Installing Microsoft Office 365 Applications on your Personal computer

This page contains instructions on installing Microsoft Office Desktop Applications from Office 365 onto your computer.

How to Install: College Owned Computers

How to Install: Personally Owned Computers

This download and install process will work best on the personal macOS or Windows computer when using a broadband connection to the Internet.

People may install Office applications on up to 5 machines.

1. In any Web browser on any platform, login with your Carleton-Microsoft account at portal.office.com, then in the upper right look for the "Install Office" button or link with its down arrow:
2. By default, "Office 365 apps" will install the English, 64-bit version if your computer can use it. To control this, choose "Other install options" to get choices:
3. (When a previous version of Office is also available, it will be offered here.)
4. Once installed, the Office license is automatically activated when you login with your Carleton-Microsoft account. Once activated, this computer will be listed on the "My installs" page in Office 365 Admin in Office Online. Since your installations are limited to 5 computers, from there you can deactivate an old computer installation to allow for a new installation. 
5. Activation can also affect how the applications behave. If you cannot edit, create, or save a document, check that you are logged in with your Carleton-Microsoft account, on the File menu in the application, under the Account setting.
6. Once installed and activated, you can add a language for free using these instructions. under the "Newer versions" choice.

Note: When you look at your installed version of Office 365, it will say that it is Office 2019 even if it came from Office 365. Some Office 365 options are only available from the online interface (such as PowerPoint Designer).

Emeriti Note

Microsoft has changed its licensing structure, and Emeriti licenses no longer allow you to download the desktop versions of MS Office applications. Instead, please access the online version of Office 365. Here is our guide on Office 365 Online (link opens in a new tab).

Need Help?

Please contact the ITS Helpdesk for assistance: go.carleton.edu/helpdesk or 507-222-5999