How to Download Microsoft Office and Customize the Installation

Once you have purchased your genuine Microsoft Office Product Key, the next step is to download your software and install it on your computer. The process is simple and, depending on your internet speed, will only take a few minutes.

This guide walks you through the steps needed to download and install Microsoft Office.

Downloading your copy of Microsoft Office

Within a few seconds of purchasing your product key, we will send you an email with your key and a link to the appropriate download page. The first step you need to take is to use this information to download your copy of MS Office.

The following instructions detail the steps you need to take:

1. Follow the link in the email we sent you. This will take you to the Microsoft page where you can download your copy of Microsoft Office.

2. You will need to sign in using a Microsoft Account. Don’t worry if you don’t have one. Signing up for an account is free and simple. If you have any problems, check out our guide on how to set up your Microsoft Account.

3. The next step is to enter your product key on the Office Setup Page:

setup.office.com

This links your copy of Office with your Microsoft account.

4. Once you enter your product key, the software you purchased can be downloaded.

5. To do this, navigate to the Services and Subscriptions page. On this page, you will see the Office product you purchased the key for. Select the install option, this will begin the download and install procedure.

6. The next step can vary depending on what browser you are using. The most common options are listed below.

Microsoft Edge or Internet Explorer – Select the Run option

Google Chrome – Select the Setup option

Mozilla Firefox – Select the Save File option

Once you have made your selection, your download will begin, and the installation process can begin.

How to install your copy of Microsoft Office

Once your download is completed, the next step is to install your copy of Microsoft Office. The installation procedure is simple and will normally just take a few minutes. The following steps take you through the basic installation procedure and also covers the steps needed if you wish to customize your installation.

1. If you are using Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome, then the installation should start automatically once the download is complete. If it doesn’t, or if you are using another browser, then you will need to use a file explorer window to navigate to the software’s location. (In most cases, the default is the Downloads folder).

2. Before the installation starts, you may see a User Account Control Prompt which says – Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?  – Click the Yes option to proceed.

3. Go to step 4 if you wish to customize your installation. But for basic installations that don’t require customizing, the installation will now begin, and once you see the phrase You’re all set! Office is installed now, it has been successfully completed. You can now launch the installed apps from the windows start menu.

Important – Customize Office Installation Note

Before you proceed with a custom installation, it should be pointed out that since Office 2013, the standard Office install runs by default, and there are no simple options to customize it. However, if you need to customize your installation, it can still be done by creating a special XML file that contains the changed installation settings. This is a technical process and is an object lesson in frustration for those without the right skillset.

An easier option, and the one that this guide will cover, is to utilize the Office Customization Tool and use it in conjunction with the Office Deployment Tool.

4. Download the Office Deployment tool from here and extract the contents of the file to a local directory on your device (e.g. C:\Officedeployment)

5. Use the Office Customization Tool to create an XML file. The tool can be found by clicking this link – Office Customisation Tool. Using this tool allows you to change options like the version to install, included apps, and the source of your installation files – This will likely be your Downloads folder, but you can move it to another location if required.

This then creates an XML file with the settings that can be exported to your device.

6. Move the downloaded XML file to the directory containing the extracted Office Deployment tool (Make sure you take note of the file name). It is usually in a format similar to opro2021_custom_configuration.xml.

7. Open a command prompt as an administrator. To do this, type CMD into the Cortana search box. You will see the Command Prompt in the search results. Right-click on it and select Run as Administrator

8. From within the command prompt, run the following command:
Setup.exe /configure filename opro2021_custom_configuration.xml
Make sure to replace the file name given in the example with the actual name of your XML File.

9. Your customized copy of Microsoft Office will now be installed.

Activating Microsoft Office Professional

The final step in getting your software downloaded and fully functional is to activate your copy of Microsoft Office. This is an easy process that only takes a moment.

If your product needs to be activated, you will normally be presented with an activation wizard. Simply select the option that says I want to activate the software over the internet (recommended) and follow the instructions. You may be prompted to enter your Microsoft Account details.

To check that your product is activated, start by opening up any Office application (Word, Excel, etc.) and click on the File menu. From here, select the Account option, you should now see the details of your account and whether the software is activated. If it isn’t already activated, click on the Activate Now option and follow the above instructions.

If you have any problems at any stage of the download and install process, then we can help. Simply contact us for a quick response to any query or problem you may be having.