Microsoft Office apps now available in the Windows Store

The suite of Office desktop apps have finally arrived to the Store.

Microsoft Office in the Windows Store
Microsoft Office in the Windows Store

All the Microsoft Office apps are finally available for download from the Windows Store. And we’re not talking about the stripped-down mobile version, Microsoft is actually bringing the full desktop version of Office to the Store, including the desktop version of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, and Publisher.

This means that you’ll no longer need to use the web browser to sign in to your Office account, download, and install the apps. Now you’ll simply get them with a single click, and moving forward, apps will be updated through the Windows Store.

And Microsoft isn’t building new versions of its apps, the company is simply using its own Centennial Desktop Bridge tool to convert the existing apps to Universal Windows Platform (UWP) apps.

On Windows 10, anyone will be able to get Office apps using the Windows Store, but Microsoft is making them available now, because it just happens that Surface Laptop is also releasing today, and the new device runs Windows 10 S and only supports apps from the Store.

While you’ll be getting the full desktop version of Office, there are a few caveats. Initially, the apps are only available as a preview, and you’ll not be getting the desktop version of OneNote, but when you install the suite, you’ll get the mobile version of the app. In addition, you can only install the 32-bit version of Office, and add-ins such as COM are not supported.

Download links to the Store are not yet available. This article will be updated accordingly.

Source Microsoft

About the author

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 14 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 20 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.