microsoft powerpoint presentation not working

PowerPoint is Frozen? FIX it in 2 Minutes! [Step-by-Step Guide!]

By: Author Shrot Katewa

Although Microsoft PowerPoint is great when it comes to its powerful features, one of the biggest pain points is the constant crashing of the PowerPoint application. You’ll often see that PowerPoint just freezes or hangs and just refuses to work!

As annoying as it is, here’s how you could fix your PowerPoint application when it is frozen and fails to respond –

Start by closing any other application that is not being used. Ensure that you close all the tabs in a browser. If PowerPoint still doesn’t respond, then press Ctrl+Alt+Del keys on Windows (Option+Cmd+Esc on Mac), select PowerPoint in the pop-up window, and press “End Task” (“Force Quit” on Mac).

This will work in most cases. However, I’d also want you to check out some of the other ways you can fix it just to be sure what works best for you!

So, in this article, I will help you understand the nuances of how to fix PowerPoint when it is frozen, or unresponsive!

A Quick Note Before We Begin – if you want to make jaw-dropping presentations, I would recommend using one of these Presentation Designs . The best part is – it is only $16.5 a month, but you get to download and use as many presentation designs as you like! I personally use it from time-to-time, and it makes my task of making beautiful presentations really quick and easy!

How to Unfreeze PowerPoint?

First, let’s understand some basics –

There are several reasons why your PowerPoint application may freeze or hang. We’ll take a look at the detailed list of reason slightly later in the article. But, one of the most common reasons for an unresponsive PowerPoint application is – several unused software windows running in the background .

When using multiple applications, the RAM of your computer can not allocate enough space to run PowerPoint (or even other applications at the same time).

So, the best way to unfreeze a PowerPoint application is to do the following –

• Use the “ Windows Task Manager ” to identify which application is causing the issue. To open the task manager, right-click on the “Task Bar” (bottom bar on your windows screen that shows the time and icons for all applications), and from the window that pops-up, click on “Task Manager”.

In the task manager, sort the applications by clicking on “ Memory “. This will show all the processes in descending order based on the RAM usage by each application. Select the application process, and click on “End Task” to close that application if it is not required.

• If you are unsure which application is causing the issue, then you should close all your unused applications one by one. If you are unable to close them, then right-click on them in the Windows Pane on the bottom of your computer screen, and from the pop-up window, select “ End Task “. Do this for each application. You can even use the Windows Task Manager to complete the process just the way I described it in step 1.
• Furthermore, if you have several folders open, close each file folder as well one by one.
• If your PowerPoint still doesn’t respond, then you can press the “ Ctrl + Alt + Del ” keys on your keyboard at the same time, a couple of times. This will also open up the task manager. Click on PowerPoint , and then click on “ End Task “.
• This will close the PowerPoint application window and you will need to start the PowerPoint application once again.

If you do end up having to force quit the PowerPoint file by using the “End Task” process described in step 4, then PowerPoint will restore the data until the previous autosave. In order to avoid data loss, ensure that you press “Ctrl + S” every couple of minutes so that your PowerPoint file is always saved.

Lastly, if nothing works, then you will have to restart your computer in order to reset everything on your computer! Although this will inevitably fix the freezing issue on PowerPoint, it can also result in significant data loss.

The aforementioned steps will fix a vast majority of the issues responsible for PowerPoint freezing or crashing.

That said, sometimes the RAM of your computer may not necessarily be at fault, and force quitting or using the “End Task” button may not be a good option to go for. In order to understand this, let us first understand what causes a PowerPoint file to freeze?

What Causes PowerPoint To Freeze?

There are several culprits that can cause PowerPoint to freeze. Sometimes, there may be multiple reasons at play! So you really need to be cognizant of the various factors that can cause a PowerPoint file to crash.

Let’s look at the common issues responsible for PowerPoint freezing and a possible solution for each of the issues –

If the issue still persists, you can send the feedback directly to the PowerPoint team through your PowerPoint application.

The process of sending feedback varies based on the version of PowerPoint that you are using. However, this link will help you understand the steps correctly.

Sending feedback may not necessarily fix your problem immediately. However, there is a possibility that the developer team at Microsoft may be able to resolve the problem that you are facing (if it is an issue they have encountered before). Alternatively, they will add it to the list of fixes they intend to carry out in the next update (most likely).

How to Save a PowerPoint file that is Not Responding?

The fear of losing your unsaved projects when the PowerPoint software isn’t responding is quite real. To avoid such a scenario in the nearest future, ensure you activate the “Autosave” feature before working on the project.

That said, in the case where the PowerPoint software has frozen before saving the project, you can use PowerPoint’s “Auto Recovery” feature.

To access unsaved PowerPoint files, open the PowerPoint application. Click on the “File” tab and click “Open”. Next, click on the “Recent” tab. On the window that opens up, click on “Recover Unsaved Presentations” below the list to find your file.

Here’s a quick video to guide you through the process –

Once you have opened the correct unsaved PowerPoint file using the above process, make sure you save it first. To do that, simply click on “ File “, then click “ Save “. You can also just press “ Ctrl+S ” to save your file.

What to do if PowerPoint is Not Responding in Zoom?

With the majority of our meetings taking place virtually today, it is essential to have software like Zoom fully operational on your computer.

The easiest way to fix your PowerPoint when it is not responding while using Zoom is to restart your computer. Then, launch PowerPoint before you start Zoom. If the issue persists, then avoid using the Zoom app and join the meeting in your browser instead.

In case you are facing issues showing your PowerPoint presentation while using Zoom, check out our complete guide on how to give a Presentation using Zoom!

PowerPoint Crashes When Recording a Narration

If you experiencing a sudden crash after clicking “Save” when recording on PowerPoint or when you try to record the narration itself, there may be multiple issues at play. You may perhaps notice that the “Record Narration” window goes completely blank or transparent and unresponsive.

In most cases, crashing of PowerPoint when recording a narration is associated with an outdated PowerPoint application, an add-in that interferes with your application, or when there is a conflict with your antivirus. You can fix this issue by disabling add-ins in PowerPoint that cause the issue.

To disable the add-ins that may be causing the interference, go through the following steps –

• Open PowerPoint in Safe Mode. Click “Ctrl” key while opening the application.
• In PowerPoint, go to “ File “, then click “ Options “. Finally, click “ Add-Ins “
• From the dropdown, select “ COM Add-ins “, and click “ Go “
• In the new window that pop-up, uncheck all the add-in. Alternatively, click “ Unload ” to disable all the checked add-ins.
• Restart PowerPoint.

This should fix the issues related to the PowerPoint add-ins conflict.

Next, update your MicroPowerPoint application and enable the auto-update option for Microsoft PowerPoint.

How to Fix “PowerPoint Not Responding on Mac” Issue

Mac users often have to deal with PowerPoint freeze from time to time. When this occurs, the first step of resolving the issue would be to check running processes.

PowerPoint alone shouldn’t cause a Mac the slightest headache; more so a “Not responding” issue. However, having multiple programs opened could get neck-deep into the OS speed. This can be fixed by pressing Cmd + Alt + Esc on the resources. This opens the “Force Close” application menu for closing the programs abruptly.

If the issues persist, the next alternative would be checking the disk permissions of your Mac. There’s been a historical clash between disc permissions and Microsoft’s Office for Mac. Users always have settings on their Mac or PowerPoint countering one another which often results in a freeze or “Not responding” error message.

To fix this crashing issue, select the “Utilities & Disc Utility” on your Mac and highlight the drive where your PowerPoint software is installed. Pick the “First Aid Tab” and choose “Repair Disk Permissions”. However, if your computer asks permission to format the disk, make sure that you select “No”. Otherwise, this may lead to complete data loss of your computer.

More Related Topics

• How to Unlink PowerPoint Chart from Excel?
• Auto Create Your PowerPoint Slides using Design Ideas Feature!
• Main Features of PowerPoint! [I bet You DIDN’T Know These]
• How to Setup Margins in PowerPoint? An EASY Way!

Top 11 Fixes for PowerPoint Not Opening on Windows 11

Even with free alternatives like Keynote and Google Slides, Microsoft PowerPoint remains the preferred choice among consumers, marketers, and professionals. It has native apps on most platforms and valuable features like Designer to create eye-catching presentations quickly. But what if PowerPoint fails to open in the first place on Windows 11? If you frequently face the same, check the best ways to fix PowerPoint when it is not opening on Windows 11.

Table of Contents

1. Restart Microsoft Office

You should restart Microsoft Office services and try opening PowerPoint again.

1. Right-click on Windows key and open Task Manager .

2. Use the search bar at the top and type Microsoft Office .

3. Select Microsoft Office and hit the End task button in the top right corner.

2. Check If PowerPoint Is In Use By Another Process

If you attempt to perform several tasks simultaneously in PowerPoint, the app may not respond to your actions. You should let the app complete a task before attempting other actions.

3. Check Possible Issues with Add-ins

While add-ins improve your overall PowerPoint experience, they may occasionally create a conflict with the app. Here’s how you can disable irrelevant add-ins from PowerPoint.

1. Press the Windows key and type PowerPnt /Safe .

2. Hit Enter , and the system will run the command to open PowerPoint in safe mode.

3. If PowerPoint is opening with any problems, disable add-ins.

4. Select Options from the bottom left corner.

5. Open Add-ins . Click Go .

6. Select an add-in and click Remove .  

You can now restart PowerPoint and try using it again.

4. Repair Microsoft Office

If you face unusual behavior with Office apps on Windows, repair it from system settings. It’s one of the effective ways to fix PowerPoint not opening on Windows 11. Here’s what you need to do.

1. Press Windows + I keys to open Settings .

2. Click Apps from the sidebar. Open the Installed apps menu.

3. Scroll to Microsoft 365 . Click the three-dot menu beside it.

4. Open Modify .

5. Select Quick Repair and follow the on-screen instructions.

5. Online Repair Microsoft Office

If repairing Microsoft Office doesn’t resolve the issue, it’s time to reset it.

1. Open the Installed apps menu in Windows Settings (refer to the steps above).

2. Head to Microsoft 365 and open Modify .

3. Select Online Repair from the following menu and confirm your decision.

Open Microsoft 365, and the app may ask you to log in with Microsoft account details to sync files. If PowerPoint still isn’t opening, continue reading to try other tricks.  

6. Change the Default Printer

PowerPoint loads a default printer, and if you have selected the wrong printer, the app may crash on startup.

1. Open Windows Settings by pressing the Windows + I keys.

2. Select Bluetooth & devices from the sidebar.

3. Open Printers and scanners .

4. Disable the Let Windows manage my default printer toggle.

5. Select your preferred printer and hit Set as default at the top.

PowerPoint should open without any problems on your computer.

7. Unblock a File

Windows may block specific files from another computer for security purposes. PowerPoint may not open on Windows if you are trying to open such files.

1. Open File Explorer and right-click on such a file.

2. Open Properties .

3. It will open the General menu. Find Unblock under Security . Click it.

Hit Apply , and you are good to go.

8. Update Microsoft PowerPoint

You can update Microsoft PowerPoint from any Office app. Here’s how.

1. Open Microsoft OneNote or Word on your computer.

2. Select File at the top and move to your Account.

3. Expand Update Options and select Update Now .

Download and install the latest Office update to fix PowerPoint not opening on Windows 11.

9. Reinstall Microsoft Office

When none of the tricks work, it’s time to reinstall Microsoft Office on your computer.

1. Open the Installed Apps menu in Settings (check the steps above).

2. Click the more menu beside Microsoft 365 and select Uninstall .

3. Head to Microsoft 365’s official website and download the latest version.

10. Check OneDrive Status

Are you trying to open a PowerPoint presentation from your OneDrive account? If OneDrive is facing server-side issues, PowerPoint won’t open. You must head to Downdetector to confirm server-side issues and wait for Microsoft to fix the problem.

11. Try PowerPoint Web Version

Although it’s not as feature-rich as the web version, you can use the PowerPoint web version to make minor edits on the go. However, we won’t recommend PowerPoint web to create new presentations from scratch.

Create Presentations Like a Pro

You should also confirm your Microsoft Office subscription from your account. If your subscription has expired, you may face issues with editing PPT files in PowerPoint. We hope PowerPoint is not opening and working on your Windows computer.

Parth previously worked at EOTO.tech covering tech news. He is currently freelancing at TechWiser, Android Police, and GuidingTech writing about apps comparisons, tutorials, software tips and tricks, and diving deep into iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows platforms.

You may also like

How to disable automatic driver updates on windows..., 6 free tools to create a bootable usb..., 9 fixes for poor print quality on an..., is copy and paste not working on windows..., 6 fixes for windows computer restarts instead of..., you need to try these fixes when whatsapp..., 7 fixes for sd card not showing up..., how to enable snipping tool to show recent..., 6 fixes for bluetooth device connected but no..., 10 fixes for snipping tool not working on....

Are you having video or audio playback issues?

There are various reasons for video or audio playback issues in PowerPoint. This article offers some suggestions for compatibility and troubleshooting.

To avoid audio or video playback issues in PowerPoint, you can optimize media files you've inserted into your presentation for compatibility on other devices. For a list of supported file types, visit Video and audio file formats supported in PowerPoint .

Optimize media in your presentation for compatibility

When you're ready to share your presentation, do the following:

On the File tab of the Ribbon, select Info .

If the media in your presentation was inserted in a format that might have compatibility issues when played on another device, the Optimize Compatibility option will appear. If it doesn’t appear, you don’t have compatibility issues and are ready to share.

* Embedded subtitles and alternate audio tracks are removed in this optimization process.

When the Optimize Compatibility button appears, it provides a summary of resolutions of potential playback issues. It also provides a list of the number of occurrences of media in the presentation. The following are common scenarios that can cause playback issues:

If you have linked videos, Optimize for Compatibility reports that you need to embed them. Select View Links to proceed. The dialog box that opens allows you to embed the videos by selecting Break Link for each link you want to embed from a device and user with access to the linked video.

If you have videos that were inserted using an earlier version of PowerPoint, you'll need to upgrade your media file format so that these files will play. Upgrading automatically updates and embeds the files in the newest format. Once you have upgraded, you should run Optimize for Compatibility again.

To upgrade your media files from an earlier version, on the File tab, select Info , and then select Convert .

Having trouble inserting or playing media because of a codec problem?

If you are having trouble inserting or playing media, it could be that you don't have the proper codec installed. For example, someone could send you a PowerPoint presentation with media based on a codec that your PC doesn't have. The best solution is for the author of the presentation to run Optimize Compatibility before sending the file to anyone else.

When attempting to insert a video file, you might receive an error message like this if you don't have the right codec file installed:

Try one of the following to help resolve any lingering issues:

Determine which codec you need to run the media. Read What is a codec and why do I need it? to find out how Windows Media Player can help you do that. Or install a third-party tool that can examine a media file and determine which codec it needs . Then install the codec required to run the media. You can find many codecs on the fourcc.org website.

For a detailed discussion of codecs, see Windows Media Codecs .

Download a third-party media decoder and encoder filter, such as ffdshow or DivX , which will allow you to decode and encode a variety of formats.

If you created a presentation on a PC and decide to deliver it on an Apple Macintosh, use media with the .mp4 file format extension.

Having trouble synchronizing your music with your slide show?

If your slide show is longer than one song, you can add more songs. However, if you find that you are having trouble synchronizing the music with the slide show, you can use a third-party audio editing tool, such as Audacity® to string the songs together into one file so they play continuously throughout the slide show.

Still having trouble?

Contact us or ask the community for help with questions not answered here.

Tips for improving audio and video playback and compatibility in PowerPoint

Video and audio file formats supported in PowerPoint

PowerPoint videos not playing on secondary monitor

Need more help?

Want more options.

Explore subscription benefits, browse training courses, learn how to secure your device, and more.

Microsoft 365 subscription benefits

Microsoft 365 training

Microsoft security

Accessibility center

Communities help you ask and answer questions, give feedback, and hear from experts with rich knowledge.

Ask the Microsoft Community

Microsoft Tech Community

Windows Insiders

Microsoft 365 Insiders

Was this information helpful?

Thank you for your feedback.

We explain and teach technology, solve tech problems and help you make gadget buying decisions.

Top 7 Fixes for Animations Not Working in PowerPoint on Windows

Pankil is a Civil Engineer turned freelance writer. Since his arrival at Guiding Tech in 2021, he delves into the world of how-tos, and troubleshooting guides for Android, iOS, and Windows. Besides his new-found love for mechanical keyboards, he's a disciplined footfall fan and loves international travel with his wife.

The artful integration of animations can help you transform a mundane slideshow into a captivating visual treat. Microsoft PowerPoint offers a variety of animations that you can apply to text, images, and other objects to make your presentation dynamic . But what if these animations stop working in PowerPoint for Windows?

Whether animations are playing incorrectly or refuse to play at all, this guide can help. It includes a few useful tips to get PowerPoint animations working again on your Windows 10 or 11 PC.

1. Check Animation Order and Triggers

Before you try anything else, it’s a good idea to check the set animation effects and triggers in your PowerPoint presentation . Here’s how you can go about it.

Step 1: Open your PowerPoint presentation, switch to the Animations tab at the top, and select the Animation Pane option from the Advanced Animation group.

Step 2: From the Animation Pane settings, you’ll see a list of all animations on the right side. Make sure all the animations are listed in the desired order. If not, use the up and down arrows to reorder them.

Step 3: Right-click on animations to change their trigger. Then, click the Play button to check your animations.

Repeat the above steps to check the animation effects and triggers for all your slides. If the animations don’t play even after that, continue with the fixes below.

2. Check Slideshow Settings

Microsoft PowerPoint may not play any animations during slide shows if you have accidentally enabled the ‘Show without animations’ option. Here’s how to turn it off.

Step 1: Open your PowerPoint presentation, switch to the Slide Show tab, and click the Set Up Slide Show button.

Step 2: Under Show options, clear the ‘Show without animation’ checkbox. Then, click OK.

After that, press F5 to start the slideshow and check if your animations work.

3. Click the Record Button

Is PowerPoint not playing animations when you try to record your presentation ? That could happen if you scroll through your slides and haven’t clicked the Record button. Here’s what you need to do.

Step 1: Open your presentation in Microsoft PowerPoint. Switch to the Record tab and click the From Beginning or From Current Slide button.

Step 2: Click the Record button at the top. After that, PowerPoint will play and record your presentation with animations.

4. Toggle Off Hardware Acceleration

Such issues with animations can also occur if the hardware graphics acceleration feature malfunctions in PowerPoint. You can try turning this feature off momentarily to see if that fixes problems with PowerPoint animations.

Step 1: Open PowerPoint on your PC and click the File menu at the top-left corner.

Step 2: Select Options from the left sidebar.

Step 3: Select the Advanced tab. In the right pane, scroll down to the Display section and clear the checkbox that reads ‘Disable Slide Show hardware graphics acceleration.’ Then, click OK.

After completing the above steps, check if the issue is still there.

5. Open PowerPoint in Safe Mode

At times, third-party add-ins can conflict with Microsoft PowerPoint, causing the animation pane to not show up. If you suspect that to be the case, you can open PowerPoint in safe mode. For that, press the Windows + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run dialog box. Type powerpnt /safe in the Open field and press Enter.

After opening PowerPoint in safe mode, check if your animations work. If they do, it’s likely that one of your add-ins is causing the problem. To identify it, you will need to disable all add-ins and then re-enable them one by one.

Step 1: Open PowerPoint and click the File menu at the top-left corner.

Step 2: Select Options from the left pane.

Step 3: In the PowerPoint Options window, switch to the Add-ins tab. Click the drop-down menu next to Manage and select COM Add-ins. Then, click the Go button next to it.

Step 4: Uncheck all the boxes to disable your add-ins and click OK.

Restart Microsoft PowerPoint and enable your add-ins one at a time. You will need to check the animations after enabling each add-in. When you find the problematic add-in, consider removing it for good.

6. Repair Your Presentation

If animations are not working only on a specific PowerPoint presentation, you can try repairing it. To do so, use these steps:

Step 1: Open Microsoft PowerPoint and click the File menu at the top-left corner.

Step 2: Select Open from the left sidebar and click the Browse option.

Step 3: Browse and select your file. Click the downward arrow next to Open to select Open and Repair.

Wait for PowerPoint to repair your presentation and open it. After that, check if the issue still occurs.

7. Run the Office Repair Tool

If nothing works, there may be an issue with some of the core files associated with Microsoft PowerPoint . In that case, your best option is to run the Office repair tool, which can automatically find and fix issues with Office apps like PowerPoint.

Step 1: Press the Windows + R keyboard shortcut to open the Run dialog box. Type appwiz.cpl in the box and press Enter.

Step 2: Select the Microsoft Office suite and click the Change button.

Step 3: Select the Online Repair option and click Repair.

Animate Brilliance

Adding animations to your PowerPoint presentations is an effective way to keep your audience engaged. Such issues with PowerPoint shouldn’t force you to settle for a boring presentation or seek an alternative. Going through the above tips should solve the underlying issue and restore normalcy.

Was this helpful?

Last updated on 05 December, 2023

The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.

The article above may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. The content remains unbiased and authentic and will never affect our editorial integrity.

DID YOU KNOW

Pankil Shah

More in windows.

Top 12 Ways to Fix HP Printer Not Working on Windows 11

Top 3 Ways to Take Scrolling Screenshots in Windows 11

Join the newsletter.

Get Guiding Tech articles delivered to your inbox.

Teams Forum Top Contributors: EmilyS_726   ✅

May 10, 2024

Teams Forum Top Contributors:

EmilyS_726   ✅

Contribute to the Teams forum! Click  here  to learn more  💡

April 9, 2024

Contribute to the Teams forum!

Click  here  to learn more  💡

• Search the community and support articles
• Microsoft Teams
• Unknown/other
• Search Community member

Ask a new question

I don't have the Powerpoint Live option

I have a Microsoft 365 Personal account subscription and have seen a feature that I want to utilise during presentations (PowerPoint Live feature) however when I go to "Share Content" on teams I don't see the option for it (I can only share "Window" or "Screen")

• Subscribe to RSS feed

Report abuse

Reported content has been submitted​

Replies (1) 

• Independent Advisor

Hi April, Thank you for reaching out. My name is Furkaan, a user just like you. I’d be happy to help you with your concerns. There are a couple of reasons why you might not be seeing the PowerPoint Live option in Microsoft Teams even with a Microsoft 365 Personal subscription. Here's how to troubleshoot: Update Microsoft Teams: Ensure you're running the latest version of Microsoft Teams. Outdated versions might not have the most recent features. Check for updates within the Teams app itself, usually under Settings. Eligibility for PowerPoint Live: While Microsoft 365 Personal should include PowerPoint Live, there might be some variations depending on the specific plan. Double-check if your plan explicitly mentions PowerPoint Live features. You can find your plan details on your Microsoft account dashboard. Entering the Meeting: PowerPoint Live is primarily for presenting during meetings, not while sharing your screen outside of a meeting. Join a Teams meeting and then try the "Share" option to see if PowerPoint Live appears. Presenting from PowerPoint itself: An alternative way to utilise PowerPoint Live is by launching it directly from your presentation file. In PowerPoint (Windows or Mac), go to the "File" menu and select "Present in Teams." This will initiate PowerPoint Live within your Teams meeting. Additional Resource: If you're still facing issues, refer to the official Microsoft documentation on using PowerPoint Live in Teams: https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/office/share-slides-in-microsoft-teams-meetings-with-powerpoint-live-fc5a5394-2159-419c-bc59-1f64c1f4e470 If you have any additional questions or concerns please don’t hesitate to reach out. Give back to the Community. Help the next person who has this issue by indicating if this reply solved your problem. Click Yes or No below. Best Regards, Furkaan

Was this reply helpful? Yes No

Sorry this didn't help.

Great! Thanks for your feedback.

How satisfied are you with this reply?

Thanks for your feedback, it helps us improve the site.

Thanks for your feedback.

Question Info

• Norsk Bokmål
• Ελληνικά
• Русский
• עברית
• العربية
• ไทย
• 한국어
• 中文(简体)
• 中文(繁體)
• 日本語

How-To Geek

How to get microsoft office for free.

Don't want to pay for a subscription or buy the standalone version?

Quick Links

Use office online in a browser; it's free, sign up for a free one-month trial, get office free as a student or teacher, try the mobile apps on phones and small ipads, join someone's microsoft 365 home plan, free microsoft office alternatives, key takeaways.

There are a few ways to get Microsoft Office for free: You can use Office for free in your browser, you can sign up for a one-month free trial, or you may get access through your educational institution if you’re a student or teacher.

Microsoft Office normally starts at $70 per year, but there are quite a few ways to get it for free. We'll show you all the ways you can get Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other Office applications without paying a cent.

Whether you're using a Windows PC, Mac, or Chromebook, you can use Microsoft Office for free in a web browser. The web-based versions of Office are simplified and won't work offline, but they still offer a powerful editing experience. You can open and create Word, Excel, and PowerPoint documents right in your browser.

To access these free web apps, just head to Office.com and sign in with a free Microsoft account. Click an application icon—like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint—to open the web version of that application.

You can also drag and drop a file from your computer onto the Office.com page. It will be uploaded to your Microsoft account's free OneDrive storage, and you can open it in the associated application.

Office's web applications have some limitations. These applications aren't quite as full featured as the classic Office desktop applications for Windows and Mac, and you can't access them offline. But they do offer surprisingly powerful Office applications, and they're completely free.

If you just need Microsoft Office for a short period of time, you can sign up for a one-month free trial. To find this offer, head to Microsoft's Try Microsoft 365 for free website, and sign up for the trial.

You will have to provide a credit card to sign up for the trial, and it will automatically renew after the month. However, you can cancel your subscription at any time—even right after signing up—to ensure you won't get billed. You can continue using Office for the rest of your free month after canceling.

After joining the trial, you can download full versions of these Microsoft Office applications for Windows PCs and Macs. You'll also get access to the full versions of the apps on other platforms, including larger iPads.

This trial will give you full access to a Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365) Home plan. You'll get Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and 1TB of storage in OneDrive. You can share it with up to five other people. They'll each get access to the apps via their Microsoft account, and will have their own 1TB of storage for a combined 6TB of storage.

Microsoft also offers free 30-day evaluations of Microsoft 365 for Business , which is intended for businesses. You might be able to take advantage of both offers for two months of free Microsoft Office access.

Many educational institutions pay for Office 365 plans, allowing students and teachers to download the software for free.

To find out if your school participates, head to the Office 365 Education website, and enter your school email address. You'll be offered a free download if it's available to you through your school's plan.

Even if a university or college doesn't participate, it may offer Microsoft Office at a reduced cost to students and teachers through its bookstore. Check with your educational institution—or at least look on its website—for more details.

Microsoft's Office apps are free on smartphones, too. On an iPhone or Android phone, you can download the Office mobile apps to open, create, and edit documents for free.

On an iPad or Android tablet, these apps will only let you create and edit documents if you have a "device with a screen size smaller than 10.1 inches." On a larger tablet, you can install these apps to view documents, but you'll need a paid subscription to create and edit them.

In practice, this means Word, Excel, and PowerPoint offer a full experience for free on the iPad Mini and older 9.7-inch iPads. You'll need a paid subscription to get document-editing capabilities an iPad Pro or newer 10.2-inch iPads.

Microsoft 365 Home subscriptions are meant to be shared among multiple people. The $70 per year version offers Office for a single person, while the $100 per year subscription offers Office for up to six people. You'll get the full experience, with Office for Windows PCs, Macs, iPads, and other devices.

Anyone who pays for Microsoft 365 Home (formerly known as Office 365 Home) can share it with up to five other Microsoft accounts. It's very convenient: Sharing is managed through an Office "Sharing" page on Microsoft's account website. The main owner of the account can add five other Microsoft accounts, and each of those accounts will receive an invitation link.

After joining the group, each person can sign in with their own Microsoft account to download the Office apps—just as if they were paying for their own subscriptions. Each account will have a separate 1TB of OneDrive storage.

Microsoft says the subscription is meant for sharing among your "household." So, if you have a family member or even a roommate with this service, that person can add you to their subscription for free.

The Home plan is definitely the best deal if you're going to pay for Microsoft Office. If you can split a $100 per year subscription among six people, that's under $17 every year per person.

By the way, Microsoft partners with some employers to offer a discount on Office subscriptions for their employees. Check Microsoft's Home Use Program website to see if you qualify for a discount.

If you're looking for something else, consider choosing a different office application. There are completely free office suites that sport good compatibility with Microsoft Office documents, spreadsheets, and presentation files. Here are some of the best:

• LibreOffice is a free and open-source office application for Windows, Mac, Linux, and other operating systems. It's similar to the desktop versions of Microsoft Office , and it can even work with and create Office documents in common file types like DOCX documents, XLSX spreadsheets, and PPTX presentations. LibreOffice was based on OpenOffice. While OpenOffice is still around, LibreOffice has more developers and is now the more popular project. You can even make LibreOffice look like Microsoft Office .
• Apple iWork is a free collection of office applications for Mac, iPhone, and iPad users. This is Apple's competitor to Microsoft Office, and it used to be paid software before Apple made it free. Windows PC users can access a web-based version of iWork through the iCloud website, too.
• Google Docs is a capable collection of web-based office software. It stores your files in Google Drive , Google's online file storage service. Unlike Microsoft's Office web apps, you can even access Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides offline in Google Chrome.

There are many other alternatives, but these are some of the best.

If you just don't want to pay a monthly fee, you can still purchase a boxed copy of Microsoft Office. However, Office Home & Student 2021 costs $150, and you can only install it on one device.

Microsoft is slated to release a standalone version of Office 2024 , but it has not been released yet. Be sure to keep an eye out for it.

You won't get a free upgrade to the next major version of Office, either. If you're going to pay for Office, the subscription is probably the best deal —especially if you can split a paid plan with other people.