Microsoft is releasing a new version of Office this week aimed at people who don't want to subscribe to Microsoft 365. The standalone version of Microsoft Office 2024 is now available for both consumers and small businesses and includes limited-time versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote and Outlook on Mac and PC.
Office 2024 includes many updates that Microsoft has rolled out to Microsoft 365 subscribers over the past few years. Microsoft last released a standalone version of Office in 2021. This new version of Office 2024 includes improvements to core applications as well as accessibility and user interface changes.
Office 2024 features a new default theme using Microsoft's latest Fluent Design principles to match the visual changes in Windows 11. Microsoft has also added accessibility improvements to help Office users find potential accessibility issues in documents, slideshows, workbooks and email.
The biggest changes in Office 2024 can be found in Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Microsoft has added new features in Excel for using text and arrays in worksheets, along with a new IMAGE function that can retrieve images from the web. Excel 2024 can now also reference dynamic arrays in charts that can update automatically instead of being tied to fixed data points. Microsoft claims that Excel 2024's overall speed and stability should also be improved.
In PowerPoint, Microsoft added the Cameo feature, which allows you to insert a live camera feed into slides. PowerPoint also has a new Recording Studio feature that includes recording capabilities for narration, animation, transitions, and inking. You can also add subtitles or subtitles to videos and audio files in slides to make presentations much more accessible.
Outlook 2024 includes search improvements so you get more relevant results for messages, attachments, contacts, and calendar entries. This latest Outlook version also includes more options for meetings, including the ability to automatically shorten them. Mac users can also customize left and right swipe gestures in Outlook.
You can now easily insert an image from an Android mobile device into Word, Excel and PowerPoint. Microsoft also supports version 1.4 of the OpenDocument Format (ODF), which includes a number of new improvements. Word and PowerPoint also offer the ability to like and respond to comments in documents.
Word 2024 users can also restore a session if your PC crashes. Word will automatically open any documents you had open before your PC crashed, the power went out, or Word simply closed unexpectedly. OneNote 2024 users will also gain access to the new inking and drawing experience.
According to Microsoft, Office 2024 requires a Microsoft account and an internet connection. However, when it comes to Office 2021, all you need is an internet connection to install, activate the suite and receive security updates. Office 2024 runs on Windows 10 and 11 as well as the three latest versions of macOS.
Office 2024 will be available in two different editions. Office Home 2024, priced at $149.99, includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote for PC or Mac. If you want Outlook, you'll need to purchase the Office Home and Business 2024 version for $249.99, which also includes the rights to use the apps commercially.