Microsoft 365 Apps for Education is free for all active GCU students! This copy of Microsoft 365 includes products like Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, and Excel: essential programs for succeeding in your educational goals. Below is a video and a step-by-step walk-through to help you locate and install the software.
Check for previous versions of Microsoft 365 installed on your device. Click here for instructions on how to check if Microsoft 365 is already installed on your device.
Determine the Operating System you will be installing Microsoft 365 on. See below for Microsoft 365 Compatibility.
Be sure to have 15-30 minutes to complete the installation process.
To begin, log into your Microsoft 365 Portal. You can log in at https://m365.cloud.microsoft/apps/ with your GCU student email and the password that is the same one used for your Student Portal.
Once logged in, click Appsin the bottom of the left-hand sidebar.
Then, select Install apps.This brings up a small drop-down menu. Click Microsoft 365 Apps.Then, select Install Office.
You will then be directed to the My Accountpage. Under the Office apps & devicessection, click the Install Officebutton. If you don’t see these options, please contact GCU Technical Support so that they can check your Microsoft 365 license.
The installer will begin downloading. In Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, and Firefox click OfficeSetup.exelocated in the top right-hand side of the window. After opening the installer, Microsoft 365 will begin getting things ready to install.
In order for the software to fully install, please remain connected to the Internet. Once the installation is finished, you do not have to be online for your programs to work. This step can take anywhere from 15 minutes to over 30 minutesdepending on your computer hardware and Internet speed. Don’t be alarmed if it takes a little while; remember, you’re installing 9 programs!
NOTEMinimizing or clicking away from the installation window may cause the window to disappear from your screen. If you are unable to locate your installation window, it may be located in your Hidden Icons, which can be found in the Taskbar.
When you receive the message, You’re all set! The Microsoft 365 and Office apps are installed on your computer, choose Close.
After installing Microsoft 365, locate and open a Microsoft 365 app, such as Word, on your computer. If you are signed into a personal Microsoft account on your computer, you maybe prompted to select a Microsoft plan, go ahead and select Changein the bottom right corner.
You will be prompted to sign in. Enter your student email address, which is your username followed my @my.gcu.edu, along with the same password you have set for the Student Portal. Once entered, click Sign in.
Upon successful login, you may be asked to accept the License Agreement. Accept the License agreement.
As a student, you are able to install Microsoft 365 on up to 5 computers. For more information about managing installations, please see the Microsoft 365 Apps FAQ . The full versions of all Microsoft 365 programs are available for you to use as long as you are an active student with scheduled classes at GCU, even when you aren’t connected to the Internet. Once you complete your degree program or are no longer taking classes, you will not have access to the full versions.
Also, if you encounter issues activating your Microsoft 365, please refer to Activating 365 and Switching Accounts for further guidance.
Microsoft 365 is not compatible with Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, or 10. Microsoft 365 is only compatible with Windows 11. If you do not have a compatible version of Windows, it is recommended to use the online versions of Microsoft 365 apps that are available on the Student Portal. Instructions on how to use the online Microsoft 365 programs can be found in the Microsoft Online Programs in the GCU Portal article.
If you have an older version of Windows and would like to upgrade, we recommend reaching out to a computer specialist for assistance . GCU Technical Support does notassist with uninstalling or switching from any operating system. See Device Compatibility for information on incompatible devices.
You might see the following error for some files downloaded from GCU websites:
Word experienced an error trying to open the file.Try these suggestions.
- Check the file permissions for the document or drive.
- Make sure there is sufficient free memory and disk space.
- Open the file with the Text Recovery converter.
To fix this issue, navigate to where the file is currently located on your computer. Right-click on the file and select properties.
In the properties dialogue, select the Unblock option and then try to open the file again.
If you receive the following error:
No credentials The system requires that you sign on to a valid account. The error code is: 0xD000000C
Then you are trying to sign into Microsoft 365 Enterprise instead of Microsoft 365. Please uninstall Microsoft 365 and re-install Microsoft 365 using the steps in this article. If you have questions about uninstalling Microsoft 365, please refer to the Computer Troubleshooting article for steps to uninstall programs from your respective computer.
If you receive an error when attempting to sign out of your Microsoft 365 applications or are unable to sign in, try following these steps:
- Click the Start Menuand select Settings.
- Then, select Accountsfrom
the
Windows Settings. Select Access work or schoolfrom the
navigation menu on the left-hand
side of the
Settings window.
- Select the Work or school accountlabelled with your @my.gcu.eduemail address and select Disconnect.
- Then, try signing in or out of your Microsoft 365 applications again.
If you receive an error when attempting to sign out of your Microsoft 365 applications or are unable to sign in, try following these steps:
- Click the Start Menuand select Settings.
- Then, select Accountsfrom
the Windows
Settings.
Select Access work or schoolfrom the
navigation
menu on the
left-hand
side of the
Settings
window.
- Select Access work or school.
- Next, find
the Work or school accountlabelled
with your @my.gcu.eduemail address
and
select Disconnect.
- Then, try signing in or out of your Microsoft 365 applications again.
If these steps do not resolve the issue you are experiencing, check out the other troubleshooting steps available for Microsoft 365 sign-in issues in the following article: Activating Microsoft 365 and Switching Accounts .
- From inside Word, select Filefrom the top left-hand corner
of the screen.
- Then, select Optionsfrom the
bottom of the navigation
menu.
- Select Trust Centerat the bottom
of the list and click the Trust Center Settingsbutton
to open the Trust Center
Settings window.
- Finally, select Protected Viewfrom
the settings list. Uncheck Enable Protected View for files originating from the internetand hit Okay.
If you need to uninstall Microsoft 365 from your computer, you can do so from the computer’s settings. For instructions on how to uninstall applications, check out the Uninstalling Programs and Applicationssection of the Computer Troubleshooting article.
