Microsoft Office 2021 is the latest version of the popular productivity software suite from Microsoft.
It includes programs such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote.
This guide will help you get started with Office 2021 and provide tips and tutorials for making the most of its features.
What is Office 2021 Home and Business?
Office 2021 Home and Business is a version of the Microsoft Office productivity software suite specifically designed for home and small business use. It includes a number of popular programs, such as:
- Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
- Outlook
- OneNote
- Teams
- And more
These programs are designed to help users create and edit documents, spreadsheets, presentations, and manage email, calendar and notes.
Office 2021 Home and Business is a one-time purchase: meaning you pay a single cost to get the software suite, and you own it forever. It can be installed on a single PC or Mac.
The software can be used to create, edit and share documents and files, manage emails, schedule appointments, and keep track of notes and ideas. It is aimed at individuals and small teams who need the full Office experience but don't need the advanced features and services in the Office 365 subscription service.
Office 2021 Home and Business is a more cost-effective solution for users who don't require frequent feature updates, multi-device support, and cloud storage in Microsoft 365 subscription.
Office 2021 Home and Business is compatible with Windows and Mac operating systems. It contains all the features of Office 2021, and it is an excellent solution for home users, small businesses, and students.
Versions of Microsoft Office 2021 Home and Business
There are two versions of Office 2021 Home and Business
- Office 2021 Home and Business for Windows
- Office 2021 Home and Business for Mac
Installation and Setup of Office 2021 Home and Business
#1. Office 2021 System Requirements
Before installing Office 2021, make sure your computer meets the system requirements.
The system requirements for Office 2021 Home and Business are:
A Windows operating system:
- Windows 10 version 2004, 20H2, or later (Windows Server version 2004 (Release preview)
- A Mac operating system: macOS version 11.0 (Big Sur) or later
- 1.6 GHz or faster, 2-core processor.
- 4 GB or more of RAM
- 4 GB or more of available hard disk space.
- 1280 x 800 or higher resolution display
- Graphics hardware acceleration requires DirectX 9 or later, with WDDM 2.0 or higher for Windows 10 (or WDDM 1.3 or higher for Windows 10 Fall Creators Update) and Metal or OpenGL 4.0 or later for macOS.
- Internet connection is required for cloud-based features, internet functionality, and for downloading and installing Office updates.
Note: Office 2021 (Home and Business or Home and Student) is not compatible with Windows 7 or Windows 8.1.
It's also important to notice that Office 2021, as a newer version of Office, can be more demanding than previous versions of Office Suite. Some performance improvements could be seen by upgrading your computer hardware or upgrading to a newer OS version.
Also, Some advanced features may require additional or optional hardware or services, such as a graphics card, touch screen, or a Microsoft account.
#2. Purchase Office 2021 Home and Business
Purchase Office 2021 for Home and Business from the Microsoft website or from a retail store like SoftwareKeep.
At SoftwareKeep, you get Office 2021 Home and Business at discounted prices, and you’re guaranteed installation support and 24/7365 customer support.
#3. Office 2021 Product Key
Once you have purchased Office 2021, you will receive a product key, which you will use to activate the software.
Where is my Office 2021 Home and Business Product Key?
Your Office 2021 Home and Business product key is typically located in the email you received after purchasing Office 2021 Home & Business or on the packaging if you purchased a physical copy of the software.
The product key is a 25-character code used to activate your copy of Office 2021 Home and Business. It may be labeled as a "product key," "license key," "activation code," or something similar.
If you purchased Office 2021 through the SoftwareKeep or Microsoft Store, the product key will be included in the confirmation email you received after purchasing the product.
If you are unable to find your product key, you can try looking for it in the following places:
- An email from Microsoft that contains the product key.
- Your Microsoft account if you purchased Office online.
- A label or card that came with the product packaging (if you purchased a physical copy of Office).
If you cannot locate your product key and have the proof of purchase, you can contact your reseller or Microsoft support for assistance.
It's important to keep the product key safe, as you will need it to reinstall Office or transfer it to a new computer.
#4. Install Office 2021 Home and Business
Once you’ve located your Office 2021 Home and Business Key product key, you will use it to activate the software using the following steps:
- Download the Office 2021 setup file from the Microsoft website. Make sure to download the correct version for your operating system (Windows or Mac) or Office 2021 Home and Business version.
- Once the download is complete, double-click on the setup file to start the installation process.
- Follow the prompts in the installation wizard to complete the setup process.
- You'll be prompted to enter the product key you received after purchasing Office.
- Restart your computer after the installation is complete.
- Once the computer restarts, you can open any Office apps like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, and you will be prompted to sign in with your Microsoft account. If you don't have one, you can create one.
That's it! Office 2021 Home and Business is now installed on your computer and ready for use.
Office 2021 Features: What’s in Office 2021 Home and Business?
With Office 2021 Home and Business, you can create content, stay organized, and collaborate with the updated versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and other apps.
Here’s what you’ll find:
Create content with confidence
You can create engaging documents and presentations with the new, modern visuals in Word, PowerPoint, Excel, etc. You can also quickly find what you need with the improved Office 2021 navigation features and search functions. The new updates have made Office 2021 great to use online and offline.
Organize your work and life
Office 2021 Home and Business comes with Calendar and Outlook. You can efficiently manage your contacts, messages, appointments, and tasks in one place. This also allows you to easily stay on top of meetings, deadlines, family time, and even social moments.
Track and organize
Excel in Office 2021 has fewer and more robust formulas to help you quickly build spreadsheets that update automatically as information changes. Excel also allows you to find data fast with improved search functions and navigation features.
Collaboration: Work together seamlessly
When working on PowerPoint, Excel, or Word, you can share files and get notified when other people make edits or mention you in comments. This allows you to catch up on changes in your document quickly. Office 2021’s improved performance features help your system run faster, and the new autosave means you’ll never lose your work again, whether you remember to save them or not.
Desktop versions of Office apps
Enjoy fully installed versions of Office apps/programs for Windows or Mac like
- Outlook
- Word
- Excel
- PowerPoint
Using Office 2021 Home and Business
Once you have installed Office 2021 Home and Business on your computer or Mac, you can start using the programs included in the suite.
- To launch any program, such as Word, Excel, or PowerPoint, click on the program's icon on your computer's start menu or search for it in the Windows search bar.
- To create a new document or open an existing one, click the "File" menu and select "New" or "Open."
- Word. In Word, you can create and edit written documents, and add text, images, and other elements. You can also use the "Review" tab to collaborate and share your documents with others.
- Excel. In Excel, you can create and edit spreadsheets, create formulas, and analyze data.
- Powerpoint. In PowerPoint, you can create and edit presentations and slide shows, and insert images, videos, and other multimedia elements.
- Outlook. In Outlook, you can manage your email, calendar, and contacts. It has a built-in spam filter, and you can schedule appointments, meetings, and events.
- OneNote. In OneNote, you can take notes, create lists, insert images and even record audio.
- To customize the Office programs to suit your needs, you can use the various options in the "File" menu and the "Options" menu.
Here are some additional tips to help you make the most of Office 2021 Home and Business:
- Use the ribbon at the top of the program window to quickly access common functions.
- Take advantage of the "Tell Me" feature in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, which allows you to quickly search for and access specific commands.
- Learn keyboard shortcuts for frequently used commands to save time and increase productivity.
- Use the built-in templates in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint to quickly create professional-looking documents and presentations.
- Take advantage of the cloud-based features of Office 2021, such as OneDrive and SharePoint, to collaborate and share documents with others.
- Take advantage of the new Office 2021 features, like "Design Ideas" in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, that suggest design improvements for your documents.
Remember that Office 2021 Home and Business is a powerful productivity software suite, and there are many more features and capabilities to explore. As you become more familiar with the programs, you will find new ways to work more efficiently and effectively.
Tips and Tricks for using Office 2021 Home and Business:
- To quickly access common functions in Office 2021, use the ribbon at the top of the program window.
- Take advantage of the "Tell Me" feature in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, which allows you to quickly search for and access specific commands.
- Learn keyboard shortcuts for frequently used commands to save time and increase productivity.
- Use the built-in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint templates to create professional-looking documents and presentations quickly.
- Take advantage of the cloud-based features of Office 2021, such as OneDrive and SharePoint, to collaborate and share documents with others.
Office 2021 Home and Business FAQs
1. What is Office 2021 Home and Business?
Office 2021 Home and Business is a version of Microsoft Office that includes the popular programs Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. It is designed for use in a home or small business environment.
2. What are the system requirements for Office 2021 Home and Business?
Office 2021 Home and Business requires a Windows 10 operating system, at least 4 GB of RAM, and at least 10 GB of free hard drive space.
3. Is Office 2021 Home and Business compatible with Mac computers?
No, Office 2021 Home and Business is only compatible with Windows 10.
4. Can Office 2021 Home and Business be used on multiple computers?
Yes, Office 2021 Home and Business includes a single license for use on one PC or Mac.
5. What is the difference between Office 2021 Home and Business and Office 365?
Office 2021 Home and Business is a one-time purchase of the software, while Office 365 is a subscription service that provides regular updates and additional features, such as online storage and collaboration tools.
6. Is Office 2021 Home and Business a one-time purchase or a subscription?
Office 2021 Home and Business is a one-time purchase, meaning you pay once and own the software forever.
7. What are the new features in Office 2021 Home and Business?
Microsoft Office 2021 Home and Business includes new features and improvements in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Some new features include:
-Ink replay in PowerPoint
-Dynamic arrays in Excel
-Focused Inbox in Outlook
-New data analysis and visualization features in Excel
8. How do I install Office 2021 Home and Business?
You can install Office 2021 Home and Business by downloading the installation files from the Microsoft website and following the instructions provided during the installation process.
9. Is Office 2021 Home and Business available in other languages?
Yes, Office 2021 Home and Business is available in multiple languages. You can change the language of the software by going to the "File" menu and selecting "Options" followed by "Language."
10. Can I install Office 2021 Home and Business on a virtual machine?
Yes, Office 2021 Home and Business can be installed on a virtual machine as long as it meets the system requirements.
Conclusion
This guide provides an overview of the main features of Office 2021 for Home and Business and will help you get started with this powerful productivity software suite.
Remember that these are just the basics; you will find more options and capabilities as you explore the programs.
So take some time to experiment and discover new ways to work more efficiently.
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Further Reading
» Microsoft Office 2021 Buyer’s Guide
» Microsoft Office 2021 Review: Where to buy and all you need to know
» What do you Know about Microsoft Office 2021 Since it was released on October 5th 2021
» Microsoft Office for Mac Buyer’s Guide
» Microsoft Office 2021 Review: A Powerful Tool for Productivity
» The Difference Between Office 2021 and Microsoft 365