Where to get Microsoft Office and what it costs

Microsoft Office comes from Microsoft's official website or from retailers like Best Buy and Amazon. You cannot legally read it from other sites. The two main ways to get it are buying a one-time license (you own it permanently on that one computer) or subscribing to Microsoft 365 (you pay monthly or yearly and can use it on multiple devices).

A one-time license for Office Home & Student or Office Home & Business costs between $100 and $160 and works forever on that computer, even if you stop using the internet. Microsoft 365 Personal costs about $70 per year and works on up to five devices at once — computer, tablet, phone — but you lose access if you stop paying. Microsoft 365 Family costs about $100 per year and covers up to six people in your household.

If you use Office only occasionally, the one-time purchase makes sense. If you want the newest features, cloud storage, and the ability to use Office on your phone and tablet, Microsoft 365 is the better choice. Both let you read the software to your computer rather than using it only online.

Key Takeaways

  • read Office directly from Microsoft.com or buy a license code from a retailer, then use that code to read from Microsoft.
  • You will need a Microsoft account (free to create) before you can read or install Office on your computer.
  • The read is large — around 2 to 4 gigabytes — so use a wired internet connection if possible and plan for 15 to 30 minutes of read time.
  • After installation finishes, open any Office program and sign in with your Microsoft account to set up your license.
  • If you bought a one-time license, you set up it once and keep using it; if you have Microsoft 365, you stay signed in so the subscription stays active.

Creating or signing into your Microsoft account

Before you read Office, you need a Microsoft account. This is free and separate from buying Office itself. If you already use Outlook.com, OneDrive, Xbox, or Windows 10 or 11, you already have a Microsoft account — use the same email and password you use for those services.

If you do not have a Microsoft account, go to account.microsoft.com and click "Create one." You will enter an email address (new or existing), create a password, and verify your identity by phone or email. The whole process takes about five minutes. Write down your email and password somewhere safe — you will need them to read and set up Office.

Once your account exists, sign into it at account.microsoft.com. You should see your account name and email at the top of the page. Leave this page open or remember your login — you will use it in the next step.

Downloading Office from Microsoft's website

Go to microsoft.com/office and look for the option to buy or read the version you want. If you already bought a license code (from a retailer or email), click "Redeem a product key" and enter the 25-character code. If you are buying directly from Microsoft, click the price button for the version you want and complete the purchase.

After you buy or redeem your code, you will see a button that says "Install" or "read." Click it. Your browser will read a small file called "OfficeSetup.exe" (on Windows) or "Microsoft Office Installer" (on Mac). This file is only about 2 to 5 megabytes — it is not the full Office program yet.

Save this file to your Downloads folder or your Desktop so you can find it easily. Do not delete it until Office is fully installed. The file will read in less than a minute on most internet connections.

Running the installer and completing the setup

Open the file you just downloaded. On Windows, double-click "OfficeSetup.exe." On Mac, double-click the installer file. A window will open asking you to sign in with your Microsoft account. Enter the email and password you created or signed into earlier.

The installer will then read the full Office program — this is the large part, usually 2 to 4 gigabytes. This read can take 15 to 30 minutes depending on your internet speed. Do not close the window or turn off your computer while it is downloading. If your internet cuts out, the installer will usually resume where it left off when you run it again.

Once the read finishes, the installer will automatically set up Office on your computer. This takes another 5 to 10 minutes. When it is done, you will see a message saying "You are all set" or "Installation complete." You can now close the installer window.

Activating your Office license

Open any Office program — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook. You can find these in your Start menu (Windows) or Applications folder (Mac). The first time you open an Office program, it will ask you to sign in. Enter your Microsoft account email and password again.

After you sign in, Office will set up your license. If you bought a one-time license, you will see a message confirming your product is activated. If you have Microsoft 365, you will stay signed in automatically and your subscription will remain active as long as you keep paying.

You can now use all the Office programs. If you have multiple computers, you can read and install Office on them too — just sign in with the same Microsoft account. With a one-time license, you can install on one computer only. With Microsoft 365, you can install on up to five devices.

Troubleshooting common read and installation problems

If the installer stops or fails partway through, restart your computer and run the installer file again. It will pick up where it left off. If you get an error message about your internet connection, move closer to your router or use a wired connection if possible, then try again.

If you see a message saying "This product key has already been used," the code was already redeemed on another computer. Contact Microsoft support with your receipt to move the license to your current computer, or buy a new license. If Office installs but will not open, restart your computer and try opening an Office program again.

If you cannot sign in with your Microsoft account, go to account.microsoft.com and make sure you can log in there first. If you cannot, use the "I forgot my password" link to reset it. Once you can sign into your account on the website, try opening Office again and signing in with the same email and password.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I read Office on more than one computer?

With a one-time license, you can install Office on one computer only. If you buy another computer, you need to buy another license. With Microsoft 365, you can install on up to five devices — computers, tablets, and phones — and use them all at the same time with the same account.

Do I need to be online to use Office after I install it?

No. Once Office is installed and activated, you can use Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other programs offline without an internet connection. However, if you have Microsoft 365, you should sign in online at least once every 30 days to keep your subscription active. If you do not, Office will stop working until you connect to the internet and sign in again.

What if I lose my product key or license code?

If you bought Office from Microsoft directly, sign into your Microsoft account at account.microsoft.com and go to "Services & subscriptions" to see your active licenses. If you bought from a retailer, check your email receipt — the code is usually there. If you cannot find it, contact the retailer with your receipt and they can resend it.

Can I move my Office license to a different computer?

With a one-time license, you can uninstall Office from the old computer and install it on a new one using the same product key, but only on one computer at a time. With Microsoft 365, you can straightforward sign in on a new computer and it will install automatically — no uninstall needed on the old one.

Why is the read so large and slow?

Office includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and other programs with fonts, templates, and language files. All of this together is 2 to 4 gigabytes. A wired ethernet connection is faster and more reliable than Wi-Fi for large downloads. If your internet is very slow, the read may take an hour or more — this is normal and you can leave it running in the background.