How to get the Desktop Word on my MacBook Pro

Sign in with the Microsoft account that owns the subscription at the Microsoft 365 Apps page, then choose Install apps to download and install the desktop edition of Word for Mac.

Install desktop Word

Microsoft 365 Personal includes the desktop and web apps; the free tier and Microsoft 365 Basic provide web apps only.[^1^](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID] "Compare Microsoft 365 and Office plans | Microsoft Support")

1. Open Microsoft 365 Apps.
2. Select Sign in, using the exact Microsoft account associated with your Personal Classic subscription.
3. Select Apps in the navigation pane.
4. In the upper-right corner, select Install apps.
5. If a menu appears, select Microsoft 365 apps.
6. After downloading, open Finder > Downloads and double-click Microsoft Office installer.pkg.
7. Continue through the installer. To install only Word, select Customize and clear the other applications before selecting Install.
8. When installation finishes, open Launchpad > Microsoft Word.
9. Select Get Started, then sign in with the same subscription account to activate Word.^2^

After activation, Word should appear under Finder > Applications and run as a desktop application rather than in the browser. To keep it in the Dock, open Word, Control-click its Dock icon, and select Options > Keep in Dock.^2^

If “Install apps” is missing

Check which product is actually attached to the account:

1. Go to the Microsoft account dashboard.
2. Open Services & subscriptions.
3. Confirm that an active subscription offering installation of premium Microsoft 365 apps is shown.
4. If it appears, select Install there.^3^

Merely seeing Word for the web does not confirm that this is the licensed account—all Microsoft accounts can access the free web apps. If no Office license appears under Services & subscriptions, sign out and try the account used to purchase or redeem the subscription.^4^

The current plan documentation distinguishes Microsoft 365 Personal, which includes desktop apps, from Microsoft 365 Basic, which does not.[^1^](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID] "Compare Microsoft 365 and Office plans | Microsoft Support") If the account page identifies “Personal Classic” differently or provides no installation button, its exact entitlement must be confirmed from that subscription page or through Contact us in Microsoft Support; do not buy another license until that is clarified.

If Word installs but will not activate

In Word, sign out and sign back in using the account listed under Services & subscriptions. If an old one-time Office license or another license is being selected, Microsoft recommends removing the existing Office license files and then reactivating with the Microsoft 365 account.^4^

References

1. [Compare Microsoft 365 and Office plans | Microsoft Support](https://support.microsoft.com/accounts-billing/subscriptions/[Subscription ID])
2. [Need help?](https://support.microsoft.com/office/lifecycle/officeinstall/download-install-or-reinstall-microsoft-365-or-office-2024-on-a-pc-or-mac)
3. Use a screen reader to download and install Microsoft 365 applications from your Microsoft account | Microsoft Support
4. [Activation](https://support.microsoft.com/microsoft-365-activation-licensing/what-to-try-if-you-can-t-install-or-activate-office-for-mac)