The Chromebook had humble beginnings, but it’s safe to say it’s come a long way since then. However, despite its many improvements, you still cannot download and install Windows or Mac software. This is a significant hurdle for Windows or MacBook users considering switching to a Chromebook, especially if Microsoft Office is an integral part of their duties since the Chromebook does not support these apps.
Additionally, while Chromebooks can access the Google Play Store and are capable of running a long list of Android apps, these devices cannot run the Android versions of OneDrive, Microsoft Office, OneNote, and Outlook because they are not supported. However, all hope is not lost as users might find another, if not a better way to use Office apps on the Chromebook.
The workaround for this situation is to use Progressive Web Apps. What are they, exactly? PWAs work like app versions of a website i.e. they give users a similar experience to using the app but they have more features like support offline, push notifications, etc. Outlook and OneDrive have PWA versions and work great on Chromebooks. If you’re dying to use Microsoft Office apps on your Chromebook, here’s what you need to do:
Sign in to your Office 365 account
Launch the Chrome browser on your Chromebook and head to Office.com, the official landing page for Office 365 online. If you don’t have an account yet, you must register first. You can use any valid email of your choice, and the registration process is quick and easy. If you already have one, go ahead and log in to your account as usual.
Install the PWA
As soon as you successfully log in to your account, you should see a small icon in your browser’s address bar, giving you the option to install. The icon looks like a computer screen, but it has an arrow pointing down. Click on this icon and a prompt will appear to confirm if you want to install Office 365. If you are only looking to install specific apps, you can do that too.
Installation is quick and easy, and you don’t have to wait hours for it to be completed. You’ll know you’re on the right track when you see a window appear that looks exactly like Office 365 Online. The PWA is basically a browser window, but it contains all the functionality you need from Microsoft Office.
Although it is not precisely installed software, the PWA acts as such. As such, you can do various things, such as work offline, resize the window, receive notifications, and even pin the PWA to your taskbar. It’s a bit like working on the web versions of Microsoft Office. Although it differs from the official desktop software, it’s a great workaround for Chromebook users who can’t run Windows or MacBook software.
