We have about 200 public kiosks running Windows 11 Enterprise and use KMS for Word 2016. We want to retire the KMS server but still let visitors edit DOCX resumes, work with PDFs, print, and save files locally.
Would Word on the web work in an Edge kiosk, or is there a practical paid Microsoft option for government kiosks where visitors don't have licenses? We can deploy Microsoft 365 apps through Intune.
Check whether a Multiple Activation Key is available for your existing Word volume licensing. MAK is another activation method and could let you retire KMS without changing the application.
That's an activation change, not a replacement for the underlying license. Confirm the key availability and activation terms for your agreement with Microsoft or your licensing provider before planning the rollout.
Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise device licensing is worth asking about for shared kiosks. The device-based model may be a better fit than assigning licenses to members of the public.
Have your licensing provider check eligibility, government availability, and the exact terms for public users. Also check the deployment and activation requirements before assuming that an Intune deployment alone covers licensing.
I'd be cautious about making Word on the web the main option here. The free version may require visitors to sign in with a Microsoft account and use OneDrive, which adds steps for people who just want to edit a resume.
Try a representative set of DOCX and PDF files before committing. Formatting can change between desktop and web versions, especially when converting PDFs. Test downloads and printing to both local and network printers in the actual Edge kiosk configuration too.
If the Microsoft licensing options don't fit, LibreOffice is free and can edit and save DOCX files. OnlyOffice is another alternative to investigate. Test resume formatting, PDF conversion, printing, and local saves with your typical files before deploying either broadly.
9t~fuseclip_238:
We're looking at Microsoft options first, but alternatives are worth testing if the licensing doesn't work out.
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c_49!waypoint:
Also test what happens to downloaded files and account sessions between visitors. A public kiosk needs a reliable way to clear the previous person's data.