Microsoft has quietly released a free version of Office for Windows, offering the opportunity to use popular office applications without paying a fee.
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| Microsoft quietly releases ad-free version of Office for Windows |
Microsoft now offers a free version of its Office suite for Windows users, allowing them to create and edit documents in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint without a Microsoft 365 subscription or license key. This is an attractive opportunity for those who want to use popular office tools without spending a dime.
However, this free version has some notable limitations. Many advanced features in the application are locked, and ads appear frequently during use. Additionally, users can only store documents on OneDrive instead of saving directly to the computer, which can be inconvenient for those who do not want to rely on Microsoft's cloud service.
Notably, this version is currently only available on Windows operating systems and Microsoft has not made any official announcements about its release or plans to expand to other platforms. This makes many users curious about Microsoft's direction for the free version of Office in the future.
Integrating advertising into the Office suite of applications is not new, but Microsoft has only now really implemented it. The company considered the idea back in 2009, but it is only now that it has become a reality. In the free version of Office, users will constantly see advertising banners displayed on the right side of the working interface. These ads cannot be turned off unless users decide to upgrade to a paid subscription. Not only that, after a few hours of use, the application also plays 15-second video ads that, although silent, can be annoying.
In addition to being bombarded with ads, users of the free version of Office will also face another major limitation: they cannot save documents directly to their computers. Instead, Microsoft requires all files to be stored on its OneDrive cloud service. To do this, users will need to install the OneDrive app on their computers or access the web version to upload their files.
Microsoft offers 5GB of free OneDrive storage, but for those who need to store a lot of data, that can quickly become insufficient. If you want more storage or more advanced features, you’ll have to consider Microsoft’s upgrade plans. This makes the free version of Office appealing, but it comes with many strings attached that limit the experience.
In addition to ads and limited local storage, the free version of Microsoft Office also cuts back on many important features compared to the paid version. Users cannot install plugins, add watermarks to documents, or use advanced data analysis tools. Even simple operations such as formatting pages, creating WordArt, or setting up tables in Word are limited. This makes the free Office experience less flexible, especially for those who regularly need advanced features.
Not only Word, other applications in the Office suite also face the same problem. In Excel, many advanced calculation tools, custom charts or data analysis functions are not available. PowerPoint also has fewer slide effects and design tools, making creating presentations more monotonous. These limitations may not affect ordinary users too much, but for office workers or students with more professional needs, the free version is unlikely to fully meet them.
Microsoft has yet to officially announce a free ad-supported version of Office. Some reports suggest that the product may be in a limited testing phase with a small group of users before a wider release. Microsoft has not yet provided a specific timeline for the official release, and it is also unclear whether the company will continue to adjust policies or add features in the future.
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