Countless people find it difficult to break away from Microsoft Office during work. However, faced with the complicated and diverse download channels and bulky installation packages on the Internet, how to obtain genuine software in a safe and correct way has become a headache.
Why official website download is important
Software obtained from unofficial channels is often embedded with malicious programs or has hidden backdoors. These installation packages from unknown sources may secretly steal sensitive information such as your account password and document content in the background, resulting in privacy leaks and even property losses. In 2023, a security agency reported that up to 30% of pirated office software has mining or spyware attached.
Installation images released through Microsoft's official channels undergo strict security audits during the packaging and distribution process. Their URLs usually end with "microsoft.com", which is the most direct basis for determining the official website. Downloading through the official website can fundamentally eliminate the above risks and ensure that you obtain pure and untampered original software.
Choose the version that suits you
First, you must consider the operating system to choose the version. For example, if you are still using Windows 7 system, then it can only be compatible with the Office 2016 version. If you forcefully install the 2019 or 2021 version, the installation will fail. However, for users of Windows 10 or 11, they can choose the latest 2021 or the 365 version that can be subscribed on an annual basis.
Secondly, needs must be considered. Office 365 is a subscription system and requires payment based on the year. However, it can continue to obtain the latest functional content and security updates. The one-time purchase of Office 2021 Professional Plus can be implemented permanently after purchase. It is more suitable for users who pursue stability and do not need to update too frequently. Collaboration between enterprise teams will generally choose 365.
Get the official installer
For Office 365, the most direct way is to go to the official website and log in with a Microsoft account that has been subscribed. After logging in, the "Install Office" button will be clearly displayed on the personal account page. Click this button to download the exclusive online installer. The installer will automatically match your system's language and bitmap.
If you want to download offline installation packages for one-time purchase versions such as Office 2021, you can go to the official "Download Center" owned by Microsoft. Search the website for "Office 2021" and find the "Professional Plus" entry, and then the page will provide a direct download link. Although the size of the offline package is relatively large (about 4.9GB), it does not need to be connected to the Internet during installation, which will be more reliable.
Follow the installation steps
After downloading the online installer, just run it directly. The program will guide you through the remaining steps, and the entire process is basically just a matter of clicking "Next". The installation location is the C drive by default. If necessary, you can change it to another hard disk partition in the advanced settings to reserve enough space for the system disk.
If you use an offline installation package, after decompressing or loading the image file, find the "setup.exe" program and run it. You may be prompted to enter a product key during the installation process. For those 365 users who have purchased through their account, they will be automatically activated when logging in to their account, without the need to manually enter the key.
Activate your software
For those users who purchased the retail version of Office 2021, after the installation is completed, when they open any component such as Word, the software will pop up the activation wizard. Enter the 25-digit product key accurately from the box or email, and make sure the network is unblocked and there are no problems, so that you can complete the activation online. Activation related information will be bound to the hardware.
For Office 365, activation is simpler. After the installation is complete, open the software and log in using the Microsoft account used when subscribing in the account settings. After successful login, the software interface will display the subscription status as "Product Activated". The software remains activated as long as the subscription remains active.
Frequently Asked Questions and Suggestions
Installation failures are common, often due to missing or conflicting system components. It is recommended that before installation, you should temporarily turn off third-party security software, and use Windows updates to load all necessary system patches, especially the .NET Framework and Visual C++ runtime, which are the basic environment for Office to run.
In order to achieve long-term stable use, the software must be updated regularly. Office 365 will update itself. For Office 2021, you can go to "File" to "Account" and then to "Update Options" to manually check and install security updates. This will not only obtain new features, but more importantly, it can fix security vulnerabilities to protect data security.
What is the most difficult problem you have encountered when installing or activating Office? Welcome to share your experiences and solutions in the comment area. If you feel this article is helpful, please also like it to support it!
