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How to Download and Install Microsoft Office Desktop Applications
Question details
Users attempting to install Microsoft Office are getting web app shortcuts instead of the actual desktop applications.
- Product
- Microsoft 365
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Downloading and installing the Microsoft 365 Office suite on a computer.
- Observed behavior
- Selecting the download option creates taskbar icons that open the online web applications rather than launching local desktop software.
Verify your Microsoft account subscription details to ensure your specific plan includes access to premium desktop applications, as basic and free tiers only provide access to web versions.
Verify Subscription and Install Full Desktop Suite
Confirm your subscription status and download the correct desktop installer from your Microsoft account dashboard.
If you are redirected to the web versions of Word or Excel, the installer may not have run properly, or your account may not be licensed for desktop apps. A Microsoft 365 Personal, Family, or Business Standard/Premium plan is required.
Open your web browser, navigate to www.microsoft365.com, and sign in with the account associated with your active subscription.
Click on your profile picture, select 'My Microsoft account', and navigate to the 'Services & subscriptions' tab to confirm desktop apps are included in your plan.
Return to the Microsoft 365 dashboard homepage and click the 'Install apps' button located near the top right corner of the screen.
Locate the downloaded setup file in your browser's download history or your computer's Downloads folder, double-click it, and follow the on-screen prompts to complete the desktop installation.
Launch Applications Directly from the Start Menu
Bypass the central Microsoft 365 web dashboard app by launching the individual local desktop applications directly from your operating system.
Use the Office Deployment Tool for Individual Apps
Use Microsoft's advanced deployment tool to customize your installation if you only want to install specific applications.
Get Genuine Desktop Office Apps for Free with WPS Office
If your current Microsoft 365 subscription doesn't include desktop apps, or you want to avoid complex installation tools to get a lightweight suite, switch to WPS Office. It provides fully-featured local desktop applications without forcing you into browser-based editors or expensive recurring subscriptions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why am I only getting the web versions of Word and Excel?
Your Microsoft account subscription tier may only include web and mobile versions. For instance, the 'Microsoft 365 Basic' plan does not include desktop applications. To get local software, you need a Personal, Family, or Business Standard subscription.
How do I install just one Office application instead of the whole suite?
The standard Microsoft 365 installer downloads the entire suite by default. To install individual applications, you must download the Office Deployment Tool (ODT) and configure an XML file to exclude the apps you do not want.
I installed Office but the taskbar icon opens my browser. How do I fix this?
You might be clicking the 'Microsoft 365 (Office)' dashboard app, which acts as a web portal. Search your Start menu specifically for 'Word', 'Excel', or 'PowerPoint' to open the local desktop applications, and then pin those specific icons to your taskbar.
