Describe Microsoft 365 Apps

  • 5 minutes

Microsoft 365 Apps is an always up-to-date desktop, mobile, and web version of the core Office apps. Microsoft 365 Apps are available in both Microsoft 365 Apps for business and Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise subscriptions. Depending on the subscription, the apps that might be included are Access (PC only),Excel, Microsoft Teams, OneDrive, OneNote, Outlook, PowerPoint, Publisher (PC only), and Word. You can use these applications to connect with services such as Microsoft Exchange Online and SharePoint Online.

Note

Microsoft Project and Visio aren't included with Microsoft 365 Apps but are available with other subscription plans.

Note

"PC only" means the application is compatible exclusively with personal computers running Windows operating system.

Microsoft 365 Apps has the benefits of the cloud, giving you the flexibility to work anytime, anywhere, on any device helping you be more productive.

  • Work across multiple devices. Get the fully installed Office apps on multiple PCs, Macs, tablets, and mobile devices (including Windows, iOS, and Android). View and edit files at home, in the office or on the go.
  • Work with apps that are always up-to-date. You don't need to spend time installing updates or worrying about when features will be released because it's all done for you. Microsoft 365 Apps is updated regularly, as often as monthly. You'll always be working with the most current features.
  • Work intelligently through connected experiences. Microsoft 365 Apps include intelligent features, also called connected experiences, to help you get work done faster and create amazing content. Connected experiences analyze your content to provide you with recommendations to improve your work. For example, get slide design recommendations through PowerPoint Designer, editing and proofing suggestions through Editor in Word, or get automatic updates to a bibliography through Researcher in Word. To learn more about the connected experiences available, see Connected experiences in Office.
  • Work in an entirely new way. Microsoft 365 Copilot works alongside you, seamlessly embedded into the Microsoft 365 Apps you use daily. Microsoft 365 Copilot helps you stay in the flow of work and frees you to focus more on the task at hand and less on the busy work. Microsoft 365 Copilot aims to spark creativity, boost productivity, and foster new skills, providing relevant recommendations in applications like Word, Outlook, and PowerPoint. Since AI-generated content might be incorrect, remember to always check your facts, review, modify and iterate. Copilot is not autopilot.

Screenshot showing the available Microsoft 365 Apps.

The following list describes the applications and services that might be included in Microsoft 365 Apps (depending on your subscription):

  • Microsoft Teams can help you bring everyone together in one place to meet, chat, call, and collaborate. Microsoft 365 Copilot in Teams makes meetings more productive with real-time summaries and action items directly in the context of the conversation. For more information on Teams, see Video Conferencing, Meetings, Calling | Microsoft Teams.
  • Word can help you create impressive documents and improve your writing with built-in intelligent features like Microsoft Editor and Researcher. Microsoft 365 Copilot in Word helps you understand and summarize documents, write, edit and create content right alongside you as you work. For more information on Word, see Microsoft Word - Word Processing Software | Microsoft 365.
  • Excel can help you simplify complex data and create easy-to-read spreadsheets and visualizations. Microsoft 365 Copilot in Excel helps you unlock insights, identify trends or create professional-looking data visualizations in a fraction of the time. For more information on Excel, see Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet Software | Microsoft 365.
  • PowerPoint can help you create polished presentations that stand out with intelligent features like Presenter Coach and PowerPoint Designer. Microsoft 365 Copilot in PowerPoint helps you create, design and format your slides into an impactful presentation through natural language commands. For more information on PowerPoint, see Microsoft PowerPoint Slide Presentation Software | Microsoft 365.
  • Outlook can help you manage your email, calendar, tasks, and contacts together in one place. Microsoft 365 Copilot in Outlook helps you draft emails or write better emails, and catch up on important conversations. For more information on Outlook, see Microsoft Outlook Personal Email and Calendar | Microsoft 365.
  • OneNote can help you with your note taking needs by organizing your notes into tabs and subsections creating a single digital notebook. Microsoft 365 Copilot in OneNote supercharges your note taking and helps you understand, create, and recall information at the click of a button. For more information on OneNote, see Microsoft OneNote Digital Note Taking App | Microsoft 365.
  • OneDrive can help you save, access, edit and share files and photos wherever you are. Microsoft 365 Copilot in OneDrive helps enhance file organization, categorization and retrieval through natural language searches. For more information on OneDrive, see Microsoft OneDrive Cloud Storage and File Sharing | Microsoft 365 or Personal Cloud Storage – Microsoft OneDrive.
  • Access (PC only) can help you create your own database apps easily without being a developer. For more information, see Database Software and Applications | Microsoft Access.
  • Publisher (PC only) can help you create polished, professional content from greeting cards, labels to newsletters and marketing materials. For more information, see Desktop Publishing Software | Download MS Publisher (microsoft.com).

To learn more about the list of features available in Microsoft 365 Apps for business, see Microsoft 365 Apps for business.

To learn more about the list of features available in Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise, see Buy Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise - Microsoft 365.