, select your Country/Region and language from the drop-down box.
4. On the Office Product Page, Click Install Office.
Once your product key/code is added to your Office account page, Click Install Office. It is a blue button on the right side of the page.
5. Click the blue Install Office button again.
Click the Install Office button on the newly opened tab under the text “Install Office on all your devices.”
6. Review your Options, Click Install to Download Office Setup.
A pop-up window will appear with the Version and Language of the Office installation file you are about to download.
7. Download and Run the Office Installation File.
Depending on your browser, Save and run the downloaded installation file. Your download will start, and once the download is complete, Select Run and complete the installation process.
8. Accept Prompts to Begin the Installation Process.
If you get a prompt asking whether you want the setup to make changes to your device, click Yes to run the setup file and begin the installation. Click Yes, if any other prompt asks to allow the installation.
9. The installation will now begin and Finish.
Once the installation begins, the process will finish downloading and installing Office on your device, depending on your internet speed. It may take a while to Install Office.
10. Installation Complete, Click Close, and Open Office Apps.
Once the installation completes, you will see a message saying, “You’re all set! The Office is installed now”. Select Close below the message and Run Office Apps. An animation showing where to locate Office apps on your device will play.
Install Microsoft Office on Mac
Here’s how to install Microsoft Office on Mac with product key:
1. Go to setup.office.com.
Open a browser on your Mac, enter https://setup.office.com into the address bar, and hit return. It will open a page to set up and Install Office.
2. Enter your Product Key/Code.
Enter your 25-character Office product key or code in (xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx) format and hit Next.
3. Click Install >.
Select the blue Install button right next to your Office subscription.
4. Click Install Office again. Select Install Office.
Your Office setup file will begin downloading.
5. Open Finder.
It is a blue, face-shaped app on the left-bottom side of your Mac’s Dock.
6. Click Downloads.
Click downloads on the left side of the Finder window.
7. Double-click the Office setup file.
Double-click the downloaded Office setup file, and it will start running.
8. Click Continue twice.
A new window will pop up; click Continue twice on the bottom-right corner of the page. Do this once on the first page of the Office setup and then again on the second page.
9. Click Agree.
Click Agree on the drop-down pop-up. It indicates that you have read and agree to Microsoft’s terms of service.
10. Click Continue.
Click Continue in the bottom-right corner of the new page.
11. Click Install.
Click the blue Install button in the bottom-right corner of the page.
12. Enter your Mac’s password.
If prompted, enter the password you use to log into your Mac.
13. Click Install Software.
Click Install Software in the lower-right corner of the password entry window. It will start installing Office on your computer. The installation process may take some time. Wait for the installation to complete.
14. Click Close when prompted.
The installation was successful. Click close in the bottom-right corner.
Note: You might see a prompt to install Office updates. Allow those updates to install to keep your Office product up to date.
RELATED: How to Activate Microsoft Office on Windows PC or Mac
Note: To reinstall Microsoft Office, go to My Office Account. Select the blue Install Office button if you don’t already have the installation setup file on your computer. Then, follow the steps outlined above to complete the installation. If you have the Office Setup file, run it to start the installation process again.
RELATED: How to Reinstall Microsoft Office
The web address setup.office.com allows you to set up and install the Microsoft Office application program on your Windows PC or a Mac Computer through any web browser.
Visit www.office.com in your browser and sign in. On the Office homepage, click Install Apps. Click on the downloaded setup file and Run/Save it. Wait for Office apps to install. Once done, click Close and activate the software.
If you want to redownload Microsoft Office on Mac, go to www.office.com and sign in with the Microsoft account you have previously used to install Office. Click Install to download the Microsoft Office installer.pkg file and double-click on it. Follow the on-screen steps to redownload/reinstall Microsoft Office.
If you’ve already purchased Microsoft Office and redeemed a product key, installation can take between 20-30 minutes. Otherwise, installing Office can take up to 1 hour, depending upon the speed of your internet.
