Word on the Web
Word on the Web
Word on the Web is a free version of Microsoft Word which can be accessed using any laptop or desktop computer browser such as Google Chrome, Apple Safari or Microsoft Edge. To use Word on the Web you need a free Microsoft account which amongst other benefits gives you some Microsoft OneDrive cloud storage to hold your Word documents.
Microsoft Account
To obtain your free Microsoft Account use this address in your browser or just click on the link:
Now click on Create account to choose your name which will be an email address, and your password. This is an example:
Clicking Next takes you to the prompt to choose a password:
You are then asked to solve a simple puzzle to prove you are not a robot. Finally your account will be created. I suggest you click on Add full name to enter your name. In this example I used Toc Cypress Gardens.
At this point write down in a safe place your newly created email address and password which are the credentials for your Microsoft account.
Launch Word on the Web
Once you have your Microsoft account credentials, in any browser on your laptop or desktop (including the library computer) go to this link:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-au/microsoft-365/free-office-online-for-the-web
Or search Google for "word on the web" and the first result should be as above.
Click on Sign in and enter your Microsoft account credentials. From this point on ignore all invitations to upgrade or buy Office. Just stay with the free versions. You will be taken through a few introductory prompts.
Click on the New button:
Click on a Word Document to create a new document.
A new Word document is created. Compose your document in the usual way. Notice as you type your document is automatically saved to OneDrive - the cloud. To finish click on the File menu, rename the file as you wish and choose OneDrive as the location. I called it My first Word document.
When you satisfied with your document, click File/Save as again and choose Download as PDF and Word will convert it to PDF and invite you to download the PDF file to the local computer. If your plug in a USB drive in the local computer you can store it on that drive to take away with you.
If you have a printer connected to the computer, you can choose File/Print to print your Word document.
When you have finished with Word on the Web click the 9-dot menu at the top left, then click Office to return to the launcher page, something like this:
This is where all your documents in OneDrive are visible. To go back here in future just type office.com in your browser address field.
If you are using the library computer, click on your account in the upper right (TG in my example) and then Sign out. Don't forget as the next person to use the computer will have access to your Microsoft account.