Running office on linux

Microsoft Office on Linux, Install and Run like Windows with No Errors!

Linux is a simple lightweight and very popular operating system. It is mainly famous for its highly customizable user interface and different skins. The application library of Linux is also large and ever-growing. But still, we do not see a lot of Windows Programs being ported to Linux. Many stick to Windows for some of these programs only. Let us see how to install and run Microsoft Office on Linux.

Microsoft Office on Linux

We need to download some necessary programs first before proceeding to install and run Microsoft Office on Linux. I’ve demonstrated the process on Linux Mint Cinnamon, which is based on Ubuntu. So we need a program called PlayOnLinux, which is a front-end client for Wine. Wine as many of you will recognize is the main structure that enables Windows programs to run on Linux. PlayOnLinux makes it easier for beginners to install and run Windows programs including Microsoft Office on Linux, due to its simpler interface.

Downloads

We need to visit the official website and install the PlayOnLinux program using commands. Linux Mint has a huge library of Linux Apps store, so we can download the programs using this as well. Linux Distro like PopOS also has an app store, so you can check your OS and try to find the programs in the app store. Anyway, you can use the package manager to install the program. Download the program for Ubuntu, Debian, or others according to your Linux Distro. Download the installer program from the website.

The second program we need is called Winbind. This program is needed to run Microsoft Office on Linux OS. We can install it from the app store or by running the commands below.

sudo apt-get install -y winbind

The last thing we need to run Microsoft Office on Linux is the most important, it is the “Microsoft Office Software” package. You can download the program from getintopc or similar websites. I cannot share the link because of piracy and copyright violations. After downloading the software, you can see an installer iso image file inside the folder. We need to mount this installer iso image to obtain the installer .exe file. Right-click o the image file and then select open with disk image counter or similar option. Now you can see the name of the file under the CD-ROM section in the quick access list.

Install Microsoft Office on Linux

We will now launch the PlayOnLinux program from the apps list. Now select “install a program” and we can see multiple program categories. We need to select the “Office” category and then select the Microsoft Office version of your choice. I have selected MS Office 2010 for this demonstration. Now select next and then choose your installer program using the setup file option. Then continue the setup and create a fresh installation using erase and install option.

The program may download some additional files and run some Wine configurations. Make sure you are connected to the internet throughout this process. You will see the Microsoft Office set up screen, and continue with the normal installation. It will take a while to install all the files and in the end, Wine software will run some script, and then the installation will be a success. Now we can proceed to run Microsoft Office on Linux.

Run Microsoft Office on Linux

Shortcuts for the Microsoft Office programs; MS Word, MS Excel, MS Powerpoint, and others will be created on the desktop. You can launch the programs using these shortcuts. The programs were opening and running quite smoothly. We can start editing documents and creating tables and spreadsheets using Microsoft Office on Linux. I know we can use MS Office alternatives like Libre Office or Open Office. But if there is a way to run Microsoft Office on Linux then I am sure many of us will want to try it.

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How to Use Microsoft Office on Linux

In dire need of using Microsoft Office on your Linux desktop? Here are your options for getting MS Office on Linux.

For many users, not having native support for Microsoft Office is the only reason why they do not switch to Linux. Yes, Microsoft Office is not available to install on Linux. Not having Microsoft Office on Linux creates additional pain for some existing users. Sure, there are several good open source office suites available and they are sufficient for most users. But there are situations when you are compelled to use MS Office. If other people at work send you Office documents with complex macros, it may not work well with LibreOffice. Similarly, if your university or workplace requires you to write in .docx or .xlsx and you use LibreOffice, there might be compatibility issues if tables, macros and other elements are involved. These are practical difficulties that are encountered by people who have to collaborate with MS office users. If you are in a situation where you must use Microsoft Office, you don’t need to ditch Linux altogether. Here are a few suggestions for using Microsoft Office on the Linux desktop.

Your options for using Microsoft Office on Linux

You can use various alternative methods to access Microsoft’s Office on Linux. Sure, it’s not the same using MS Office on Windows, but at least it allows you to work with Office documents.

1. Use Microsoft Office 365 Online

Yes, you can use Microsoft Office applications in your web browser. And this works on any operating system. That includes Linux, of course. This is the best way to access Microsoft Office apps if you have a stable internet connection. Note that the online Office version doesn’t have all the features you get in the desktop version. Still, it’s a good enough choice in many cases. If you have a Microsoft account, you can sign in to Microsoft 365 directly. If you don’t have one, you must create a Microsoft account. You can use a lite version of all the essential office tools like Microsoft Word, Excel, and more, right on your web browser without any paid subscription. Sounds good, right? The best part of this service is you can utilize free 5 GB of OneDrive storage to keep your documents online, and it integrates well will all the apps available in the suit. Not to forget, you can also use the mobile app on the go. Note that there are some feature differences between Office Online and its native desktop applications. You can learn more about it in its official documentation. Moreover, if you want to make the most out of it, with more cloud storage and some premium features, you may also opt for the Microsoft 365 subscription.

Pros

• Comes free with Microsoft account
• Documents are saved in the cloud and can be accessed from any device
• 5 GB of free storage with OneDrive
• Can be used on any operating system without installing the software

Cons

• You must create a Microsoft account
• Free version lacks features
• You can only store documents up to 5 GB for free
• Needs internet connection to access and edit files

2. Using a Windows compatibility program

What if you would like to experience the desktop app of Microsoft Office from within your Linux system?

You can use a virtual machine to install Windows, but we discuss that next, considering it is time-consuming.

Instead, you can use Windows compatibility layers for specific software, by which you can run them on Linux machines.

I’ll suggest two ways to install Microsoft Office desktop application on Linux

• Using PlayOnLinux (free but provides older versions of MS office)
• Using CrossOver (paid and comes with proper support)

Let me give you a brief overview of how to use them

Using PlayOnLinux

PlayOnLinux is one of the best ways to run Windows applications on Linux.

On Ubuntu, you can install it using a command through the terminal as follows:

sudo apt install winbind playonlinux winetricks -y 

After installation, launch the program and click on the Install button which will sync available packages and will allow us to install MS Office (desired version).

Now, you’ll be given a prompt where we will be searching for our desired software.

If you already purchased Microsoft Office earlier, you can have the installation media or the ISO file ready from their official download page.

Enable the option labeled as “No-cd needed” if you do not plan to use your installer, and search “Office”.

It will list all compatible Microsoft Office programs. Select your desired version and click on the Install button to download/install it automatically.

It will automatically create a virtual MS Office space and install Wine through the installer. Once you complete the basic steps, it will show you a prompt where you have to choose the installation method between the setup file and DVD.

We’ll be going with the first option for convenience. After selecting the first option, locate the setup file and all the other processes will be handled automatically.

Soon the installer will start the installation process and in no time you will get your favorite office suite installed on your system. You can directly access it without PlayOnLinux from your Linux system or from within the application as well.

For example, let’s try launching MS Word. Here’s what it looks like:

Note that you won’t find the latest version of Microsoft Office with this method, and probably not the best experience in terms of performance.

Using CrossOver

CrossOver is a paid software that lets you run Windows applications on Linux in the best way possible.

It is built on top of Wine, and several open-source projects. The CrossOver developers contribute heavily to the WINE project.

You just need to purchase it once and use it as long as you want. Unfortunately, you still cannot get the latest Microsoft Office version 2021 to work with it. The ratings are poor. The newest that works well with CrossOver is Office 2016 at the time of writing this article.

Oh, yes! CrossOver has a compatibility database. You can search for the desired Windows software and see if it is well-supported.

If you want convenience, and a tool to run Windows applications on Linux (not just Microsoft Office) and you don’t mind paying for it, you should try it out.

Pros

• No need for the internet while using Office
• Your existing Office license may work the same

Cons

3. Use a virtual machine to run Windows

So if you have enough system resources to spare, this option will enable you to use a wide range of exclusive software. It’s because, you will be using Windows from within Linux, as a virtual machine.

If you are unfamiliar, the virtual machine mechanism allows you to use another operating system (like Windows) inside Linux like a regular application.

If you are looking for an office suite identical to Microsoft Office with several essential features, OnlyOffice can be a great choice.

You can download the desktop edition for free on Linux, Windows, and macOS.

If you have a Nextcloud instance or similar, you can also integrate it with that for usage.

2. WPS Office

WPS Office was previously known as Kingsoft Office. The Chinese developers of WPS Offices are unabashed about imitating the look and feel of MS Office products.

This is not open-source, though.

WPS is fine-tuned for personal use and provides good compatibility with Microsoft Office documents.

Being one of the best alternatives to MS Office, you can follow our guide for easy installation and get WPS running in no time on Linux.

Pros

• No need for the internet while using Office
• Use the latest version of MS Office
• Use other Windows-only software

Cons

• Only works well with high-end computers with good system resources
• Licensing could be an issue

No real love for Linux from Microsoft but you’ll always find a way

Microsoft has clarified that it loves open-source as much as everyone. But, we still need to resort to numerous ways to run Microsoft Office on Linux. Instead of bringing its Office suite to Linux, Microsoft gifted its calculator to the community.

Linux users always find a way around things. Though MS Office is not officially available for Linux, you can still employ one of the workarounds I suggested here.

I think Office 365 is a good option if you are always connected to the internet.

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