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ZDNET's key takeaways

• Microsoft 365 requires a subscription to unlock full features.
• You can still access apps like Word and Excel for free.
• Free options include using the web version or the mobile app.

No matter what phase of your education or professional life you may find yourself in, from time to time, you'll likely still need to access Microsoft 365 (formerly known as Microsoft Office) software like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or Outlook. But if you aren't using it regularly, you probably don't want to pay the $100+ a year for a subscription. 

Luckily, there are a few ways to access Microsoft 365 apps totally free. Yes, there are caveats -- but for most people, they won't matter. 

Here are three ways to use Microsoft 365 for free.

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1. Go to Office.com (and stay connected to the internet) 

Microsoft allows free access to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint in your internet browser, so long as you sign up for a free Microsoft account. Here's how you do it: 

1. Go to Office.com. 

2. Click Sign In. If you don't have an account, click Create One. 

3. Enter your email address, and go through the verification process.

4. Enter your country, birth date, and name. 

That's it! You can now sign in and open Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive, Teams, or OneNote from the side panel. You just need to be working while connected to the internet. 

If you want to use more advanced features, including Copilot Chat, you'll need to pay for the subscription. But if you're just looking to work in a Word doc, this should be all you need. You can still create, save, and download files as needed.

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The free version comes with 5GB of OneDrive storage, but that should be plenty if you aren't using it often, or can download and then delete files as you go.

2. Download the mobile Microsoft 365 Copilot app

If you like to work from your phone during your commute or sometimes need to quickly access a document while on the go, you can use Microsoft 365 via its mobile apps for free. (It used to be called the Office app, and it's now the Microsoft 365 Copilot app.)

1. On your phone, open the App Store (on iOS) or the Google Play Store (on Android).

2. Search for Microsoft 365 Copilot. It looks like this. 

3. Hit download.

4. Sign in (you'll need a free Microsoft account, which you can create there by pushing Create).

5. The first time you sign in, you'll be prompted to upgrade to a paid account, but you can keep pushing "Try later."

6. You'll find your existing documents under "Search." You can open and view them in this app, but if you want to continue editing, you'll need to download the individual apps for Word, Excel, etc., which are also free.

3. Take advantage of the student and teacher program

 Teachers and students with an eligible school email address can get Office 365 A1 for free, and use it as long as they work at or are enrolled in a qualified school. This version includes the web-based versions of core Office apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote). 

Students who are interested in upgrading to Microsoft 365 Premium (which lets you use AI and Copilot features) can take advantage of a 12-month free trial, after which you'll get charged $20 per month if you don't cancel.