I’m sure there’s still one thing you can’t use on Chromebooks: installing Windows or Mac software directly on them. That’s a big hurdle for people considering switching from a traditional Windows laptop or MacBook to a Chromebook. Especially if you want or need to use Microsoft Office, as the desktop version cannot be installed on Chromebooks.
Also, while Chromebooks have access to the Google Play Store and can run millions of Android apps, Chromebooks no longer support Android versions of Microsoft Office, Outlook, OneNote, and OneDrive. However, when Chromebooks stopped supporting Android apps, another option—and, in my opinion, a better one—replaced them. You can find Microsoft Office 365 PWAs including Outlook and OneDrive that work well on Chromebooks. Find and install them here so you can still use Office on your Chromebook.
Sign in to Office 365
Open a Chrome browser and go to Office.com, the landing page for Microsoft Office 365 Online. You can use any personal email you want for your account, and setting it up is a simple process: enter your email, set a password, verify your email, and prove you’re not a robot.
Install Office 365 PWAs
After you sign in to Office 365 in Chrome, the installation icon will appear in the upper right corner of the address bar. It looks like a computer monitor with a down arrow. Click on it and it will pop up a prompt to install Office 365. Also, if you only want one application, like Word or Outlook, the same installation options will appear in the address bar when you point your browser to a specific application. Installation is quick and takes only a few moments; a window opens that looks exactly like the online version of Office 365. It’s essentially a browser window, but with the functionality of the Microsoft Office mobile app.
ready to work
Because PWAs behave like installed software, you can do things like pin them to the taskbar, get notifications, work offline, and easily resize. The rest of the experience is the same as using the web version. Now, if you’re missing the look, feel, and tools of desktop software after using PWAs, you still can’t install them directly on your Chromebook. However, you have other options for running Windows software on your Chromebook.
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