How to Use the Microsoft 365 App on Android

Microsoft has separate mobile apps for its Office suite of software like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. In 2019, the company released an all-in-one Office app for Android and iOS that includes the software mentioned above, as well as file storage, notes, and PDF tools. Here’s how to set up the app and an overview of everything you can do with the Android version.

How to Set up Microsoft 365 for Android

The 365 app is available from the Google Play Store. After you download it, there are only a few steps before you can start using it.

1. Launch the app, then tap CONNECT YOUR ACCOUNT.

2. Input your email, phone number, or Skype username.

3. Tap Next.

4. Input password. You can also use the Microsoft Authenticator app to access your account. 

5. Tap Sign in.

6. You’ll now see any files related to that account in the app.

7. Tap Home, then tap a program to see only those file types. You can choose Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PDF, Media, or Notes.

Microsoft 365 for Android App Settings

The Office app has an array of settings you can customize. At the top of the settings screen is Connected Services, but it’s just informational, you can’t change anything. Beneath that are four sections: File preferences, Automatic downloads, Notifications, and More.

To access Office app settings, tap the profile picture next to the Home button, then tap Settings.

These are the settings you can modify:

• File preferences: Includes opening files in the mobile view and setting a default storage location for new files.
• Automatic downloads: Includes downloading the most recent and recommended files by default, and allowing automatic downloads when using mobile data.
• Notifications: Set these options to get an alert when someone shares a file with you and when someone edits a shared file.
• More: Includes Help and support, Privacy and permissions, Send feedback and Reset Office.
• Help and support: Contain links to the app’s support page.
• Privacy and permissions: Outlines the data you agree to share, including diagnostic data and connected experiences that analyze or download content to make personalized recommendations and suggestions.
• Send feedback: Here, you have three options: I like something, I don’t like something, and I have an idea. For each option, you can attach a screenshot.
• Reset Office: Erases local data and user profiles; it also signs you out, and you’ll lose any unsaved data.

What You Can Do With Microsoft 365 for Android

There’s a lot you can do with the Office app. You can add notes, images, and documents (Word, Excel, and PowerPoint). You can also use Office Lens, a scanner app that digitizes scribbles from whiteboards, blackboards, and printed documents.

1. To add a file, tap the Plus sign.

2. Tap Notes to open Microsoft Sticky Notes.

3. Tap Lens to add an image (your default camera app will open). You can add image files saved on your phone, take a photo, or open Microsoft Whiteboard, a digital canvas for collaboration. 

4. Tap Documents and choose an option from the next screen to create an Office file.

How to Use Office App Actions

Finally, tap Actions, to access additional functionality. From this screen you can do all sorts of tasks on the go. You can both transfer files and share them with nearby phones that have the Microsoft 365 app installed.

Other actions you can do are:

• Convert an image to text or a table
• Sign a PDF
• Scan a picture or document to PDF
• Scan a QR code 

Transferring Files

First, you can transfer files between your phone and computer by temporarily pairing the two devices. Anytime you want to transfer files you need to repeat this process.

1. Tap Transfer Files.

2. Tap Send or Receive.

3. Go to transfer.office.com on your computer.

4. Scan the QR code that appears on the screen.

5. Tap Pair on your smartphone and select Pair on your computer if the listed numbers match.

6. You can now transfer files.

Sharing Files

You can also share files between nearby phones. Both phones need to have the app installed; to share takes only a few taps.

1. Tap Share Nearby.

2. Tap Send or Receive.

3. On the second phone, tap Send or Receive.

4. Tap Invite someone for easy sharing to send a download link.