When purchasing a new Microsoft laptop, whether it’s from the Surface line or another device running Windows, one of the common questions buyers have is: Do Microsoft laptops come with Office pre-installed? The short answer depends on the specific model and whether it’s bundled with a Microsoft 365 subscription or if you need to purchase Office separately. In this blog post, we’ll dive deeper into this question and help clarify what you can expect when buying a Microsoft laptop.
Microsoft Laptops and Office: What You Need to Know
When you purchase a Microsoft laptop, such as a Surface Pro, Surface Laptop, or Surface Book, it often comes with Windows 10 or Windows 11 pre-installed, but the inclusion of Microsoft Office depends on a few factors. Let’s break it down based on the type of device and the version of Office.
1. Surface Devices and Office:
Microsoft’s Surface line includes premium laptops and 2-in-1 devices that run Windows. Some models come with a trial version of Microsoft Office, while others may include a Microsoft 365 subscription for a limited time.
Surface Laptop and Surface Book:
- Trial Version: Many Surface laptops, including the Surface Laptop and Surface Book, come with a trial version of Microsoft Office (usually Office 365). This gives you access to Microsoft Office apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook for a limited time, typically 30 days. After the trial period ends, you’ll need to subscribe to Microsoft 365 or purchase a standalone version of Office to continue using the apps.
- Microsoft 365 Subscription: Some Surface models (particularly the Surface Pro and Surface Laptop 4) may come with a one-month subscription to Microsoft 365. This gives you access to all Office apps and cloud storage features. Once the subscription expires, you can renew it to continue using the Office suite or purchase it outright.
Surface Go:
- The Surface Go, Microsoft’s budget-friendly option, typically comes with a trial version of Microsoft Office or no Office apps pre-installed. Users would need to purchase Office separately if they want the full suite.
2. Windows Laptops and Office:
If you’re purchasing a laptop from another manufacturer, such as Dell, HP, or Lenovo, the same general idea applies. Office may or may not come pre-installed, and this depends on the configuration of the laptop and the promotional offers at the time of purchase.
- OEM Versions: Some laptops, especially higher-end models, may include a trial version of Office, and the user will need to subscribe to Microsoft 365 after the trial expires.
- Custom Configurations: Certain business-oriented laptops, especially those sold through business or educational channels, may come with a fully licensed version of Microsoft Office. However, this is often a special deal, and it’s typically more common with business laptops like the Dell XPS series or HP EliteBook.
3. Microsoft Store and Office Bundles:
When purchasing a Microsoft laptop from the Microsoft Store, you may see options for bundled offers where you can get a discounted or free Microsoft 365 subscription. These offers vary depending on promotions, and they often last for a limited time.
Examples of Bundles:
- Surface with Microsoft 365 Subscription: Some Surface devices come bundled with a 12-month subscription to Microsoft 365, allowing you to access all Office apps and additional features like OneDrive cloud storage. This is more common with the Surface Laptop 3 and Surface Pro 7.
- Surface Discount Offers: Occasionally, Microsoft runs promotions where purchasing a Surface device includes a discounted or free Microsoft 365 subscription for a year.
What’s Included with Microsoft 365:
A Microsoft 365 subscription gives you access to:
- Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, and more
- OneDrive cloud storage (1 TB per user)
- Advanced security features
- Collaborative tools such as Teams
4. Can You Get Office for Free on a Microsoft Laptop?
In some cases, you may be able to use free Office apps on your Microsoft laptop, but these won’t have the full features of the paid version. Microsoft offers free Office web apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.), which can be accessed directly through a browser without requiring a subscription. These web versions are much lighter and don’t include advanced features like offline editing or certain premium tools.
Alternatively, if you’re a student or educator, you may be eligible for free Microsoft Office 365 through the Microsoft Education Store. Microsoft offers Office 365 free to students with a valid school email address.
5. What Should You Do if Your Laptop Doesn’t Come with Office?
If your Microsoft laptop or Surface device doesn’t come with Microsoft Office or the included trial has expired, there are a few options available for you to get Office:
Option 1: Subscribe to Microsoft 365
- The most cost-effective option is to subscribe to Microsoft 365. This provides you with the full suite of Office apps for a monthly or annual fee and includes features like cloud storage and ongoing updates.
Option 2: Purchase a One-Time License
- If you prefer not to pay a recurring fee, you can purchase a one-time license for Office 2021, which includes Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. This option does not include the cloud-based features of Microsoft 365.
Option 3: Free Alternatives
If you’re on a budget, you can consider using free alternatives to Microsoft Office, such as:
- Google Docs (word processing)
- LibreOffice (free office suite)
- OpenOffice (free office suite)
Option 4: Use Office Online
- Microsoft offers free, limited versions of Office apps such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, accessible through a web browser. These apps have fewer features than the full desktop version, but they may be sufficient for basic tasks.
Option 5: Get Office at a Discount with EcomKeys.com
- If you’re looking for a more affordable way to get Microsoft Office on your new laptop, consider visiting EcomKeys.com. They offer Microsoft Office at significantly lower prices compared to traditional retail stores, providing genuine licenses for Microsoft Office 2021 and Microsoft 365 subscriptions at a much more affordable price. This can be a great way to save money while still getting a fully licensed copy of Office for your device.
Conclusion: Does a Microsoft Laptop Come with Office Pre-Installed?
In summary, whether or not Microsoft laptops come with Office pre-installed depends on the specific device and the promotions available at the time of purchase. While many Surface devices come with a trial or subscription to Microsoft 365, most Microsoft laptops do not include a full version of Office by default. Instead, they typically come with a trial version or a subscription offer that you can activate.
If Office isn’t included with your device, you can easily purchase it through the Microsoft Store, subscribe to Microsoft 365, or use the free Office web apps for basic editing tasks. Alternatively, for a more budget-friendly option, EcomKeys.com provides affordable options for purchasing genuine Microsoft Office licenses.
Before making a purchase, check the laptop’s specifications to see what’s included and decide whether a subscription to Microsoft 365 or a one-time purchase of Office suits your needs.
One more thing
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