How can I open Office files locally without using Office 365?
Asked by
CuriousCactus93
Hey everyone,
So, my company just switched to Office 365, and now I can't open any Office files (like Word or Excel) locally. Apparently, my old local license is no longer valid, forcing me to use the online version, which is super annoying. I'm trying to find out if there's any way to launch local Office applications through Windows Explorer instead of being redirected to Edge and OneDrive.
Some background: I'm using an HP laptop with Windows 11, and while I appreciate the IT team's efforts in securing our data, I'm really frustrated with this Office 365 setup. I previously tried using portable LibreOffice to view some Excel stuff, but that didn't work for me either. I even looked into setting up Office apps as Progressive Web Apps, but that only works for Outlook.
I can't edit files, but I need a viewer that won't require admin privileges. Ideally, I'd like something open-source that respects my privacy. Does anyone know how to either run a simple viewer for Office files or get around this Office 365 restriction?
Answers
You definitely need to speak with your IT department. They’re the ones who can assign you a license for the desktop apps if it's something your company permits. It sounds like they might have switched you to a less expensive plan that only allows the online version.
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CuriousCactus93: That could be a good angle to pursue. I’ll try reaching out to them!