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How to Fix Limited Features in Word and Excel Opened from OneDrive
Question details
The user wants to understand why their Word and Excel documents opened from OneDrive lack certain features like Read Aloud, and how to access the complete set of editing tools.
- Product
- Microsoft Word and Excel
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Opening and editing documents stored in Microsoft OneDrive or SharePoint.
- Observed behavior
- Documents default to opening in the web versions of Word or Excel, which provide significantly fewer features compared to the desktop Microsoft 365 applications.
Ensure you have the desktop versions of Microsoft Word or Excel installed on your computer and are signed in with an active Microsoft 365 subscription to utilize advanced tools.
Open the Document in the Desktop Application
Switch from the web version to the desktop application to access missing functionality like Read Aloud or Immersive Reader.
The free online versions of Word and Excel are designed for basic editing and collaboration. To use advanced tools, you must explicitly tell the browser to launch the full desktop application installed on your Windows or macOS device.
While viewing your document in Word or Excel for the web, click on the 'Editing' dropdown menu located in the top ribbon, then select 'Open in Desktop App'.
Navigate to your OneDrive file list in the browser, right-click the document you want to edit, and choose 'Open in Word' or 'Open in Excel'.
Configure SharePoint to Open in Desktop Apps by Default
For organizations using SharePoint, administrators can change library settings so documents automatically open in the desktop app instead of the web browser.
Experience Full Features Without Subscription Limits Using WPS Office
Tired of dealing with limited features in web versions of Word and Excel? WPS Office provides a fully-featured, lightweight desktop suite that is completely free. Enjoy advanced editing tools, built-in cloud integration, and perfect compatibility with Microsoft Office formats without needing an expensive subscription.
- 1. Install the software: Download and install WPS Office from the official website to your computer.
- 2. Open your files: Launch WPS Office and click 'Open' to select your local or cloud-synced Microsoft Office files.
- 3. Edit without limitations: Enjoy full-featured editing instantly without experiencing the common feature limitations found in browser-based office tools.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why doesn't the free online version of Word have the Read Aloud feature?
The web-based versions of Microsoft Word and Excel are designed to be lightweight and accessible from any browser. Consequently, they offer a streamlined set of features and do not include advanced offline tools like Read Aloud or Immersive Reader, which require the processing power of the full desktop application.
Can I make my personal OneDrive files open in the desktop app by default?
For personal OneDrive accounts accessed via a web browser, files default to opening in Word or Excel for the web. To open them in the desktop app, you must manually select 'Open in Desktop App' from the web interface, or open the files directly from your computer using the local OneDrive sync folder.
Does this web limitation affect both Windows and macOS users?
Yes, opening files directly from the OneDrive web interface will launch the web versions of Word or Excel regardless of whether you are using Windows or macOS. You must explicitly choose to open them in the desktop app to access full features on either operating system.
