That page now says, "The Android versions of Office, Outlook, OneNote and OneDrive are not currently supported on a Chromebook." The newly updated page advises Chromebook users to go to to access Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and OneDrive.
Tofel noted that as reported by Windows United, some Chromebook users had heard about Microsoft's plan to move them to the Web versions of its apps dating back to June this year.Īround August 13, Microsoft updated its Support page on "How to install and run Microsoft Office on a Chromebook" to reflect the coming change.
Chromebook users will either need to sign in with their personal Microsoft Account (MSA) or an account associated with a Microsoft 365/Office 365 subscription to use the web-based apps. This is just a Chrome OS limitation being imposed by Microsoft, as noted by Kevin Tofel on the site on August 25. Microsoft will continue to offer native Office apps for other Android platforms beyond this date. Instead, Microsoft will be advising those users to use its web-based and apps starting September 18.
But, you do have other options to run Windows software on a Chromebook.Starting in September, Microsoft will no longer support its native Android Office apps on Chromebooks. Now, if after using the PWAs you're missing the look, feel and tools of the desktop software, well, you still can't install them directly on the Chromebook. The rest of the experience is the same as using the web versions.
Since the PWA behaves like installed software, you can do things like pin it to the taskbar, get notifications, work offline and easily resize it. It is essentially a browser window but with the features of Microsoft Office mobile apps. The install happens fast and in a matter of moments a window will open that looks exactly like the online version of Office 365. Also, if you only want a single app like Word or Outlook, the same install option in the address bar will appear when you point the browser to the specific apps. Click on it and it will pop open a prompt to install Office 365. It looks like a computer monitor with a downward pointing arrow. Once you're signed in to Office 365 in Chrome, an Install icon will appear at the top right of the address bar. When this Install icon pops up in your address bar, click on it and follow the prompts. You can use any personal email you want for the account, and setting it up is a straightforward process: put in your email, set up a password, verify your email, and prove you're not a robot. If you don't have an Office account, you'll need to create one. If you already have an Office 365 account, just sign as you normally would.
Open the Chrome browser and go to, which is the landing page for Microsoft Office 365 online. Here's where to find them and install them so you can still use Office on a Chromebook. You can find Microsoft Office 365 PWAs including Outlook and OneDrive, and they work great on Chromebooks. They give you an app-like experience but with more features like offline use, the option to pin them to the taskbar, support for push notifications and updates and access to hardware features. Progressive web apps are like app versions of a website.
However, when the Android apps stopped being supported on Chromebooks, another option - and in my opinion, a better one - took their place. Also, although Chromebooks have access to the Google Play Store and can run millions of Android apps, the Android versions of Microsoft Office, Outlook, OneNote and OneDrive are no longer supported on Chromebooks. That includes the Microsoft Office desktop versions. But even after the Chromebook's long evolution, it still doesn't allow you to directly install Windows or Mac software. For people who use their laptop primarily for browsing, the Chromebook has been a solid budget option for over a decade, progressing from so-so to excellent in recent years.