'%3e%3cpath%20d='M8%200C12.4183%200%2016%203.58172%2016%208C16%2012.4183%2012.4183%2016%208%2016C3.58172%2016%200%2012.4183%200%208C0%203.58172%203.58172%200%208%200ZM11.6162%204.38379C11.2257%203.99337%2010.5927%203.99338%2010.2021%204.38379L8%206.58594L5.79785%204.38379C5.40732%203.99334%204.77429%203.99329%204.38379%204.38379C3.99331%204.77429%203.99335%205.40733%204.38379%205.79785L6.58594%208L4.38379%2010.2021C3.99348%2010.5927%203.99341%2011.2257%204.38379%2011.6162C4.77426%2012.0066%205.40734%2012.0065%205.79785%2011.6162L8%209.41406L10.2021%2011.6162C10.5927%2012.0066%2011.2257%2012.0067%2011.6162%2011.6162C12.0067%2011.2257%2012.0066%2010.5927%2011.6162%2010.2021L9.41406%208L11.6162%205.79785C12.0066%205.40735%2012.0066%204.77429%2011.6162%204.38379Z'%20fill='%23080E17'%20fill-opacity='0.46'/%3e%3c/g%3e%3cdefs%3e%3cclipPath%20id='clip0_3761_713'%3e%3crect%20width='16'%20height='16'%20fill='white'/%3e%3c/clipPath%3e%3c/defs%3e%3c/svg%3e)
Fix Microsoft 365 Desktop Apps Missing on Surface Laptop
Question details
The user is unable to find local Microsoft 365 desktop applications on their device; clicking links only launches the web-based versions.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- Surface Laptop
- Scenario
- Trying to open or install local desktop versions of Word, PowerPoint, and Excel on a Surface laptop.
- Observed behavior
- Desktop apps are missing from the system. When attempting to open files or apps from the Microsoft 365 dashboard, only the web versions launch in a browser.
Ensure you have the login credentials for the Microsoft account associated with your personal, work, or school Microsoft 365 subscription.
Verify Subscription and Reinstall Desktop Apps
Check your account to ensure your subscription includes desktop installation rights, then download the Office installer directly from Microsoft.
The Microsoft 365 application currently installed on your Surface Laptop might just be the Office dashboard, which is designed to provide quick access to web applications and cloud files. To get the actual desktop apps, you need a subscription plan that explicitly includes desktop installation rights.
For a personal subscription, go to account.microsoft.com/services. If you are using a school or work account, sign in at portal.office.com.
Look at your active subscriptions. Ensure your specific plan mentions 'Premium Desktop Apps' or 'The latest desktop version of Office'.
Click the 'Install Office' or 'Install premium apps' button on your account dashboard to download the setup file to your Surface Laptop.
Locate the downloaded setup file in your Downloads folder and double-click it. Follow the on-screen prompts to install Word, Excel, and PowerPoint locally.
Once the installation is complete, search for Word in your Windows Start menu, open the application, and sign in with your subscribed Microsoft account to activate it.
Use WPS Office as a Free Desktop Alternative on Surface
If your current Microsoft 365 plan only includes web apps or you are looking for a powerful local installation without subscription fees, WPS Office is the perfect solution. It offers a complete suite of locally installed desktop applications that run seamlessly on your Surface laptop.
- 1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click on the 'Download WPS Office Free' button.
- 2. Install on your Surface: Open the downloaded setup file and follow the quick installation prompts to install the desktop apps.
- 3. Open existing files: Launch WPS Office and directly open your existing Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint files to continue your work offline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Microsoft 365 only open in a web browser?
This happens when you only have the Microsoft 365 dashboard app installed, or if your specific subscription tier (such as a basic student or enterprise plan) only grants access to the web-based versions of the applications.
How do I know if my Microsoft 365 subscription includes desktop apps?
Sign in to your Microsoft account at account.microsoft.com/services or your organization's Office portal. If your plan includes desktop apps, you will see a prominent 'Install Office' or 'Install apps' button on your dashboard.
Can I install Microsoft 365 desktop apps on any Surface device?
Yes, as long as your Surface device is running a full version of Windows (and not Windows 10/11 in S Mode, which restricts app installations to the Microsoft Store) and your subscription includes desktop installation rights.
