Content

• To step
• Method 1 of 3: Legal method
• Method 2 of 3: Illegal method
• Method 3 of 3: Alternatives
• Tips

Microsoft Word is the most used part of Microsoft Office office software and is generally seen as the standard word processing program. Read the steps below to find out how to download Word for free.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Legal method

1. Consider a trial version. Unfortunately, Microsoft has never released a full version of any part of Office for free, not even old and outdated versions. So, besides illegally downloading the software, the best thing you can do is download a free trial version. Microsoft releases free trial versions of Office. They hope that if you like this well enough, you are willing to pay for the full version. The full version costs a minimum of € 139.00 (or € 135.00 if you only buy Word).
2. Download the trial version. You can also subscribe to Microsoft Office. You can try Office for free for a month by visiting Microsoft's official website. Click on the green button that says "Start your free month" to start the download process.
   • The free trial version of Microsoft Office includes the entire Office package, plus some other benefits such as 60 minutes of free Skype calls to any phone. If an update for the software appears during your trial period, your version of Office will be automatically updated.
3. Cancel the trial before the month ends. Like many subscriptions, an Office subscription will cost you money monthly ($ 10 a month or $ 99 a full year) if you don't cancel the trial before the month is up. So make a note of this in a visible place and make sure to cancel the version at least one full day before the end of the period to avoid any problems.

Method 2 of 3: Illegal method

1. Know what you're getting yourself into. Getting a version of Microsoft Office (or even just Word) without paying for it means you're guilty of digital piracy. Unlike other companies, Microsoft is very vigilant about digital piracy. Even though they probably won't take legal action against you, you can never be sure. Microsoft also installs complex security measures in each of its programs. That's why you probably need a so called crack run on your computer. This is a small program that breaks the security of the software so that the software thinks you paid for Office. Cracks sometimes contain spyware or viruses. So be very careful when running a crack.
2. Find a torrent. Use a torrent search engine such as http://torrentz.eu to search for "Microsoft Word" or "Microsoft Office." Review your results, taking the time to read user comments and check the average rating of the torrents to make sure the torrent of your choice is genuine. When you have found a good torrent, download it using the torrent program of your choice. (If you don't have a torrent program, µTorrent is a good choice). If there are enough seeders (people who already have the file and share it with others), the download should start immediately.
   • Some torrent files also contain the crack itself. If you can find such a torrent file with a good rating, download it so you don't have to go through the trouble of finding the crack yourself.
   • The latest version of Microsoft Office is Office 2013. However, Office 2010 should work just as well for most people. If you are having trouble finding the latest version, try to find an older version.
   • For a torrent file for an office suite the size of Microsoft Office, it will take some time to fully download, even if there are enough seeders. Leave your torrent program running and check the progress of your download later.
3. Look for a crack. Search the internet for a crack for your version of Office, if necessary. This is very dangerous for your computer, because in the so-called underbelly of the internet where you can find the most cracks, it is crawling with harmful and aggressive programs. Make sure your antivirus program is up to date and running in the background.
4. Open the file and follow the instructions. The first thing to do if you downloaded a version that contains a crack is to read the README file. This file should contain detailed instructions on how to use the crack to crack Office security and trick the program into thinking you have a license. Most cracks collect some initial data from the program you want to crack (you have to get it manually by running the program) and then use it to generate code. Always follow the directions carefully, however the crack works. Enter the code into Office after it has been generated. You should now be able to use Office for free.
   • Do not send information to Microsoft when prompted! They will likely find out what's going on and ban you from the program or cause you trouble in some other way.
   • If there are questionable steps in the instructions (such as opening and modifying system files, or starting other programs besides Office), do not take them without first asking a trusted friend for expert advice. Chances are that this is a mean joke that can seriously damage your computer.
   • You can throw away the crack after using it. You don't have to leave the crack on your computer to keep Office seeing you as a legitimate user.

Method 3 of 3: Alternatives

1. Download free office software. There are many office packages available and not all of them cost money. In fact, some of the best home, student, or small business packages are just free. Although they generally don't have as many features as Microsoft Office and are not always as stable, they are more than suitable for the average user who just needs to be able to type a report for work or an essay for school.
   • OpenOffice is probably the most famous and the most popular office suite available. It is open source software, which means that anyone who can program can contribute to the program. The OpenOffice word processor has no trouble with Word documents and can even export its own files as Word documents.
   • LibreOffice is based on OpenOffice and supports Microsoft's Open XML protocol by default (while OpenOffice requires a plug-in for this support). It's a fairly new, but powerful and highly regarded package. Many of the developers who used to work for OpenOffice now work for LibreOffice instead.
   • IBM Lotus Symphony was developed by IBM based on OpenOffice. It is a well-developed and fast package, which contains almost all functions of OpenOffice.
2. Use an online alternative. In addition to the traditional software packages that you can download to use on your own computer, there are also a number of powerful word processors and office packages that you can use online. Some of them are even free. The advantage of this is that you can work on something anytime and anywhere.
   • Microsoft's own cloud service, OneDrive, even has a full version of Office available for personal use for free, which you can use completely online. You can type and edit texts, save them to your hard drive and even print documents from the Office Online app. The only limitation is that you cannot use this for a group - not even for a very small group such as a family business. Just sign up for OneDrive and go to Word from a drop-down menu at the top of the homepage.
   • Tiki Wiki CMS Groupware is developed for groups (such as companies and non-profit organizations) rather than individual users, but there are no restrictions for individual use. It is a free and open source program, based on a wiki, which is very comprehensive and, in addition to a powerful online office suite, also includes a dizzying array of other functionalities that you may or may not find useful.
   • ThinkFree Online is a well-developed and graphically appealing online office package that is completely free. It includes basic functionalities such as a word processor and a spreadsheet program. It also works on various devices and offers you the possibility to view and edit files quickly and directly without having to log in to the complete online package if you are in a hurry.

Tips

• Try out a few different programs (including Word) and choose the one that works best for you.