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Lastly – and this is very important – If you want to use Publisher or Access, they are for Windows PCs only! I repeat – you can not use Microsoft Publisher or Access on your Chromebook. Google’s SaaS services have evolved to be quite competitive in recent years and deserve a fair shake, so give them a go before you decide to give up! Take time to see if the software works for you and put the work in to explore its features and I can almost promise it will be sufficient for your needs.įor those of you who find that the Office apps lack something, you can probably get better mileage out of Google Docs, Sheets, Slides, and more.
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Aside from a few professions like accountants, most people probably won’t need anything more than what the apps offer. That’s not to say it’s not fully-featured though – far from it! There is no complicated or advanced Microsoft ribbon and there are a few missing features – like macros or advanced cell navigation shortcuts, but the software was created this way on purpose. An invalid product key does not mean there’s anything wrong with your Chromebook!Īnother thing I should mention is that Office 365 on a Chromebook does not have all of the same features as the version of Office we grew up with on Windows. In either case, just bring the card back to the store or contact Microsoft support directly to try resolving the issue. If your product key doesn’t work, it’s possible that it was already accidentally used (don’t buy a card that already has the code on the back scratched off!), or there was an error with creating a valid product key in the factory when the cards were mass-produced.
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It’s common for most schools to partner with Microsoft to bulk purchase licenses for students and do the work of activating them on your behalf, so check with your teacher or IT administrator before buying your own copy, or simply try to use your school email to sign in and start using Office 365!
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Just a few quick, but important notes before we dive in – If you bought a Chromebook to use for school, your educational email likely already includes a subscription to Office 365. I hope this clears some things up! If it’s something you found useful, be sure to share it with your students, loved ones, or employees! Before we get started The process for this is relatively simple, but for those who are unfamiliar with product activation or in-app subscriptions, it can seem convoluted.
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In my time as a Chromebook Expert in the retail space, I’ve seen hundreds of people confused by the process by which they get Microsoft Office 365 up and running on their new Chromebooks – especially during the Back to School season! I felt like putting together a step-by-step guide that can be referenced at any time.
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