14 DAY TRIAL // The Microsoft Store experience is getting better and better, and it doesn’t always come down to the improvements that Microsoft has released with the debut of Windows 11.
The company is working on several fronts, and a few days ago, it decided to release its Office apps as separate listings on the Microsoft Store.
In other words, if don’t need the entire Office suite, you can just download Word, Excel, and PowerPoint as separate apps from the Microsoft Store.
Spotted on January 1, the change already appears to be live for everybody on Windows 11, though on the other hand, not all users are currently seeing the install button. Most likely, the rollout is underway as we speak, so expect an announcement from Microsoft later this week.
The new Microsoft Store
In the meantime, the Microsoft Store is slowly becoming the go-to destination for anyone on Windows 11 who just wants to install apps in a very convenient and straightforward manner.
Microsoft has put a lot of effort into getting it right, so for example, the Store now allows third-party browsers to use their own engines. This change has been received with much enthusiasm by other companies on the market, including Mozilla and Opera, both of which have already launched their browsers on the Microsoft Store.
“Until recently, Microsoft’s store policies required that all web browsers use the engine that Microsoft had built into their platform which meant we were unable to ship the Firefox you know and love in the Windows Store. This was not only bad for you but bad for the web because it meant that the web on Windows 11 would only have the features Microsoft was willing to provide. People deserve choice and we’re glad there is an easier option to download Firefox on Windows,” Mozilla said.
You can find the new Microsoft Office apps on the Store by searching for them using their short names (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).