Microsoft encourages Office PWAs, which could change the way people work with apps

Microsoft is pushing a new way to use Office apps on your computer: progressive web apps (PWAs). PWAs are web-based apps that run in your browser, but can also be installed on your device and work offline. They offer a fast, secure and lightweight alternative to traditional desktop or mobile apps.

¿Por qué Microsoft promueve las PWA para Office? Una razón es que pueden brindar una experiencia consistente y fluida en diferentes plataformas y dispositivos. Ya sea que use Windows, Mac, Linux, Android o iOS, puede acceder a las mismas PWA de Office con las mismas características y funcionalidades. No es necesario descargar ni actualizar nada, ya que las PWA siempre están actualizadas con la última versión.

Another reason is that PWAs can save you storage space and improve the performance of your device. Unlike mobile or desktop apps, PWAs don’t take up a lot of hard disk or memory space. They also don’t run in the background or consume resources when you’re not using them. This can make your device faster and more responsive.

How can Office PWAs be used? It’s easy. You just need to visit the Office website (office.com) in your browser and sign in with your Microsoft account. You will see a list of available Office applications, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote and more. You can click on any application to launch it in a new tab, or you can install it on your device by clicking on the «…» icon and selecting «Install Application». Once installed, you can access the application from the Start menu or the home screen, just like any other application.

What are the benefits of using Office PWAs? Here are some of the advantages:

– You can work online or offline. You can create, edit and save documents in the cloud when you are online or on your device when you are offline. You can also synchronize your files between devices and access them from anywhere.

– You can collaborate with others in real time. You can share documents with others and co-author them simultaneously. You can also chat, comment and track changes within the application.

– You can customize your experience. You can choose which applications to install and which to use on the web. You can also pin your favorite applications to your taskbar or dock for quick access.

– You can enjoy greater security and privacy. PWAs use HTTPS encryption and sandboxing to protect your data and prevent malicious attacks. They also respect your browser settings and permissions, so you have control over the information you share.

Office PWAs are not intended to completely replace desktop or mobile applications, but rather to complement them and offer users more options. Depending on your needs and preferences, you can use Office PWAs alongside or instead of other Office applications. Microsoft encourages users to try Office PWAs and see how they can change the way they work with applications.

Microsoft is reportedly installing Office PWAs on some Windows Insiders’ devices without their consent. This is a questionable move that hopefully won’t affect regular users, but it also raises the question of what Office PWAs are and how they can be useful.

PWAs, or progressive web apps, are web-based apps that can run on any device and offer some features of native apps, such as offline access, notifications and shortcuts. They are designed to be fast, reliable and attractive. Office PWAs are essentially web versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint and other Office apps that you can access from your browser or install on your device.

Why would you want to use Office PWAs? Well, they have some advantages over traditional Office applications. For one, they are always up-to-date and don’t require installation or updating. They also take up less space on your device and can sync with your Microsoft account and OneDrive. They can work offline and allow you to edit documents without an Internet connection. And they are compatible with most browsers and platforms, so you can use them on any device.

Of course, Office PWAs also have some limitations. They don’t have all the features and functionality of mobile or desktop Office apps. They may not work well with complex or large files. They may not support some formats or integrations you need. And they may not offer the same level of security and privacy as native apps.

Therefore, Office PWAs are not intended to replace Office applications, but to complement them. They can be useful for quick tasks, simple edits or working on the go. They can also be a good option for users who do not have a Microsoft 365 subscription or who prefer a web-based solution.

If you are interested in trying Office PWAs, you can visit office.com and sign in with your Microsoft account. You can then access the web versions of the Office applications and choose to install them as PWAs if you wish. You can also uninstall them at any time if you don’t like them.

However, if you are not interested in Office PWAs, you should be able to opt out if Microsoft decides to install them on your device. We hope Microsoft will respect users’ choices and preferences and not force them to use something they don’t want or need.

If you’re looking for a way to access Microsoft 365 apps (formerly known as Office 365) without installing anything on your PC, you may want to try a PWA. A PWA, or Progressive Web App, is essentially a web page that acts like an app and can be pinned to the Windows 10 Start menu. You can use Microsoft 365 apps such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook as PWAs and enjoy the same features and functionality as the desktop versions.

Why use a PWA instead of a desktop application? Well, there are a few benefits to using a PWA. First of all, you don’t need to download or update anything. The PWA runs in the cloud and always has the latest version. Secondly, you don’t have to worry about compatibility issues or storage space. The PWA works on any device and browser that supports it and does not take up space on your hard drive. Third, you can switch seamlessly between online and offline modes. The PWA can work offline and synchronize your changes when you reconnect to the Internet.

Of course, using a PWA also has some drawbacks. For example, you may experience some performance issues or delays if your Internet connection is slow or unstable. You may also miss out on some features or integrations that are only available in desktop applications. And you may have some security or privacy concerns about storing your data in the cloud.

Ultimately, the choice between using a PWA or a desktop application depends on your personal preferences and needs. I personally use both depending on the situation. Sometimes I create new documents in my local copy of Word and save them to my hard drive and sometimes I use the online version of Word and save them to OneDrive. I find that both options offer me a similar user experience and convenience.

If you want to try using Microsoft 365 apps as a PWA, here’s how you can do it. First, open your browser (I recommend using Edge) and go to office.com. Sign in with your Microsoft account and select the app you want to use. Then, click the three-dot menu icon in the upper right corner and select Apps > Install this site as an app. Name the application and click Install. You should see the application icon appear in the taskbar and Start menu. You can now launch the application from there and use it as a PWA.