Microsoft 365 (M365): Free for Personally Owned Devices

General Information

Question:

• I am a Metropolitan State University faculty, employee or student. Can I get Microsoft 365 software products for my personal computer or laptop for free?

Answers:

• If you are a current Metro State student, resident faculty, staff or a community faculty member teaching this semester, you may install up to five copies of Microsoft 365 (M365) through our M365 portal at http://portal.office.com on any personally owned devices. This software is good as long as you are a member of our institution or one of the other 37 institutions in the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system. View instructions in this article below to install Microsoft 365 (M365) Software.
  • For community faculty not teaching this semester, or others not defined above, please access Microsoft Office online or through the Virtual Lab for full features.
• For other Microsoft software such as, Visio, Project, Windows 10, SQL Server, Visual Studio, and many more selections are available through Microsoft Azure Dev Tools for Teaching, refer to article: Microsoft Software Products for Personal Devices. Note: Microsoft does not have an app for iOS or desktop for Visio or Project, however these applications can be used by accessing the Virtual Computer Lab via Web Browser (for MAC, Chromebook or Tablet).

Install Microsoft 365 (M365) Software:

• Step 1) Go to http://www.office.com.
• Step 2) Sign in with your MinnState login credentials.
  Username:
       Students: StarID@go.minnstate.edu
       Employees: StarID@minnstate.edu
  Password:
       StarID password
• Step 3) Once you have logged in, in the upper-right area select Install and more drop down menu
• Step 4) Select Install Microsoft 365 apps. To view install options for language selection or to install other applications with your subscription click Other install options.
• Step 5) Once you have selected Microsoft 365 apps, further install instructions will display (pictured below). Follow the instructions to complete the install.

• For help information, click on Need help installing to view common install solutions and troubleshooting information.

Additional Information:

Another option to simply access and use software is to use Virtual Computer Lab.

• Windows Client Installation for Virtual Computer Lab
• Access the Virtual Computer Lab via Web Browser (for MAC, Chromebook or Tablet)