I primarily use Microsoft Office for work and LibreOffice for personal tasks. I often take my work laptop home on weekends, but during a recent winter storm, I found myself stuck at home for several days without it. I'm not really comfortable accessing work-related tools on my personal computer. Is there any way I can install Microsoft Office on a USB drive that would let me move between different computers, all set up and ready to use?
5 Answers
Unfortunately, you can't directly install Office to a thumb drive to use across various computers. Your best bet is looking into Office 365 if you're looking for flexibility.
There are a couple of options you can look into. One is using Office Online. If you're looking for a more comprehensive solution, you could set up a portable version of Windows on a USB drive. If your workplace allows it, you could find a Windows 11 ISO, use Rufus to create a "Windows To Go" USB, and install Office on that. Just keep in mind you might want a fast USB drive to make sure it runs smoothly!
You might want to consider Office Online, which you can access by signing in with your work account. It's all in the cloud, so you won't need a physical install on your USB.
If you specifically need just the core programs like Word and Excel, you can opt for Office Home 2024 as a standalone program. It works offline for the most part, though it requires occasional licensing checks. Retail is around $149.99, but you can find it cheaper at places like Costco or Sam's Club.
How about setting up a virtual machine or using Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) to connect to your office computer? As for a portable version of Office, Microsoft tends to require a license for each machine, so that might not work easily.
I do a lot of work offline too, especially when visiting remote locations, and Teams could also come in handy when I'm not offline.