The Two Ways to Get Microsoft Office

Microsoft Office comes in two forms, and which one you buy changes how you install it. Microsoft 365 (formerly called Office 365) is a subscription you pay for monthly or yearly — you read it once, and it stays current automatically. Office 2024 (or Office 2021) is a one-time purchase — you read it once, install it, and that version stays the same unless you buy an upgrade later. Both install the same way on your computer, but where you get the read link is different.

If you already own a copy or have a subscription, you will need your Microsoft account email and password to sign in during installation. If you do not have either yet, you will need to buy one first from Microsoft's website before you start these steps.

Key Takeaways

  • Microsoft 365 subscriptions and one-time Office purchases both read from your Microsoft account page, not from a disc or email link.
  • You must sign in with the Microsoft account that owns the subscription or license before the installer will work.
  • The installer downloads a small setup file first, then downloads the full Office programs while you wait — this can take 15 to 45 minutes depending on your internet speed.
  • After installation finishes, open any Office program and sign in again to set up your license and read any remaining files.
  • If installation stalls or fails, restarting your computer and trying again solves most problems.

Finding Your read Link

Go to account.microsoft.com in your web browser and sign in with the email and password for the account that owns your Office subscription or license. Once you are signed in, look for a section called "Services & subscriptions" or "Your products" — the exact name depends on which version of the Microsoft website you see, but it will be near the top of the page.

Click on that section. You will see a list of things you own. Find the one that says "Microsoft 365" or "Office 2024" (or whichever version you purchased). Next to it, you will see a button that says "Install" or "read". Click that button. Your browser will either read a file called "OfficeSetup.exe" (on Windows) or "Microsoft Office Installer.pkg" (on Mac), or it will open a new page with an "Install" button. If a new page opens, click the Install button on that page.

Installing on Windows

Once the file "OfficeSetup.exe" has finished downloading, find it in your Downloads folder. Double-click it to open it. A window will appear that says "Microsoft Office" at the top and shows a spinning circle. Do not close this window — it is downloading the actual Office programs to your computer. This can take anywhere from 15 to 45 minutes depending on how fast your internet is.

While it downloads, your computer may ask you for permission to make changes. If a window pops up asking "Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?", click "Yes". The read will continue. When it finishes, the window will close on its own, and you will see a message that says "You are all set" or "Installation complete".

Open the Start menu (the Windows logo in the bottom left corner) and type "Word" or "Excel" or whichever Office program you want to use first. Click on it to open it. A sign-in window will appear. Enter the same Microsoft account email and password you used to read Office. Click "Sign in". Office will finish setting up and open to a blank document or spreadsheet.

Installing on Mac

Once the file "Microsoft Office Installer.pkg" has finished downloading, find it in your Downloads folder and double-click it. A window titled "Microsoft Office Installer" will open. Click the "Continue" button. You will see a license agreement — read it if you want, then click "Agree" at the bottom right.

The next window will ask where you want to install Office. The default location (usually "Macintosh HD") is correct for most people. Click "Install" and enter your Mac password when prompted. The installer will now read and install the Office programs. This takes 15 to 45 minutes. When it finishes, you will see a message that says "The installation was successful".

Open Finder, go to your Applications folder, and double-click on Word, Excel, or whichever program you want to use first. A sign-in window will appear. Enter the same Microsoft account email and password you used to read Office. Click "Sign in". Office will finish setting up and open to a blank document or spreadsheet.

What to Do If Installation Stalls or Fails

If the installer window stops moving and shows a spinning circle for more than an hour, or if you see an error message, the most common fix is to restart your computer and try again. Close the installer if it is still open, restart your computer fully, then read the installer file again from your Microsoft account page and run it.

If you see an error code, write it down and search for it on Microsoft's support website along with your operating system (Windows or Mac). Most error codes have a known fix that takes a few minutes. If the installer keeps failing after a restart, you may have a network problem — try moving your computer closer to your Wi-Fi router or plugging in an ethernet cable if you have one, then try installing again.

Activating Office After Installation

After you open an Office program for the first time and sign in, it may take a few minutes to set up. You will see a message that says "Activating Office" or "Setting up your subscription". Let it finish — do not close the program. Once set up is done, you can use Office normally. All your Office programs (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and others) are now installed and ready to use.

If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, Office will check for updates automatically and install them in the background. If you have a one-time purchase like Office 2024, you can check for updates manually by opening any Office program, clicking "File" at the top left, then looking for an "Account" or "Updates" option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to restart my computer before installing Office?

No, but it does not hurt. If you have other programs open, you can close them or leave them running — the Office installer will work either way. If installation fails, restarting before you try again usually fixes the problem.

Can I install Office on more than one computer?

With Microsoft 365, yes — you can install it on up to five computers at the same time. With a one-time purchase like Office 2024, you can install it on one computer only. If you need it on a second computer, you will need to buy another license.

What if I forgot my Microsoft account password?

Go to account.microsoft.com and click "Can't access your account?" on the sign-in page. Microsoft will walk you through steps to reset your password using your phone number or a backup email address. Once you reset it, use the new password to sign in during Office installation.

Why does the installer keep asking me to sign in?

Office needs to verify that your Microsoft account owns a valid subscription or license. If you sign in and it keeps asking again, make sure you are using the exact email address and password that is connected to your Office purchase. If you are not sure which account owns your Office license, go to account.microsoft.com and check the "Services & subscriptions" section.

Can I use Office while it is installing?

No — the installer needs your computer's full attention. Let it finish completely before you try to open Word, Excel, or any other Office program. If you try to use Office before installation is done, you may see error messages or the programs may not work correctly.