- ChromeOS will get Microsoft 365 integration.
- The new guided interface will make it easier for users to use Microsoft cloud services.
- The update will come later this year, and it’ll first be available as a preview.
Google is gearing up to further integrate Microsoft 365 products into ChromeOS for Chromebooks. According to the announcement, users with a Microsoft 365 subscription can already use products like the Office apps and OneDrive by installing the available Progressive Web Apps (PWAs). However, a new integration is coming later in the year to make it easier for users to install apps and access their files.
The update will introduce a new wizard that will walk users through every step to install the Microsoft 365 web apps. In addition, Google plans to update the Files app for ChromeOS to allow users easy access to their OneDrive files.
Also, when you open a file with any available Microsoft 365 apps (such as Word, Excel, or PowerPoint), the file will automatically move to OneDrive.
Google has also shared a screenshot of an early version of the guided interface (see above). Initially, the company plans to bring these changes to the Dev and Beta channels, and eventually, they will roll out to everyone.
While it’s not uncommon for Google and Microsoft to collaborate on specific projects, it is rare to see the search giant integrating cloud services from its competitor isn’t something you see every day when both companies want to dominate the corporation and education market. Perhaps, Google thinks that making it easier for users to use Microsoft 365 products on Chromebooks will keep some people from switching to Windows.
Regardless of the reason, a better integration of Microsoft 365 is coming to ChromeOS in the coming months.
Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 15 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 21 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me. Email him at [email protected].