iPad No free Microsoft Office on 2019 iPad Air 10.5" - Is that a problem for you?

[EugW]

Here is just a reminder for those considering the new 2019 10.5" iPad Air (or old 2017 10.5" iPad Pro) that you cannot edit documents in MS Office for free, because the screen size is too big. You have to pay for it.

Since I'm going from a 2014 9.7" iPad Air 2 to a 10.5" model, that means I'm losing the free MS Office support. I actually have a legit MS Office install on my computer, but was relying on the free version for my iPad.

But it turns out it won't be a big deal for me. I rarely load up these apps, mainly because I find using MS Office on an iPad without a mouse or keyboard a royal pain in the butt. (I have a decent external Bluetooth keyboard, but I usually don't carry it with me, but there is no mouse support.) I end up doing all my MS Office stuff on my 12" MacBook. The occasional times I load up MS Office on my iPad is to view files, but I believe that is actually still supported. You just can't edit the files for free. Also, most of the time they're translated fine by iWork for iOS too.

Note that if you have a legit subscription for Office 365, then you get it on any sized iPad, but my legit install is not Office 365. It's Office 2016.

 

[Nautilus007]

I didn't even know there was a such thing as a free Microsoft office...

 

[EugW]

I didn't even know there was a such thing as a free Microsoft office...

Indeed there is. It supported all non-Pro iPads... until now. The new 10.5" non-Pro iPad is now off the list, because the cutoff is based on a 10.1" size.

 

[Fattytail]

I didn't even know there was a such thing as a free Microsoft office...

Agreed. Plus, I already had Microsoft Office anyway, so it was all included in my subscription. Works great. I can understand not wanting to pay for software, but MS Office and the Adobe suite are worth every penny IMO

 

[Josieb1]

Yes, it would be a problem for me. I use word and excel on my iPad mini. If I go to a larger screen it has to be under the threshold (10.2 I think) where those apps are free to use. I also use a standalone office on my Mac. I don’t want office 365

 

[sracer]

Yes, it would be a problem for me. I use word and excel on my iPad mini. If I go to a larger screen it has to be under the threshold (10.2 I think) where those apps are free to use. I also use a standalone office on my Mac. I don’t want office 365

Correct. That is why devices like the Lenovo Yoga Book have a 10.1" screen.

Owners of the larger iPads can still use MS Office for free if they have network connectivity. The online version of MS Office is free and actually offers far more functionality than the iOS and Android versions.

Even though I have an O365 subscription, I use the web version of Office on my Android tablets, Chromebooks, and iPad.

 

[*~Kim~*]

I'm wanting a smaller device so the 10.5 isn't what I'm looking for, but in general I would not want any device that could not get free Word. I am anti the yearly subscription model of the 365. I too have Word that I paid a one time cost for.

 

[rui no onna]

I've got a Pro 12.9 so already had to get a 365 sub for that.

 

[Retsiem]

I have a 365 subscription.

 

[mikzn]

I use outlook and Onenote they seem fine?

Keynote replaced powerpoint for me a very long time ago - so no issue there

Excel is the important issue to me - but I use numbers for that and it saves back to excel for simple stuff and if it is complex big Data - I don't use the iPad Pro - back to the Mac and the real version of Excel.

 

[joeblow7777]

A lot of people get Office free anyway through their schools or workplace.

 

[Josieb1]

A lot of people get Office free anyway through their schools or workplace.

I don’t think it’s that simple, certainly outside of the US. I’m retired anyway so it’s a mute point.

 

[Newtons Apple]

Not sure if I paid for it or not but my Office has been brought forward to my new devices in the backups. It is on my 11” and working fine.

 

[joeblow7777]

I don’t think it’s that simple, certainly outside of the US. I’m retired anyway so it’s a mute point.

I didn’t mean that as an explanation for why it’s not free for everyone, just a statement of fact. I’m Canadian, and I get it free through my employer, and I know others who do or who get it at a large discount. Some people even share that access with others.

I was even at a Microsoft Store the other day and I saw a poster with a QR Code that said, “scan for free access to Office mobile apps”. I have no idea if there were particular terms or conditions though.

 

[sonicrobby]

Nah, since Office went to a subscription based system, Ive been much less interested. I changed my workflow to use Pages and Numbers instead. Not as smooth as Im used to, but I can freely do my work

 

[EugW]

Confirmed. I backed up my iPad Air 2 9.7" and then used that backup to restore to my iPad Pro 10.5" and now editing in MS Office no longer works.

 

[dogslobber]

Google Docs.

 

[eric89074]

Google Docs.

Or buy an office 365 log in for $5 on eBay.

 

[Eithanius]

Or buy an office 365 log in for $5 on eBay.

Are those even legit...?

 

[sracer]

Are those even legit...?

Generally, yes, but if I were to do that, I'd only buy from reputable sellers. Even better, find one of those reputable sites that sell software licenses very inexpensively. I've bought quite a few licenses for Windows 7 on some of those sites for older ThinkPads that I bought on eBay. $5-15 for a Win7 license, legit.

 

[saberahul]

A lot of people get Office free anyway through their schools or workplace.

Yea, I get one from my research lab, another from school, another from main job, another from my alma mater (free for alumni). Didn’t know anyone paid for it out of own pocket...

 

[Seamaster]

Microsoft Office? Is that thing still going?

 

[joeblow7777]

Microsoft Office? Is that thing still going?