Summary
- > Versions of Microsoft Office still available
- > Download older versions of Microsoft Office
- > Can older versions of Office be downloaded for free?
Microsoft 365 is the modern version of the Office suite, but you may prefer to use an older version than what you purchased in the past. And, what if you lost the installation CD or deleted it from your computer?
In fact, nothing is easier, in this tutorial, we explain how to proceed.
Microsoft Office versions still available
As of this writing, all versions of Office from 2010 and earlier are no longer supported, which means you can't download them from Microsoft's website. Since then, however, the company has started linking Office products to your account. So it is possible to get copies of 2013, 2016, 2019 and of course Microsoft 365.
Download older versions of Microsoft Office
In order to get your old version of Office, go to the Microsoft site, sign in to your Microsoft account. This will need to be the same one you used to purchase the previous version of Office, as the product key will be attached to it.
Once logged in, click on the Services and subscriptions option, at the top right. All versions of MS Office that you have purchased in the past (2013 and later) should be listed in the main menu, along with your product key.
If not, then read our tutorial on how to find your product key.
Once you have found the correct version and have your product key, start the download process.
If you want the 64-bit version, a good idea on modern computers, or want to use Office in another language, click Other options, then select the corresponding one.
When the download is complete, double click on the file to start the installation. Just follow the on-screen instructions and you should be ready in no time.
Can older versions of Office be downloaded for free?
You can probably find sites that will let you download a free version of Microsoft Office, but you won't be able to (legally) use the product unless you write down the product key. As these sites host Office without permission, we won't recommend any of them, and you should make sure your computer is protected with a good antivirus if you go this route.
Microsoft never made Office available as a completely free product, so expect to pay if you want to access its features.
The good news is that you can get a great free alternative that is compatible with Microsoft Office document formats, like LibreOffice which is a complete office suite, with alternatives to Word, Excel, Powerpoint, and Moreover.
For use from a web browser without downloading anything, consider Google applications.
