Using Microsoft Office Web Apps (Office Online)

Microsoft offers free, web-based versions of the core Office applications — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook — that can be accessed from any browser without needing software installed on your computer. These web apps are available to anyone with a valid Microsoft account, including retirees with an Ursinus email address.

Overview/Introduction

Microsoft offers free, web-based versions of the core Office applications — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook — that can be accessed from any browser without needing software installed on your computer. These web apps are available to anyone with a valid Microsoft account, including retirees with an Ursinus email address.

Details

Microsoft offers free, web-based versions of the core Office applications — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook — that can be accessed from any browser without needing software installed on your computer. These web apps are available to anyone with a valid Microsoft account, including retirees with an Ursinus email address.

How to Access Office Web Apps

Option 1: Access via Outlook / Microsoft 365 Portal

1. Open your web browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari, etc.)
2. Go to outlook.office.com
3. Sign in with your Ursinus email address and password through Okta
4. Once in Outlook, click the grid/waffle icon (⊞) in the upper left corner
5. Select the app you want to use (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.)

💡 Tip: Bookmark outlook.office.com so you can return easily without extra steps.

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Option 2: Access Directly via Microsoft 365

1. Go to microsoft365.com
2. Sign in with your Ursinus email address and password
3. Select the app you want from the left-hand menu or the home screen

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Saving and Opening Files

• Files created in the web apps are automatically saved to your OneDrive cloud storage
• You can also upload files from your computer to OneDrive and open them in the web apps
• To upload a file:
  1. Go to onedrive.com and sign in with your Ursinus credentials
  2. Click Upload and select the file from your computer
  3. Once uploaded, click the file to open it in the web app

FAQs

Q: Do the web apps work the same as the installed versions?
A: The web apps include the most commonly used features and work well for everyday tasks. Some advanced features available in the installed desktop versions may not be available in the web versions.

Q: Do I need to pay for anything?
A: No. As long as you have an active Ursinus email account, access to the web apps is included at no cost to you.

Q: What browsers work best?
A: Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari are all supported. For the best experience, make sure your browser is up to date.

 

See Also