Office 2024 is finally here, and now everyone can benefit from Microsoft Office at a cheaper price, getting only what they need. As a full-time creator, I’ve often looked back and wondered how Microsoft could do so much better by simplifying their tools—this could have cut down the price as well. But I never thought they’d actually do it, especially since they have been pushing cloud subscriptions for so long. Now that Office 2024 is finally out, let’s see what it’s all about and if it’s really for you!
What is Office Home 2024?
Office Home 2024 is the non-subscription version of Microsoft's popular Office suite, designed for consumers and small businesses. It offers access to the familiar apps you know, like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook, with a one-time purchase. Unlike the subscription-based Microsoft 365, Office Home 2024 provides locked-in-time versions of these apps, meaning they won't receive future upgrades unless you buy the next major release at full price.
Key Features:
For PC and Mac: Works on both platforms.
No Subscription Needed: Pay once, and it's yours to use, but without the option for future upgrades.
Cost-Effective: Office Home 2024 is available for $149.99 USD, which includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote for one device (PC or Mac).
The main difference between Microsoft 365 and Office 2024 comes down to flexibility and features.
Microsoft 365 is a subscription service that includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, and Access (PC-only). You can install it on multiple devices, and it comes with 1 TB of OneDrive storage, 60 Skype minutes, and Microsoft support. The apps are always up-to-date, so you never have to worry about upgrades.
Office 2024 is a one-time purchase with the classic apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint). It’s perfect for those who don’t need cloud services or updates, but if a new version comes out, you’ll have to buy it again. If you like staying current and need the extras, go with Microsoft 365. If you prefer a simpler, one-time purchase, Office 2024 is the way to go.
Office 2024 comes in two main editions, and picking the right one depends on your needs:
Office Home 2024 is priced at $149.99 USD and includes all the essentials like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and OneNote for one PC or Mac. It's perfect for personal use if you only need the basics for daily tasks.
Office Home & Business 2024 costs $249.99 USD and offers a little more. In addition to the core apps, you get Outlook for managing emails and the added benefit of commercial use rights. If you plan to use these tools for business purposes, the extra $100 is well worth it.
How to Download Office Home 2024?
Downloading and installing Microsoft Office Home 2024 is a straightforward process but is often accompanied by obstacles, such as issues with older versions, system requirements, and activation problems.
This is the case with almost all Microsoft Office suite products, where installation often presents complex challenges, leaving users confused and sometimes steering them away from Microsoft products toward other alternatives. Nevertheless, in this "How to Install Office Home 2024" guide, I will address all the key challenges commonly encountered during this process.
Uninstall the Old Version of MS Office
The most frequent mistake users encounter is attempting to install Microsoft Office Home 2024 while already having an older version on their system. Before we move forward, let’s take a crucial first step—what I like to call the “zeroth step”—and check if a Microsoft Office product is already installed on your device.
Step 1: Start by typing "Control Panel" into the search bar and click on it to open.
Step 2: Under the "Programs" heading, click on the "Uninstall a program" option to open the list of installed software.
Step 3: In the search bar at the top, enter "Microsoft", or manually scroll through the list to see if Microsoft Office is present.
Step 4: If a version of Microsoft Office appears, right-click on it and choose "Uninstall" from the options.
Step 5: A Microsoft dialog box will appear, click "Uninstall" to initiate the uninstallation process.
The zeroeth step enables you to check for and remove any previously installed versions of Microsoft Office.
Check Your System Type
Now we will begin the process of downloading a Microsoft Office Home Click-to-Run (C2R) installer file, which will allow us to download and install all Microsoft Office Home apps such as Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. However, before downloading, it is important to first check our system type, as system types vary—some are 64-bit, while others might be 32-bit. To check your system type, simply follow these steps:
Step 1: Click on the Windows search bar located in the taskbar and type "Settings" to open the settings menu.
Step 2: In the Settings window, select the "System" tab from the left sidebar, then scroll down and click on "About".
Step 3: You'll see all the details about your system here. Find the "System Type" section to determine your system type, and make sure to write it down for future reference.
Now that you've identified your system type, the next step is to download the Click-to-Run (C2R) Office installer files. Here's how to do it:
Step 1: Visit the Gravesoft website and scroll down to locate the table containing the C2R links and Product IDs.
Step 2: In the C2R links table, click on the "Office 2024" tab to access the most recent version of the C2R link for installation.
Step 3: To download all the Office Home 2024 apps, find the row labeled "Home2024Retail" in the Product ID column.
Step 4: You'll see three different links available. Choose the one that corresponds to your system type. For instance, if your system is 64-bit, opt for the "Online x64" link to download.
Install Office Home 2024
Now, let’s proceed to install the Office Home 2024 applications using the C2R installer files we previously downloaded.
Step 1: Locate the Office 2024 C2R file on your computer and double-click it to initiate the installation process.
Step 2: A Microsoft Office dialog box will open. Wait for the installation to finish downloading the necessary files and completing the setup.
Note: Make sure your internet connection is stable to ensure a smooth installation process.
Step 3: After the installation is finished, click the "Close" button to exit the Microsoft Office 2024 installation wizard.
With the apps now installed on your PC, you can access them at any time. However, keep in mind that you need to activate Microsoft Office Home 2024 after downloading it; otherwise, these apps won’t function properly.
Activate Office Home 2024
If you attempt to open any Microsoft Office 2024 apps, like Excel, you'll notice they haven't been activated yet in the Accounts tab and require a product key.
Alt text: Unactivated Microsoft Office 2024
To activate Microsoft Office 2024, follow these steps:
Step 1: Open Windows PowerShell on your system.
Step 2: Enter the following command to launch Microsoft Activation Scripts:
irm https://get.activated.win | iex
After a moment, the Microsoft Activation Scripts will appear, showing a list of options.
Step 3: To open Microsoft Office setup, press "2" on your keyboard.
Step 4: Next, press "1" to begin the installation of Microsoft Office 2024.
Step 5: The installation process will start and complete shortly, activating Office 2024 on your system. Once finished, press any key to exit.
Step 6: Now, return to Microsoft Excel or any other Office app, and you'll see that Office 2024 has been successfully activated.
And with this, you will have successfully downloaded and installed Microsoft Office Home 2024 on your system, with all the apps fully functional and activated. However, obtaining and using Microsoft Office through unofficial means is highly discouraged. While it may meet your needs for the time being, using legal channels to acquire products is always the best approach.
If price is your only concern, there are alternatives that are not only more affordable but completely free to use, such as WPS Office. It's a powerful office suite that offers not just the basic apps for free but also comes equipped with advanced PDF tools for a complete office suite experience. So, if you're thinking of skipping the lengthy download and installation steps, give WPS Office a try. If you act now, you'll have it installed and ready for use in just 5 minutes!
Free and Powerful Alternative to MS Office for You
Microsoft Office 2024 is certainly a great launch, offering users the option to make a one-time purchase for core apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. It's refreshing to see Microsoft moving away from its cloud subscription model for those who prefer a more traditional setup. However, as exciting as Office 2024 is, it’s hard to ignore that WPS Office has been doing something similar—and even better—for quite some time now.
WPS Office offers a free plan that already includes all the essentials: Word processing, spreadsheets, presentations, and PDF editing, covering just about everything you’d need in an office suite. And if you do choose to go for the premium plan, it’s far more affordable than many of its competitors, Microsoft included. For a fraction of the cost, WPS gives you multilingual support, offline access, and compatibility with multiple file formats, which ensures that switching between platforms is seamless.
One of the things I love most about WPS Office is how user-friendly it is. Even as someone who works on tight deadlines, I've always found WPS to be reliable and quick. It also offers fantastic tools, like its AI writing assistant, which has saved me countless hours while improving my work by helping with sentence structure, grammar, and even creating eye-catching hooks for articles.
When you pair this with its powerful PDF tools, it's clear that WPS is a strong alternative, especially for creators like me who need robust, affordable tools that get the job done without breaking the bank.
FAQs
1. Can WPS Office provide an online version to use?
WPS Office also has an online platform called WPS 365, allowing you to create and edit documents straight from your web browser without needing to install any software. It's completely free and offers a wide range of tools for smooth online productivity. You can work on Word documents, Excel sheets, PowerPoint slides, and even create forms using this suite.
2. Can I transfer my Office Home 2024 license to another device?
Yes, you can transfer your Office Home 2024 license to a different device. However, before doing so, you must first deactivate the license on the original device. This ensures compliance with licensing terms and allows for a smooth transition to the new device.
3. Can I use Office Home 2024 for commercial purposes?
No, Office Home 2024 is designed specifically for personal and household use only. It might be best to consider the Office Business or Office Professional editions, as they are better suited for that need if you're looking for options for business or commercial purposes.
Bottomline
Microsoft Office has always been at the forefront of office productivity tools, and even with its recent launch of Office 2024, it aims to be more accessible and user-friendly. However, despite these efforts, many users still struggle with its complexity and cost. In cases as such, WPS Office is a great alternative that doesn’t compromise on anything.
It offers all the essential features you'd expect from an office suite, along with extras like AI writing assistance, PDF editing, and seamless compatibility, all at a much more affordable price. For someone like me, who values efficiency and simplicity, WPS Office has proven itself to be the best option.
