Download and install or reinstall Microsoft 365 or Office 2021 on a PC or Mac

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Before you begin, make sure your PC or Mac meets the system requirements.

If you are reinstalling Office, you have already redeemed a product key, or you are installing Office at work or school and know you have a license, then go to the section sign in to download and install Office.

However, if this is the first time you're installing Office, you may have some pre-installation steps to do first. Expand the Learn more section below for more info.


Learn more about product keys, assigned licenses, HUP, and volume license versions


Sign in to download and install Office

Sign in and install Office

  1. Go to www.office.com and if you're not already signed in, select Sign in.

    If you're using Microsoft 365 Germany, sign in with your work or school account to portal.office.de.

  2. Sign in with the account you associated with this version of Office. This account can be a Microsoft account, or work or school account. I forgot the account I use with Office

  3. After signing in, follow the steps that match the type of account you signed in with.

    You signed in with a Microsoft account
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    • From the Office home page select Install Office to start the download.

      Screenshot of Office.com home page after signing in

    You signed in with a work or school account
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    1. From the Microsoft 365 home page select Install Office (if you set a different start page, go to aka.ms/office-install).

      Notes: 

      Screenshot of Office.com if signing in with a work or school account
    2. Select Office 365 apps to begin the download.

    Note:  Don't see an install option after signing in? There could be an issue with your account. Select Need help? from above and review the issues listed in the section Account questions.

  4. Follow the instructions below to complete installing your Office apps.

Install Office

  1. Once the download has completed, open Finder, go to Downloads, and double-click Microsoft Office installer.pkg file (the name might vary slightly).

    Tip: If you see an error that says the Microsoft Office installer.pkg can't be opened because it is from an unidentified developer, wait 10 seconds and move the downloaded file to your desktop. Hold Control + click the file to launch the installer.

  2. On the first installation screen, select Continue to begin the installation process.

    First Mac 2016 installation screen with "Continue" highlighted
  3. Review the software license agreement, and then click Continue.

  4. Select Agree to agree to the terms of the software license agreement.

  5. Choose how you want to install Office and click Continue.

  6. Review the disk space requirements or change your install location, and then click Install.

    Note: If you want to only install specific Office apps and not the entire suite, click the Customize button and uncheck the programs you don't want.

  7. Enter your Mac login password, if prompted, and then click Install Software. (This is the password that you use to log in to your Mac.)

    Enter your admin password to begin installing
  8. The software begins to install. Click Close when the installation is finished. If Office installation fails, see What to try if you can't install or activate Office for Mac.

    Shows the final page of the installation process, indicating that the installation was successful.

Launch an Office for Mac app and start the activation process

  1. Click the Launchpad icon in the Dock to display all of your apps.

    Shows the Launchpad button in the Dock
  2. Click the Microsoft Word icon in the Launchpad.

    Shows the Microsoft Word icon in a partial view of the Launchpad
  3. The What's New window opens automatically when you launch Word. Click Get Started to start activating. If you need help activating Office, see Activate Office for Mac. If Office activation fails, see What to try if you can't install or activate Office for Mac.

    Start activating Word 2016 for Mac

Installation notes

Installation notes

How do I pin the Office app icons to the dock?

  1. Go to Finder > Applications and open the Office app you want.

  2. In the Dock, Control+click or right-click the app icon and choose Options > Keep in Dock.