How to Access Microsoft 365 (2026 Guide)
Microsoft 365 works across browser, desktop, and mobile — and in 2026, the Copilot-aware home at microsoft365.com is now the starting point most teams should use.
What it is
There are three ways to use Microsoft 365: in your browser, through the desktop apps, and via the mobile apps. Each one matters for different tasks, and the right one depends on what you’re doing.
The big change in 2026 is the browser experience. Microsoft 365’s home (microsoft365.com, formerly office.com) is no longer a static portal of app tiles. It’s a Copilot-aware dashboard that surfaces your recent files, suggests next actions, and lets you chat with Copilot from the same page. For most knowledge workers, this is now the starting point of the day.
The desktop apps still matter for serious work — complex Excel formulas, advanced PowerPoint animations, large Word documents — because they have the full feature set. The mobile apps are for quick reads, approvals, and access on the go.
Everything syncs across all three. Start a document on your desktop, edit it on your phone, finish it in the browser at home. Same file, same version, same place. No emailing yourself attachments.
Why it matters
Most people pick one access method and stick with it forever — usually whichever way IT set them up on day one. That’s a problem, because each method is genuinely better for different things.
- Browser is best for the Copilot-aware home, quick tasks, and shared/borrowed devices.
- Desktop apps are best for serious editing, offline work, and full feature access.
- Mobile apps are best for on-the-go reading, approvals, and quick edits.
The new home
microsoft365.com (the redirect from office.com still works) is now a Copilot dashboard, not an app launcher. Recent files, suggested actions, and a Copilot chat panel on the same page. If your IT hasn’t redirected your default tab there yet — do it yourself. It’s the most useful 30 seconds you’ll spend in Microsoft 365 this year.
When to use this
- When you switch between devices (office, home, phone) and want consistent access.
- When you’re using a borrowed or non-work computer — the browser is your friend.
- When you need the full feature set of an Office app — the desktop version is the answer.
- When you want to start your day with a Copilot-aware dashboard instead of a static portal.
How to do it
- Browser: Go to microsoft365.com (or office.com — both redirect to the same place). Sign in. The new Copilot-aware home appears with your recent files, suggested actions, and a Copilot chat panel.
- Desktop apps: Install Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneDrive from the Microsoft 365 admin portal or your IT self-service catalogue.
- Mobile apps: Install Microsoft 365 (the unified app), Outlook, Teams, OneDrive, and SharePoint from your app store.
- Sign into all three with the same work or school account so files, settings, and Copilot history follow you.
- Use Recent in any Microsoft 365 app — or the home dashboard — to pick up where you left off, regardless of device.
Best practices
- Set microsoft365.com as your default browser tab. The Copilot dashboard saves time once you’re used to it.
- Use desktop apps for editing, browser for collaboration, mobile for approvals and reading.
- Stay signed in with the same account everywhere. The ‘where did my file go’ problem is almost always a wrong-account problem.
- If you have Copilot, try ‘Hey Copilot’ (voice activation) on Windows. It surprised me how often I use it.
Common mistakes
- Bookmarking individual apps instead of starting from the Microsoft 365 home.
- Signing into the wrong account (personal vs work) and wondering why your files don’t appear.
- Using the browser apps when the desktop app is sitting on your machine. The desktop apps have features the browser doesn’t — and they work offline.
- Assuming the mobile apps are limited. The mobile Word and Excel apps in 2026 are genuinely powerful — including Copilot.
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What’s the URL for Microsoft 365?
microsoft365.com is the current URL — it’s the new Copilot-aware home page. The older URL office.com still works (it redirects to microsoft365.com). Both take you to the same place: the dashboard with your recent files, suggested actions, and a Copilot chat panel.
Do I need to install Microsoft 365 apps to use them?
No — every Microsoft 365 app works in the browser via microsoft365.com. The desktop apps have a fuller feature set (advanced Excel formulas, full PowerPoint animations, complex Word formatting) and work offline, but you can do most everyday work in the browser. The mobile apps are useful for on-the-go access. Install whichever combination suits how you work.
How do I install Microsoft 365 on my computer?
Sign into microsoft365.com, click your profile picture (top-right), choose My account, then Apps & devices. Click Install. The installer downloads the desktop apps (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneDrive). If the option isn’t there, your IT has restricted self-install — ask them to push the apps to you.
Can I use Microsoft 365 offline?
Yes — the desktop apps work offline. Files saved to OneDrive sync when you reconnect. The browser apps require an internet connection. The mobile apps have a partial offline mode (recently-opened files are cached). If you regularly work without internet, install the desktop apps.