How to install Microsoft 365 (Office) web apps using Edge and Chrome on Windows

Alongside the Microsoft 365 subscription and Office 2021, Microsoft offers a free version of the Microsoft 365 (formerly Office) apps (such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Calendar, and OneDrive), but these are web applications that you can only use with your web browser.

However, if you prefer a more classic experience, you can install these services as Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) using Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome.

Progressive Web Apps is a technology that allows websites to deliver an app-like experience to the end-user, such as the ability to work offline, notifications, automatic updates, easy installation and uninstallation, and various other features. However, it’s up to the developer to implement these functionalities.

In this guide, I will teach you the steps to install the web version of Office apps as regular desktop applications on Windows 10 as well as on Windows 11. If you have a Microsoft 365 subscription, you can install the Office apps with these instructions.

• Install Office web apps on Windows
• Uninstall Office web apps on Windows

Install Office web apps on Windows 

On Windows 11 (and 10), you can install web services as apps through Edge and Chrome.

From Microsoft Edge

To install Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook web apps, use these steps:

1. Open Microsoft Edge.

2. Open the Office web app to install, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook.

   Quick tip: If you install the web app using the start page when creating a new document, it automatically opens another window. You can use the link to a new document if you don’t want to see this bar. Then, you can always click the file menu to create a new document.

3. Click the “Settings and more” button from the top-right.

4. Select the Apps menu.

5. Click the “Install this site as an app” option.

   

6. Click the Install button.

   

7. Click the Allow button.

8. (Optional) Click the Yes button to pin the app to the Taskbar.

From Google Chrome

To install Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook web apps, use these steps:

1. Open Google Chrome.

2. Open the Office web app to install, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook.

3. Click the “Customize and control Google Chrome” (three dots) button from the top-right.

4. Select the “Save and share” menu.

5. Click the “Create a shortcut” option.

   

6. Confirm a description name for the app.

7. Check the “Open as window” option.

8. Click the Create button.

   

After you complete the steps, you may need to repeat the steps to install the remaining apps, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. After the installation, the apps will be available from the Start menu, and you’ll even be able to pin it to the taskbar.

Uninstall Office web apps on Windows

Progressive Web Apps behave like traditional apps, which means that the uninstall process is the same as removing any other app regardless of the browser you used to install them.

From Windows 11

To remove a Progressive Web App from Windows 11, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.

2. Click on Apps.

3. Click the Installed apps page. 

4. Click the menu button for the web app and click the Uninstall button.

   

5. Click the Uninstall button again.

From Windows 10

To uninstall web apps from Windows 10, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.

2. Click on Apps.

3. Click on Apps & features.

4. Select the web apps and click the Uninstall button under the “Apps & features” section.

5. Click the Uninstall button.

   

6. Click the Uninstall button again.

Once you complete the steps, the web version of the Office application will be removed from your computer.

On all supported versions of Windows, you can also remove this app from the Start menu by right-clicking the apps and choosing the “Uninstall” option. You can use these instructions to learn other ways to uninstall apps on Windows 11.