Apps like Office 365 need updates to keep everything running smoothly, add new features, and patch security holes. Microsoft’s got a pretty good system in place, but sometimes automatic updates just don’t kick in — maybe because you disabled them, or glitches happen. So, if you’re missing out on the latest stuff or facing bugs that *should* be fixed, updating manually becomes necessary. Not the most fun task, but better than dealing with outdated software, right? This guide aims to walk through each method to get Office 365 updated on your Windows 10 or 11 machine, whether through built-in options, Windows updates, or the Microsoft Store. Once done, expect any new features to be available, performance to improve, and security patches to kick in. Usually, each of these steps is straightforward, but Windows can be weird about some settings, so a little patience helps.
How to Update Office 365 in Windows 10/11
Method 1: Turn On Office Automatic Updates
Office 365 typically updates in the background when it can, but if updates aren’t showing up, it might be because automatic updates are disabled. This is common if someone toggled the setting or there’s a glitch. Enabling auto-updates ensures you get the latest versions without fuss.
- Open Microsoft Office 365 — usually just by launching any Office app like Word or Excel.
- Go to File > Account (or Office Account in some versions).
- Look under Product Information — if it says “Updates are automatically downloaded and installed, ” good. If it says, “This app will not update, ” then it’s time to enable updates.
- Click the Update Options dropdown (small arrow next to Update Now)
- Select Enable Updates. You might have to restart Office apps afterward so it can recognize the change.
Why it works? Because if updates are turned off, Office can’t update on its own, missing out on the latest security fixes or features. On some setups, this toggle might get turned off after a Windows update or if someone fiddled with settings. On one machine, it took a reboot of Office to actually recognize the change, so don’t be surprised if it doesn’t work immediately.
Method 2: Update Office 365 Using Windows Update
This one’s kind of a sneaky trick — because Windows Update doesn’t just update Windows itself, but also things like Office if you’ve got the right settings turned on. On newer Windows versions, Office updates are bundled with Windows updates, but you might need to double-check a couple of things if updates aren’t coming through.
- Go to Start > Settings > Windows Update.
- Click on Advanced Options.
- Find the toggle labeled Receive updates for other Microsoft products. If it’s off, turn it on. This is often turned off by default, which explains why Office updates don’t show up.
- Make sure Pause updates isn’t activated, and then click Check for updates.
Next time Windows updates, Office should update too — if updates are pending. Be aware though, sometimes it takes a while for the updates to show up after Windows updates, so a bit of patience is needed. This method is kind of hit or miss depending on your setup, but it’s worth trying if you’re not seeing updates and you’ve already checked the Office settings.
Method 3: Use Microsoft Store to Update Office 365
If you’ve installed Office via the Microsoft Store, this approach can be quicker. Just opening the store and hitting refresh will often do the trick, especially when you know an update is out but hasn’t been installed yet.
- Close all Office apps like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.
- Open the Microsoft Store app.
- Make sure you’re signed in with the same account linked to your Office subscription (check here to avoid confusion).
- Click on the Library icon (bottom-left).
- Hit Get updates. The store will then check for any pending updates for all apps. If an Office update is available, it will show up here — just hit Update next to it.
Quick heads up, this method updates all your installed apps from the store, not just Office, so it’s handy if you use other store apps too. On some setups, the update might not show immediately — sometimes you have to restart the store or even reboot your PC for it to kick in.
Steps to Update Office 365 from Office Applications
Another way is to manually update directly from within an Office app — works pretty much the same across all of them. Here’s how to do it in Excel, but it’s identical with Word or PowerPoint.
Update Microsoft Office Excel
- Open Microsoft Excel.
- Click on the File tab.
- Navigate to Account (sometimes under Office Account).
- Click Update Options > Update Now.
- Wait while Excel checks for updates. If there’s a new version, it’ll download and install automatically.
This process is simple but often overlooked. Remember, you need to repeat this in each Office app if you want to make sure all your Office programs are up to date. Because of course, Office apps don’t automatically sync their update status — fun times, Windows.
Final Words
If all this seems a bit techy or confusing, don’t worry. Sometimes, even after trying these steps, updates still sit in limbo, and a reboot or re-login might be needed. It’s kinda normal with Windows and Office combo updates. Keep in mind that Microsoft’s update system is usually behind the scenes, but it doesn’t always work perfectly.
Hopefully, this gets some updates moving. If not, you might need to consider reinstalling Office or checking for system issues. Often, these fixes solve most update woes, but sometimes, you’re just waiting on Microsoft’s servers. Fingers crossed this helps.
Summary
- Make sure Office update settings are enabled inside Office apps.
- Check Windows update settings for “Receive updates for other Microsoft products.”
- Use Microsoft Store to manually fetch updates if Office was installed through it.
- Update directly from Office apps if quick fixes are needed.
Wrap-up
Getting Office 365 updates isn’t always straightforward, especially with Windows updates playing middleman. But once it’s set up right, the updates should flow smoothly. If you run into issues, revisiting each method or even reinstalling Office might be necessary. Overall, these steps will cover most of the common problems. Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone, and your Office stays current without all the fuss.