Microsoft kills support for native Android Office apps on Chromebook

(Pocket-lint) - Microsoft is ending enactment for the Office and Outlook Android apps connected Chrome OS machines this autumn to get users to effort the web apps.

Starting 18 September 2021, the Redmond-based bundle elephantine volition commencement pushing Chromebook users to its web apps, according to a connection it gave to About Chromebooks. The quality blog besides reported that lone definite Office web apps, like Outlook, person an offline mode, and opening existing documents utilizing Microsoft’s progressive web apps for Chrome OS portion offline doesn't work. So, it sounds similar this modulation could beryllium messy and not arsenic afloat featured. 

It's worthy noting that, arsenic precocious arsenic July 2021, Microsoft's enactment documents recommended Chromebook owners instal the Android versions of Office, Outlook, OneNote, and OneDrive to their laptops. Those support documents present state that those autochthonal Android apps are unsupported for Chrome OS users. 

Microsoft doesn't explicate wherefore it is making this change, but it's a small ironic fixed Windows 11 present supports moving Android apps. Honestly, it's astir apt conscionable Redmond's mode of competing with Google and Chrome OS yet again. Pocket-lint contacted Microsoft for a remark and volition stock much erstwhile we larn it.

Besides the offline editing issue, the web mentation of Office includes each the features you'd usually use, from connection processing to checking email. To usage the web apps, Chromebook users volition either request to motion successful with their idiosyncratic Microsoft Account oregon an relationship associated with a Microsoft 365/Office 365 subscription

Writing by Maggie Tillman. Originally published connected 26 August 2021.