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Software downloads

Download, install, or setup Office 2013

  1. Sign in to your Microsoft account
  2. In the side menu, click Downloads, Product Keys, and Subscriptions
  3. Find your purchased Office 2013 product and click Install/Manage > Install
    • Click Additional install options if you want to switch between 32-bit and 64-bit versions
  4. If a dialog box pops up, click Run to start the installation
  5. Follow the installation wizard instructions to finish installing Office

Download, install, or setup Office 365 Home, Personal, or University

  1. Sign in to your Microsoft account
  2. In the side menu, click Downloads, Product Keys, and Subscriptions
  3. Find your Office 365 subscription and click Manage your subscription > Install
    • To install a different language version, click Language and install options, select your language, then click Install
    • To choose between 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Office, click Language and install options > Additional install options
  4. If a dialog box pops up, click Run to start the installation
  5. Follow the installation wizard instructions to finish installing Office

For more information, go to Office Frequently Asked Questions or the Office system requirements page.

If you run into install problems, go to the download, install and setup Office page.

Download and install Windows 8.1 from Windows 7

  1. Sign in to your Microsoft account
  2. In the side menu, click Downloads, Product Keys, and Subscriptions
  3. Find your Windows 8.1 purchase, then click Download
  4. If a dialog box pops up, click Run to start the installation
  5. Follow the installation wizard instructions to finish installing Windows 8.1

Download and install Windows 8 from Windows Vista or XP

  1. Sign in to your Microsoft account
  2. In the side menu, click Downloads, Product Keys, and Subscriptions
  3. Find your Windows 8 purchase, then click Download
  4. If any dialog boxes pop up, just click Run to continue the installation
  5. Follow the installation wizard instructions to finish installing Windows 8
  6. After you install Windows 8, you can install the free update to Windows 8.1

Download instructions for other software

You can use the instructions above to download and install other software products using the browser. Select your specific product from the Downloads, Product Keys, and Subscriptions page.

Benefits of downloadable software

There are many benefits to downloading your software:

  • It's convenient and environmentally friendly
  • You don't have to wait for your software to ship
  • A backup of your software and your product key are available online for you to access anytime, whether your computer crashes or you want to reinstall your software
  • Returns are easier because there is nothing for you to send back
  • Software files are delivered directly to your computer over the Internet using state-of-the-art technology

32-bit or 64-bit

Determine whether you need 32- or 64-bit software:

If you are using Windows XP

  1. Click Start, right-click My Computer, and then click Properties.
    2. On the General tab, look for the System type:
  2. System Type will be "x64" if you’re using a 64-bit operating system
  3. System Type will be "x86" if you’re using a 32-bit operating system

If you are using Windows 7 or Windows Vista

  1. Click Start, right-click Computer, and then click Properties.
  2. System Type will be "64-bit Operating System" if you’re using a 64-bit operating system
  3. System Type will be "32-bit Operating System" if you’re using a 32-bit operating system

If you are using Windows 8 or Windows 8.1

  1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen and tap Settings > Change PC settings > PC and devices > PC info
    (If you're using a mouse: Point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, and then click Settings > Change PC settings > PC and devices > PC info)
  2. System Type will be "64-bit Operating System" if you’re using a 64-bit operating system
  3. System Type will be "32-bit Operating System" if you’re using a 32-bit operating system

To learn more about 32- and 64-bit, see What's the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows.

Troubleshoot your download or installation

If you experience any issues while downloading or installing your software, you can check to see if your question has been answered below before contacting customer support.

Download Files and Save Location

  1. What is the .box file extension?

    The .box file extension is a compressed data format, similar to the commonly used zip file. The .box file contains one or more files that are reduced in file size.

  2. Why is my software downloading so slowly?

    There are many factors that could affect your download speed, including hardware issues or a poor Internet connection. If you are experiencing slower than usual downloads, contact your Internet service provider to try to diagnose the issue.

  3. Where are my saved files?

    Your downloaded software files are saved to the following default location:

    C:\Users\<your name>\Downloads\
  4. How long are my software files available to download?

    Your software files will be available until Microsoft ends Mainstream Support for your product, which is typically five years after a product is released. For example, if you purchase Windows Vista or Office 2007, Microsoft Store makes them available for download until April 2012. You can still use these products after that date, but you won't be able to download the files again.

Product Keys

Where do I enter my product key?

You will enter your product key during installation. Be sure to include the dashes (-), for example, XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX.

ISO Files

What is an ISO file and why should I choose this file type?

An ISO file is one that contains all the installation files for your program. The ISO file makes backing up your installation files easy. You should only choose the ISO file type if you want to install Windows 7 on a different computer than the one you are currently using.

How to contact support

For Microsoft Store purchases and questions, visit Sales and Support. Before contacting Support, check the Troubleshooting section to see if your question has been answered.

Remove installation files or uninstall software

Once you have installed your software, you can safely remove the installation files from your computer. Removing the installation files will not uninstall the program from your computer.

  1. Navigate to the folder where you downloaded the software installation files.
  2. The default location is:

    Windows XP: My Documents/Downloads

    Windows 8, Windows 7 or Windows Vista: Downloads

  3. Delete the installation files.

You can uninstall software that you no longer want on your computer. If you later want to reinstall your software and the product is still covered by Mainstream Support, you can download the installation files again from your Microsoft Store account.

If you are using Windows 8.1

  1. Swipe in from the right edge of the screen and tap Settings > Control Panel > Uninstall a program
    (If you're using a mouse: Point to the lower-right corner of the screen, move the mouse pointer up, and then click Settings > Control Panel > Uninstall a program)
  2. Select your program from the list, and then click Uninstall

If you are using Windows 7 or Windows Vista

  1. Click Start > Control Panel > Programs, and then Uninstall a program
  2. Select your program from the list, and then click Uninstall

If you are using Windows XP

  1. Click Start > Control Panel > and then Add/Remove Programs
  2. Select your program from the list, and then click Uninstall
 

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