Office 365 comes with a subscription license for Microsoft Office Desktop Software

Users are able to download and install the latest version of Microsoft Office through the Office 365 portal on their personal and home computers or mobile devices such as tablets or smartphones. This desktop version of Microsoft Office is activated using a subscription license that is tied to your University of Guelph Office 365 account. This subscription license is provided to all users for no charge as long as they are affiliated with the university. Unfortunately, when you leave university and your account is locked or deleted, you will no longer be able to continue using this version of Microsoft Office and your ability to use the desktop software will be reduced. In order to continue using the desktop Microsoft Office software after you no longer have a valid subscription through the University, you will need to purchase a personal Office 365 subscription from Microsoft with a separate Microsoft account - not your U of G Gryphmail account. There are five downloads allowed per PC, Mac and mobile device. That's right! 15 downloads!

Before downloading O365, please check the following to avoid common installation issues. 

1. Please make sure your device's Operating System is up-to-date to ensure better program compatibility. 
   For Windows devices, please use this guide to check for Windows updates: Get the latest Windows update
   For Mac devices, please use this guide to check for macOS updates: Update macOS on Mac
2. Please uninstall any existing versions of the Microsoft Office Suite or standalone Microsoft Office programs that are also included in the Office Suite (i.e. individual copies of Word, Excel, Teams, OneDrive, etc.) your device may already have installed. This is to avoid conflictions with the university-provided Office Suite installation. Make sure to restart your machine after uninstalling any software. 
   For Windows devices, please use this guide to uninstall any copies of the Office Suite: Uninstall Office from a PC
   For Windows devices, please use this guide to uninstall any standalone copies of Microsoft Office apps included in the Office Suite: Uninstall or remove apps and programs
   For Mac devices, please use this guide to uninstall any copies of the Office Suite and standalone copies of Microsoft Office apps: Uninstall Office for Mac
    

How to Install Microsoft Office Desktop Applications

For instructions on how to install Office, please have a look at our How to Install Office video for guidance or follow the step-by-step guide below. 

1. If you're not already there, open up the Outlook Web App in your web browser by going to https://mail.uoguelph.ca. This will direct you to a Single Sign-On page where you log in with your Central Login ID and password. If you're already logged in, you will go directly to the Outlook Web App.
2. In the Outlook Web app, click on the waffle icon in the top left corner of your window. 
   

3. In the new menu that appears, click Microsoft 365.   
    

4. This will take you to the University of Guelph's Office 365 Portal. Click "Install and more" located in the top right, then click "Install Microsoft 365 apps" from the drop-down menu that appears.
   
5. This will take you to the installation page with different options. Click on "Install office".                  
6. You can find the "OfficeSetup.exe" installer file in your browser's default download folder (i.e. in Downloads).
    Alternatively, if a window pops up, please follow the directions on it.
   

• If you're using Chrome, go to the downloads icon in the top right corner of the page, click on "OfficeSetup.exe" to open.
  
  
  
   
• In Microsoft Edge, find the Downloads option from the Three-dots icon in the top right corner, click on "Open File" on the .exe installer.
   
• If asked to allow the app to make changes, choose "Yes". Let Office setup begin.
   
• On a Mac, open Microsoft_365_and_Office_16.84.24041420_BusinessPro_Installer.pkg.