Reports suggest that Microsoft may be testing out a free-to-use version of Microsoft Office on Windows that allows for document editing without requiring a Microsoft 365 subscription or a license key, but with limited editing capabilities compared to the full Microsoft 365 version.
According to information, to use the free Office version, users need to skip the login page when first opening the Office program. Upon installation, users are presented with the option to use Office for free with ads and restricted functionalities or not. The available programs in this version are the basic Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
The free Office version does not support adding Add-ins, does not offer spelling and grammar check, lacks advanced formatting options, and does not have document design assistance. Ads will consistently be displayed while using the program and files must be saved in OneDrive only.
As Microsoft has not made an official announcement regarding this, it is possible that Microsoft is currently testing the limited group of users with the free Office version before considering wider implementation.
Source: Windows Central
TLDR: Reports indicate Microsoft is testing a free-to-use version of Office on Windows with limited editing capabilities for users without a Microsoft 365 subscription or license key.
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