Microsoft Word Download
...get the Microsoft Word free trial

Get a free Microsoft Word download so you can install and try out Word 2010 before you buy it! (The Word 2007 free trial download is no longer available.)

There is no need to uninstall your current software. Tips are included for running Microsoft Word 2010 alongside your other version.

This tutorial series covers everything you need to know to download and install the software:

• More about the Microsoft Word free trial download
• Determining minimum software requirements
• Downloading the free trial software
• Installing Microsoft Word 2010

I recommend you take a few minutes to read about the software requirements before you start the Microsoft Word download and installation.

Get Microsoft Word for Free?

Many people are looking for a free Microsoft Word download so they can get a copy of the software at no cost.

Can you use Microsoft Word without paying for it? Well, no. Although there are free open-source word processing programs available, Microsoft Word is not one of them.

There is a free ad-supported, stripped-down version called Microsoft Word 2010 Starter, but it only comes pre-loaded on new computers.

The only legal way to get Microsoft Word for free is download the trial software. A standalone Microsoft Word download is not available but it is included in the Microsoft Office 2010 trial. (The Microsoft Word 2007 trial is no longer available.) You do not have to install the whole suite. You can select what Office programs you want to use during installation.

The 60-day free trial period is longer than most, so you have plenty of time to test the new features after you download the software. You might even be able to complete your term paper before the free trial runs out!

WARNING: The software locks when the free trial period expires, so be sure to save your files in another format you can open before the 60-day trial runs out. If you want to use Microsoft Word after the trial, you need to buy it.

Like any trial software, you will receive annoying notices when it is about to expire. You have the option to buy the software at that time, or wait until the trial period ends and discontinue using it.

You do not have to uninstall the Microsoft Office 2010 free trial when it expires. Even though you can't modify, save, or make new files, you can still use it to open Word documents if you don’t have the compatibility pack or Word viewer installed.

The advantage of leaving it installed is that if you buy Word 2010 at a later time, you don’t have to download and reinstall it—you can just reactivate the software with the CD key you purchased.

Do you want more information about the free trial? Read the Free Trial Download FAQ on the official Microsoft website.

Determining MS Office 2010 System Requirements

Save yourself big problems...before you start the download and installation, make sure your system will actually run Office 2010.

The difference between meeting minimum system requirements and recommended system requirements is sometimes the difference between a frustrated user and a happy one.

If your system barely meets the minimum requirements, be prepared to accept slower performance and unavailability of some features.

To use Microsoft Office 2010, you need the following:

• 500 megahertz (MHz) processor or higher
• 256 megabyte (MB) RAM; 512 or higher recommended *
• 3 gig available space on hard drive
• CD-Rom or DVD drive
• 1024x768 or higher resolution monitor
• Microsoft Windows XP with Service Pack (SP) 3 (32-bit only), Windows Vista with SP1, Windows 7, Windows Server 2003 R2 with MSXML 6.0, Windows Server 2008, or a later 32- or 64-bit operating system

* I highly recommend 1 GB of RAM for best performance.

If you don't know how to find your system specs, read Finding Your Computer Specs.

Downloading the Free Trial Software

To try out the newest version of Microsoft Word - download the Microsoft Office 2010 free trial.

Once you have determined that Office 2010 will run on your computer, all you need to do is follow the download link to the official Microsoft website.

Download the Microsoft Office 2010 Free Trial
(link opens in new window)

While downloading, be sure to print the screen that shows your Trial License Product Key (it is a 25-digit number). You need it to install the software.

Are you finished downloading the free trial? In Part 2, get instructions for installing the software and a money-saving tip that can save you hundreds of dollars when buying the full version of Microsoft Office.

Go to Part 2: How to Install Microsoft Word 2010 Downloaded Software

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