How to Install Microsoft Office on Ubuntu 24.04

Are you looking to utilize Microsoft Office applications on your preferred Ubuntu system instead of Windows ?

This guide will demonstrate how to install Microsoft Office on your Ubuntu 24.04 system, allowing you to work with Word documents and other Office files with ease, just as you would on a Windows environment. There’s no longer a need to compromise your operating system of choice for Office compatibility. Let’s begin the installation process!

While it may seem challenging to run Windows-based software on Linux, tools are available to bridge this gap, enabling the installation of comprehensive office suites like Microsoft Office. The most straightforward method to install Office on Ubuntu 24.04 is through PlayOnLinux. This tutorial will guide you through installing Office 365 on Ubuntu 24.04, and the steps can be easily adapted for other Linux distributions using different package management systems.

Read: How to use Microsoft Word on Ubuntu

PlayOnLinux Installation

Before proceeding with the Microsoft Office installation on Ubuntu, it’s necessary to ensure that Winbind and PlayOnLinux are installed on your system. Winbind facilitates integration with Windows systems, streamlining the installation process. Open your terminal application and execute the following command to install Winbind:

sudo apt-get install winbind

Next, execute the command below to install PlayOnLinux:

sudo apt-get install playonlinux

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Please note that this process requires approximately 1GB of available disk space:

Alternatively, you can install PlayOnLinux via the Ubuntu Software Center. Simply search for “PlayOnLinux” and click the “Install” button. After the installation is complete, launch PlayOnLinux from your applications menu. To install Microsoft Office, navigate to the “Office” tab within PlayOnLinux and either search for “Microsoft Office” or browse the application list. It is important to note that you will need to install the complete Office suite, rather than individual applications like Word or Excel separately.

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Be aware that with PlayOnLinux, you are generally limited to installing Office 2016 (specifically the 32-bit version for optimal compatibility). For the most stable and reliable experience, it is advisable to install Office 2016 (Method B in PlayOnLinux). This method requires the installation media for Office 2016 (either an ISO file or a setup executable) and a valid product key.

We have previously discussed PlayOnLinux in another article, including instructions on setting it up on How to run Windows software on Linux.

Click the “Next” button to proceed through the installation wizard.

Upon launching the PlayOnLinux installation wizard for Microsoft Office, you will be prompted to select either a DVD-ROM or a setup file as the installation source. Choose the appropriate option and click “Next”. If you select the setup file option, you will need to navigate to the location where the Office setup file is stored on your Ubuntu system.

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For more detailed information about using PlayOnLinux, please refer to the official PlayOnLinux documentation.

Once the Microsoft Office suite is successfully installed, you are ready to begin using it! You can launch the Office applications directly from their respective icons or through the PlayOnLinux interface. You can now start utilizing Microsoft Office applications on your Ubuntu 24.04 system.