How to edit in Word when I don't have Word?

February 24, 2023 8:27 AM

I recently bought a new Macbook Air. I'm on a trip right now and a freelance job came in that I'd like to do. The client sent me the doc in Word. I don't have Word on this new laptop. (I do have Word on my home desktop.) I can open the document in Office 365 and read it and make changes, but I don't see how to save a copy locally and then email back the edited document. Any ideas?

I'll be home on Sunday and could work on this next week on my desktop, but I'd prefer to get it done now. Is my only option to buy another copy of Word and download and install it? I can work on the Office 365 web-based option, and then (somehow?) open it and download it on my desktop when I get home to email back to the client on Monday, but it's not immediately obvious how to do this. I'm afraid that I will spend 10 hours on this and then lose my work when I try to return the doc on Monday. I will need to track changes and make comments. Anyone have a solution that's not buying Word and downloading it, or waiting until Monday to start the work?

posted by Ollie to Computers & Internet (9 answers total)

Libre Office

Open source option, works with all versions of Word and allows for track changes
posted by spranks at 8:28 AM on February 24, 2023 [8 favorites]

Here are some more sites for you;
https://www.makeuseof.com/tag/best-microsoft-office-alternatives-mac/
posted by LOOKING at 8:35 AM on February 24, 2023 [1 favorite]

Seconding Libre Office. Cross-compatibility is quite good (assuming the document isn't exotically formatted). Google docs should also work OK.
posted by Jessica Savitch's Coke Spoon at 8:36 AM on February 24, 2023 [1 favorite]

In the Office 365 version of Word, you should be able to click File, then Save As, then "Download a copy".
posted by mrgoldenbrown at 8:42 AM on February 24, 2023 [7 favorites]

If you don't have super complex formatting and you're going to have internet access you can upload to Google Docs and export as an MS Word doc. Pages which also may have come with your Mac also has an "export as Word" function.
posted by jessamyn at 8:48 AM on February 24, 2023 [5 favorites]

You can also do a trial with Office, but save as .docx works well.
posted by theora55 at 8:53 AM on February 24, 2023

Best answer: In the Office 365 version of Word, you should be able to click File, then Save As, then "Download a copy".

Yes, this should work fine; here's some screenshots.

Also, maybe I'm misunderstanding the question, but it sounds like you do have an office365 subscription? Even a personal subscription will allow installing the apps locally on multiple devices (up to 5 I think), so if this is true you should also be able to just download word on your laptop and authorize it, as long as you have auths left.
posted by advil at 9:06 AM on February 24, 2023 [5 favorites]

Response by poster: Ah, okay, durr. I was able to install Word based on the 365 subscription. This was provided through a school and I didn't think it was possible, but it is! Thank you.
posted by Ollie at 9:19 AM on February 24, 2023 [3 favorites]

Google Docs. And I just discovered Only Office and it’s so much better than MSO and LibreOffice. I’m not sure which apps it includes but it definitely has docs and sheets. It’s lightweight and free and works with the Apple chip.
posted by bendy at 11:07 PM on February 25, 2023