Microsoft recently announced that it will make major adjustments to the Office suite for iPad, which has attracted the attention of many users.
Microsoft adjusts subscription strategy for Office for iPad
On November 6, 2024, Microsoft officially canceled the Microsoft 365 subscription requirement for the core editing functions of Word for iPad. This means that users can create documents on the iPad without a paid subscription, edit text without a paid subscription, make basic forms without a paid subscription, and daily operations such as printing without a paid subscription. This adjustment directly lowers the threshold for mobile office and improves the iPad's ability as a productivity tool.
However, at first glance, behind the seemingly "free" situation, the business model adopted by Microsoft has not changed that much. The purpose of opening up this time is only its related basic functions, with the purpose of trying to attract a wider group of users to use its own products, and then shaping user habits to create such a situation. However, Microsoft's actual goal has always been to promote its subscription services. For most users who use it lightly, the basic functions may be sufficient from a certain perspective, but users in the business field and students as a specific group often have more complex and diverse needs.
Which premium features still require paid subscriptions
According to the official instructions released by Microsoft, some advanced editing functions are still locked behind the 365 subscription wall. In Word, collaboration features such as tracking revisions and reviewing comments still require payment. This means that common team office scenarios such as multiple people collaborating to edit documents and view modification history cannot be achieved on the iPad free version.
In Excel, to modify the Pivot Table, which is the key function of analyzing data, this also requires a subscription. The same goes for PowerPoint's ability to check speaker notes. In addition, operations such as changing the document orientation and using advanced layouts in Word are classified into advanced functional categories. These functions are often necessary for professional users and efficient office work.
The added value of a Microsoft 365 subscription
Even if you only pay for some premium features, the Microsoft 365 subscription itself still gives other added value. Subscribers can obtain a complete license for the latest version of the Office suite on Windows PCs and Apple Mac computers, which is an advantage that independent purchasing software does not have. Subscriptions generally also include 1TB of OneDrive cloud storage space to facilitate users to synchronize files between multiple devices.
Subscribers in some markets can get 60 minutes of Skype call time each month for international calls. For family or individual users who own multiple devices and have in-depth office needs, these packaged services will make the subscription cost-effective relatively higher. The subscription model ensures that users receive ongoing security updates and feature improvements.
How to request a refund for an unnecessary subscription
If the user purchased Microsoft 365 just to be able to use the above-mentioned advanced features on the iPad, they can now apply for a refund based on the actual situation. The specific refund method is determined by the purchasing channel. If the subscription was purchased directly through the Apple App Store, the user must contact Apple's official customer service support to apply for a refund and follow Apple's refund policy.
If the subscription was purchased from non-Apple channels such as Microsoft's official website or third-party retailers, you must contact Microsoft customer service. Microsoft has set specific conditions for this. First, it must be purchased after March 27, 2024, and second, the subscription must be activated before the policy adjustment on November 6, 2024. Those users who meet these conditions can visit the support page of Microsoft's official website and follow the instructions to submit a refund request.
The future of tablet Office applications
In addition to the iPad version, Microsoft has also begun testing the preview version of the Office application for Android tablets. This situation shows that Microsoft is working hard to implement the unified strategy of "free basic functions plus subscription premium functions" to the entire mobile platform. It can be inferred in advance that in the future, when the Office application on Android tablets is officially released, its function division model will remain the same as the iPad version.
Microsoft's positioning on the mobile side is such a clear strategy, providing free access to meet light needs, and deeply binding the value of advanced productivity tools with subscription services. Faced with this move by Microsoft, the native office applications of competitors such as Google and Apple will further intensify competition in the mobile office market.
How users make choices based on their own needs
Regarding the new policies, users need to make decisions based on their actual usage situations. If you just do simple document viewing, text input and basic typesetting on the iPad, then the free basic version is enough and you don't need to purchase any subscription. This is suitable for light scenarios such as students taking notes and individual users occasionally processing files.
But if you are the kind of person who frequently uses Word to collaborate on team documents, or relies on Excel for complex data processing, or is a professional who uses PowerPoint to create sophisticated presentations, then the advanced features, multi-device synchronization and cloud storage services brought by the Microsoft 365 subscription are most likely still indispensable. Carefully evaluate your core workflow to avoid unnecessary expenses.
What do you think of the "free first, then paid" feature division strategy adopted by Microsoft this time? How big of an impact does it have on your daily use of iPad for work? You are welcome to share your thoughts in the comment area. If you think this article is helpful, please give it a like and support.
