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title: "CSU Microsoft Accounts for Emeritus"
canonical: "https://tech.calpoly.edu/space/CPKB/3208773638/CSU%20Microsoft%20Accounts%20for%20Emeritus"
format: markdown
---
Emeritus faculty and staff retain access to a Microsoft 365 A1 license after separation from Cal Poly. This license provides full access to the web-based Microsoft 365 applications, but you will no longer be able to download the desktop version of the Microsoft Office software suite.
> ℹ️ **NOTE:** You can still open and print documents previously created in Office desktop apps using Microsoft 365 online apps.
## What is the difference between Microsoft 365 and Office?
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## How do I continue using Microsoft apps?
**Web-based ** *(Free subscription, provided by Cal Poly to Emeritus)*
If you are familiar with the Office 365 web-based apps, you can continue to use them as you normally would. Just keep logging into the My Cal Poly Portal or [http://Office.com](http://Office.com) to access your email, calendar, and other apps.
*Or…*
**Desktop ***(Purchase the software from Microsoft)*
If you have downloaded the Microsoft Office software suite from Cal Poly and frequently use the desktop apps, the only way to continue using the desktop apps is to purchase a personal copy of the Microsoft Office software suite.
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## STEP 1 - PURCHASE and INSTALL Microsoft Office on Your Computer
If you prefer using Microsoft Word, Excel, or Outlook installed on your computer, you may purchase a personal license from Microsoft or a retail provider. Below are the steps to obtain a license:
There are two options to purchase Microsoft Office: [Office Home](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/p/office-home-2024/cfq7ttc0pqvj) or [Office Home & Business](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/p/office-home-business-2024/cfq7ttc0pbm7).
| **Version** | **Includes** |
| --- | --- |
| Office Home | Word, Excel, PowerPoint |
| Office Home & Business | Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook |
1. Select which plan best suits your needs, [Office Home](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/p/office-home-2024/cfq7ttc0pqvj) or [Office Home & Business](https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/p/office-home-business-2024/cfq7ttc0pbm7) and complete your purchase through the Checkout…
**NOTE: **To complete this purchase, you will need to sign in with a personal Microsoft account that is **not a Cal Poly email address**. If you do not have a personal Microsoft account, click **Create an Account** and follow the provided steps.
2. Once your purchase is complete, proceed to the Activation steps below for your particular device…
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## STEP 2 - ACTIVATE Microsoft Office
### Mac:
1. Click the **Spy Glass** icon in the menu bar at the top of your screen
2. Type **Word** in the Spotlight Search field, then hit Enter. Click on **Microsoft Word** when it appears.
3. The **What's New** window opens automatically when you launch Word. Click **Get Started** to complete the activation process.
### Windows PC
1. In the lower, left-hand corner, click the **Start **button and type **Word**.
2. Click the Microsoft Word icon.
3. When the Office app opens, accept the license agreement Office is activated and ready to use.
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## **STEP 3 - CONNECT Microsoft Office to Your Cal Poly Account**
You can use any Microsoft Office app to do the following steps, however these instructions use Microsoft Word to sign out and back into Microsoft Office:
### Mac
1. From Microsoft Word, click on the Word menu next to the Apple logo.
2. Click Sign Out
3. From Microsoft Word, in the upper, left-hand corner click **Sign In**.
4. Enter your Cal Poly login and authenticate your account.
### Windows
1. Open Word
2. From the Word menu, select **Sign Out**
3. From Microsoft Word, go to File, then Account. Click **Sign In**.
