Hello, everyone.

As I indicated in a previous post, I am about to purchase a new Windows computer.

I have a subscription to Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365), and would like to put this on the new computer.

When I purchased my last computer about 5 years ago, I was told to be very sure to install the stand-alone version of Office 365, since the cloud version was not accessible with a speech screen reader.

Is this recommendation still true?

Or, have the accessibility issues with the cloud version been resolved?

I’ll be using Windows 11 on the new computer, along with the latest version of Jaws 2023.

Thank you!

Dr.  Tom Behler From Michigan

Tom,

To my knowledge, it has not been possible for years (if ever) to install Office 365/Microsoft 365 as other than a "hybrid" setup.  The local, classic desktop apps are always installed.  Cloud components are as well, but these are used in conjunction with the desktop apps.  M365 at the level of an individual's PC is much more "classic desktop app" than it is anywhere near to web/cloud app.

I can't speak at all to the accessibility of the web apps of Microsoft Office, as I don't use them.  I don't know of many M365 users who do.

You'll do what gets called the "Click to Run" type install as opposed to a more classic MSI install and should be just fine.
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Brian - Virginia, USA - Windows 11 Pro, 64-Bit, Version 22H2, Build 22621; Office 2016, Version 16.0.15726.20188, 32-bit; Android 12 (MIUI 13)  

It’s not lack of contact with the world off campus that leads to the liberal views common in academia — it’s being trained to think critically and practicing this craft daily as we look at the world around us that makes us the libs conservatives so dislike.

     ~ Eliot A. Brenowitz, Seattle; New York Times, Letters, Tales of Town and Gown: Is the Campus Isolated?, August 20, 2022

Hi Tom, I also have a subscription to Microsoft 365, and as far as I know, it is highly recommended installing  the desktop version for screen reader users.

According to reviews that I've read, the desktop versions have more features anyway. As I understand it, Microsoft would prefer that you use the desktop versions, which is presumably why a Microsoft 365 subscription that includes these applications is more expensive than one that only offers the Web-based alternatives.

Of course, for anyone who is using someone else's machine temporarily, or a public machine without Microsoft Office installed, or a ChromeBook, the online versions are a good option.

I just want to reiterate that an M365 install always installs the desktop apps for the classic Microsoft Office applications that are part of the edition of M365 you purchased.

You are always able to use those desktops whether or not you are online at the time you need to use them.  Jason is absolutely correct that this is the "Microsoft preferred" way to use M365, too.  The web apps are a fallback, and many of them are even available to the general public at no cost.  But those web apps are nowhere near to "exactly the same" as their desktop counterparts.
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Brian - Virginia, USA - Windows 11 Pro, 64-Bit, Version 22H2, Build 22621; Office 2016, Version 16.0.15726.20188, 32-bit; Android 12 (MIUI 13)  

It’s not lack of contact with the world off campus that leads to the liberal views common in academia — it’s being trained to think critically and practicing this craft daily as we look at the world around us that makes us the libs conservatives so dislike.

     ~ Eliot A. Brenowitz, Seattle; New York Times, Letters, Tales of Town and Gown: Is the Campus Isolated?, August 20, 2022