Microsoft 365 works on iPad through the Microsoft 365 app, the web version at Office.com, or individual Office apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint

You can access Microsoft 365 on an iPad in three ways. The easiest is downloading the Microsoft 365 app from the Apple App Store, which gives you a single place to open documents, create new files, and manage your subscription. You can also use the web version by going to Office.com in Safari or another browser on your iPad. Or you can read individual apps — Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, and Outlook — each as a separate read from the App Store.

Which route you choose depends on how you work. The single Microsoft 365 app is simplest if you switch between document types. The web version works without downloading anything but requires an internet connection and a smaller screen. Individual apps give you the most control and the most screen space for each task, but you manage five separate downloads instead of one.

Key Takeaways

  • Microsoft 365 on iPad requires a subscription; you cannot use Office apps for free on iPad even if you own a license on a computer.
  • The Microsoft 365 app, Office.com in a browser, and individual Office apps all work on iPad, and you can switch between them with the same subscription.
  • A Microsoft 365 Personal subscription costs one amount per year and covers one person on unlimited devices; a Family subscription covers up to six people.
  • You need a Microsoft account to sign in, which is free to create and separate from your subscription.
  • Files you create on iPad sync to OneDrive automatically if you are signed in, so you can open them on other devices.

Subscription types and what each costs per year

Microsoft 365 Personal costs a set amount per year (the exact price varies by region and changes periodically, so check the Microsoft Store for your location). It covers one person and works on unlimited devices — phone, tablet, computer, all at once. You get the full versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and other apps, plus 1 TB of OneDrive storage.

Microsoft 365 Family costs more per year than Personal but covers up to six people in the same household. Each person gets their own account, their own 1 TB of OneDrive storage, and can install Office on unlimited devices. If you share an iPad with family members, each person signs in with their own Microsoft account and sees only their own files.

You can also buy Microsoft 365 standalone for iPad only — a subscription that works only on iPad and iPhone, not on computers. This costs less than Personal but gives you fewer features and no desktop access. Check the App Store pricing in your region, as costs vary.

If you already have a Microsoft 365 subscription on a computer, you do not need to buy a separate iPad subscription. Sign in with the same Microsoft account on your iPad, and your existing subscription covers it.

How to set up Microsoft 365 on your iPad

First, create or sign in with a Microsoft account. If you do not have one, go to account.microsoft.com on your iPad and select "Create one instead." You will need an email address (any email works, not just Outlook) and a password. This account is free and separate from your subscription.

Next, decide which way you want to access Office. If you want the single app, read Microsoft 365 from the App Store. If you want individual apps, search for Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, or OneNote in the App Store and read the ones you use. If you want the web version, open Safari and go to Office.com.

Open whichever app or website you chose, and sign in with your Microsoft account. The app will ask you to confirm your subscription. If you have an active subscription, it will show as confirmed. If you do not have one yet, you can start a trial or buy a subscription from within the app.

Once you are signed in, your files from OneDrive appear automatically. Any new files you create sync to OneDrive, so you can open them on your computer or phone without manually uploading them.

What you can and cannot do on iPad versus a computer

On iPad, you get most of the features you have on a computer — creating documents, editing, formatting, inserting images and tables, collaborating with others in real time. The layout adjusts for the iPad screen, so buttons and menus are in different places, but the core work is the same.

Some advanced features work differently or not at all on iPad. Macros (automated tasks you record in Excel) do not run on iPad. Some complex formulas in Excel may not calculate the same way. In Word, some styles and formatting options are not available. In PowerPoint, some animation and transition options are limited. If your work relies on these features, you may need a computer for some tasks.

Offline work is possible: you can open a file on iPad, disconnect from the internet, make changes, and sync them when you reconnect. However, real-time collaboration (multiple people editing the same file at once) requires an internet connection.

Storage and file syncing on iPad

Your subscription includes 1 TB of OneDrive storage (or 1 TB per person if you have a Family subscription). This is where your files live when you are not actively editing them. When you create a document in Word, Excel, or PowerPoint on your iPad, it saves to OneDrive automatically if you are signed in.

You can also store files locally on your iPad — in the app's "Local" or "On This iPad" folder — but these do not sync to other devices. If you want a file to appear on your computer or phone, save it to OneDrive instead.

If you run out of OneDrive storage, you can buy more through your Microsoft account, or you can delete old files to free up space. Your subscription does not include extra storage beyond the 1 TB; you pay separately if you need more.

Signing in with a work or school account

If your workplace or school provides Microsoft 365, you may have a work or school account instead of a personal one. You can sign in with this account on your iPad the same way — read the app, open it, and sign in. Your organization controls what features you can use and how much storage you get.

Work and school accounts sometimes have restrictions: your organization may prevent you from saving files to personal OneDrive, or may require you to use a work folder instead. If you are not sure what your organization allows, contact your IT department or help desk before setting up Office on your personal iPad.

You can sign in with both a personal and a work account on the same iPad. The app will let you switch between them, and each account's files stay separate.

Troubleshooting common setup and access issues

If the app says you do not have a subscription, check that you are signed in with the correct Microsoft account. If you bought a subscription with one email address but are signing in with a different one, the app will not recognize it. Sign out and sign in again with the email address you used to buy the subscription.

If files are not syncing to OneDrive, check that you have an internet connection and that you are signed in. If the app is signed in but files are not appearing, try signing out and signing back in. If a file is stuck, force-close the app (swipe up from the bottom of the screen on iPad to see open apps, then swipe up on the Office app) and reopen it.

If you cannot read the app from the App Store, check that your iPad is running a recent version of iPadOS. Microsoft 365 requires iPadOS 14 or later. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check your version.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Microsoft 365 on iPad without paying for a subscription?

No. Office apps on iPad require an active Microsoft 365 subscription. You can view documents for free, but to create or edit files, you need a subscription. If you own a Microsoft 365 license on a computer, it covers your iPad too — you do not need to buy a separate one.

What happens to my files if my subscription expires?

Your files stay in OneDrive and you can still view them, but you cannot edit them until you renew your subscription. If you do not renew within a certain period, Microsoft may delete your files, so renew before your subscription lapses if you want to keep them.

Can I share documents with people who do not have Microsoft 365?

Yes. You can share a link to a file in OneDrive, and people can view it in a browser without a subscription. If you want them to edit it, they can use the free web versions of Office at Office.com, or you can give them edit permission and they can make changes without a subscription.

Do I need Wi-Fi to use Microsoft 365 on iPad?

You need internet to sign in and to sync files to OneDrive. Once a file is open, you can work offline, and changes sync when you reconnect. Real-time collaboration with others requires an active connection.

Can I use the same subscription on my iPhone and iPad at the same time?

Yes. A Microsoft 365 Personal subscription covers unlimited devices, so you can use it on your iPhone, iPad, and computer all at once. Each device signs in with the same Microsoft account and shares the same 1 TB of storage.