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You cannot legally download the full desktop version of Microsoft Excel for free on Windows 10. Microsoft’s free Excel offering is Excel for the web, which runs in a browser and saves files to OneDrive. It does not install Excel on your PC.

To use desktop Excel, you need either a Microsoft 365 subscription or a separately purchased Office license. The old Excel Mobile app is not a current free replacement: Microsoft removed the Word Mobile, Excel Mobile, and PowerPoint Mobile Windows apps from the Microsoft Store after support ended on October 14, 2025.

Use Excel for free in your browser

Excel for the web includes the core spreadsheet features most people need for budgets, lists, calculations, tables, and basic charts. It requires no download or installation.

  1. Open Microsoft365.com in Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox.
  2. Select Sign in.
  3. Sign in with a Microsoft account. You can create one using a new Outlook.com address or an existing email address.
  4. Open the app launcher, or select Excel from the Microsoft 365 home page.
  5. Select Blank workbook, or open an existing workbook stored in OneDrive.

A Free badge on the Microsoft 365 page indicates that you are using the free web apps without an active Microsoft 365 Personal or Family subscription.

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What the free version includes

  • Excel, Word, and PowerPoint web apps
  • 5 GB of OneDrive online storage
  • Browser-based editing and saving
  • Access from a supported computer or other device with an internet connection

It does not include the Windows desktop Excel application. You also do not need to run a command or download an installer for this option.

Which browser works on Windows 10?

Microsoft lists current versions of Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Mozilla Firefox as supported browsers for Microsoft 365 for the web on Windows 10. Internet Explorer 11 is not supported for Microsoft 365 apps and services.

Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. The browser version of Excel may still open on a Windows 10 computer, but moving to a supported Windows release is the safer option for security and compatibility.

Download desktop Excel with a paid license

If you need Excel to work offline, use advanced desktop features, or edit files without a browser, install the desktop apps through a licensed Microsoft account.

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Microsoft Office Home & Business 2024 | Classic Desktop Apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote | One-Time Purchase for 1 PC/MAC | Instant Download [PC/Mac Online Code]
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  • [Desktop Only & Customer Support] — To install and use on one PC or Mac, on desktop only. Microsoft 365 has your back with readily available technical support through chat or phone.

Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions include the desktop Office apps. A one-time Office license can also include Excel, depending on the edition you buy. Neither option is a free download.

Install Excel with a personal Microsoft account

  1. Go to m365.cloud.microsoft/apps.
  2. Select Sign in and use the account that owns the Microsoft 365 subscription or Office license.
  3. Select Install apps.
  4. Select Install, or select Install apps > and then choose the available Office installation.
  5. Open the downloaded installer. Depending on the browser, the file may appear as Run in Edge, Setup in Chrome, or Save File in Firefox.
  6. If Windows asks, “Do you want to allow this app to make changes to your device?”, select Yes.
  7. Wait for the installation to finish. When you see You’re all set! Office is installed now, select Close.
  8. Select the Windows Start button, type Excel, and open the app.

Excel may ask you to sign in the first time it starts. Use the account associated with the license so that Office can be activated.

Install Excel through a work or school account

Your organization must assign you a Microsoft 365 license that includes the desktop apps. The administrator may also restrict users from installing software.

  1. Sign in at m365.cloud.microsoft/apps with your work or school account.
  2. Select Install apps on the home page.
  3. If that option is not visible, select Apps in the left navigation pane.
  4. Select Install apps, then Microsoft 365 apps.
  5. Run or save the installer and complete the on-screen setup.

Why is “Install apps” missing?

The most common explanations are:

  • You signed in with a free account that only provides the web apps.
  • Your Microsoft 365 subscription does not include desktop applications.
  • Your employer or school has not assigned a desktop-app license.
  • Your organization has disabled software installation.
  • You are signed in with a different Microsoft account from the one that owns the license.

For a work or school account, contact the Microsoft 365 administrator if the installation option is missing. For a personal account, check the subscription or purchase associated with the account at Microsoft’s account services page.

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Fix a slow or failed Excel installation

A Microsoft 365 installation can take longer than expected because of a slow internet connection, firewall software, or antivirus software. Try these checks:

  1. Confirm that the computer has a stable internet connection.
  2. Temporarily check whether security software is blocking the installer. Do not leave antivirus protection disabled longer than necessary.
  3. Close other large downloads and bandwidth-heavy applications.
  4. Restart Windows and try the installation again from m365.cloud.microsoft/apps.
  5. Use Microsoft’s offline installer option if the connection is slow or unreliable.

Do not download a supposed “free Excel setup” from an unofficial website. These installers may contain malware, modified software, or tools that steal Microsoft account credentials.

32-bit or 64-bit Excel on Windows 10

Microsoft 365 installs the 64-bit version by default unless it detects an existing 32-bit Microsoft 365 or Office installation, or a 32-bit standalone application such as Project or Visio.

To switch between versions, uninstall Microsoft 365 first. Then return to m365.cloud.microsoft/apps, select Install apps, choose the language and either 64-bit or 32-bit, and select Install. Do not install a different bitness over the existing Office installation.

Free tools Windows power users keep installed

One-click scans. No signup required.

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Microsoft 365 Family | 12-Month Subscription | Up to 6 People | Premium Office Apps: Word, Excel, PowerPoint and more | 1TB Cloud Storage | Windows Laptop or MacBook Instant Download | Activation Required
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Does Office 2024 provide a free Excel download?

No. Office 2024 is a paid, one-time-purchase product. Microsoft’s current requirements list Windows 11 for the Windows edition, so it is not a new free Excel solution for Windows 10.

An already-installed Microsoft 365 desktop app may continue to run on Windows 10, but Microsoft no longer supports the Windows 10 and Microsoft 365 combination as a supported operating-system pairing. Microsoft says it will continue providing Microsoft 365 security updates on Windows 10 through October 10, 2028; new features and other support are not provided during that period.

Free Excel alternatives if the web app is not enough

If you need an installed spreadsheet program but do not want a Microsoft 365 subscription, alternatives such as LibreOffice Calc can be installed on Windows. They are not Microsoft Excel and may differ in formatting, formulas, macros, and compatibility with complex .xlsx workbooks. For the genuine Microsoft product, Excel for the web is the free option.

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FAQ

Can I download Excel for free on Windows 10?

Not the full desktop application. Microsoft provides Excel for the web at Microsoft365.com at no charge, but desktop Excel requires a Microsoft 365 subscription or a paid Office license.

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Is Excel free in the Microsoft Store?

The former Excel Mobile Windows app is no longer available for download from the Microsoft Store. The current free Microsoft offering is Excel for the web, which runs in a browser.

Can I use Excel without installing anything?

Yes. Go to Microsoft365.com, sign in with a Microsoft account, and select Excel. The web app runs in Edge, Chrome, or Firefox and stores files in OneDrive.

Can I use free Excel offline?

Excel for the web is designed for browser-based use and normally requires an internet connection. Offline desktop use requires a licensed desktop version of Excel.

Why do I see Excel in Microsoft 365 but no Install apps button?

Your account may only have access to the free web apps, your subscription may not include desktop apps, or a work or school administrator may not have assigned a suitable license or allowed installation.

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Will desktop Excel work on Windows 10?

An existing Microsoft 365 installation may continue functioning, but Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025. Microsoft says Microsoft 365 security updates for Windows 10 continue through October 10, 2028, without new features or full support for that operating-system combination.

The Bottom Line

For a genuinely free Microsoft Excel experience on Windows 10, open Microsoft365.com, sign in, and use Excel for the web. There is no current free, downloadable desktop Excel app for Windows 10. If you need the installed application, obtain a Microsoft 365 subscription or a paid Office license, then install it from m365.cloud.microsoft/apps.

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