Microsoft has been offering its Office 365 suite to Chromebook users via the Google Play store since 2017, but that will stop in a few weeks.
Microsoft is ending support for Office (which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook) on Chromebooks as of September 18. Microsoft, on the other hand, is not completely abandoning the popular mobile gadget. Instead, then downloading an app, Microsoft is urging consumers to visit the website.
On September 18, 2021, Microsoft applications (Office and Outlook) will be converted to web experiences (Office.com and Outlook.com) to deliver the best possible experience for Chromebook users, according to a statement provided to TechCrunch by Microsoft.
“This move gives Chromebook consumers access to new and premium services,” Microsoft said in a statement.
The Microsoft online experience will help the company move its Chromebook customers to the Microsoft 365 service, which has more Office templates and overall capability than the app-based approach. In addition, the online method is better suited to larger displays than the app.
According to the announcement, consumers will “…check in using their personal Microsoft Account or account linked with their Microsoft 365 subscription” to have access to Office and Outlook on Chromebooks. Microsoft has also made instructions available online to demonstrate customers how to use Office on a Chromebook.
Chromebooks are powered by Google’s Chrome OS, which is based on Linux. Because Android is also built on Linux, Chromebooks can run Android apps downloaded from Google Play. While support for Chromebooks will be phased down, Microsoft will continue to support Android-based mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones.
Users who have already downloaded the Microsoft Office applications for Chromebooks will be able to use them after September 18, but they will no longer get support or upgrades.
