Word for the web

Word for the web (formerly Word Web App) extends your Microsoft Word experience to the web browser, where you can work with documents directly on the website where the document is stored.

Apply styles

Use styles to quickly apply a set of formatting choices consistently throughout your document. Learn more about styles here.

Office add-ins

You can get an add-in for Word from the Office Store. Learn how to get an add-in for Word.

Autosave

Word for the web automatically saves your document when you make changes.

Browse and start from professionally designed templates

Word for the Web supports the use of templates, including those available on Microsoft Create. It offers a selection of built-in and custom templates that are available when creating a new document.

Bullets and numbering

With Word for the web, you can apply your choice of bullet or numbering styles. Click the Increase Indent or Decrease Indent buttons to change the list level for existing lists in the document, as well as those created in the Word desktop app.

Captions

Not available in Word for the web. You can view existing captions in Word for the web, but you can’t create or edit them. If you have the Word desktop app installed on your computer, then you can use it to add captions to a document. Learn more about captions in Word.

Citations and bibliography

Not available in Word for the web. You can view existing citations in Word for the web, but you can't add citations. If you have the Word desktop app installed on your computer, then you can use Word to add a bibliography and citations to your document. Learn more about creating a bibliography in Word 2013.

Clipboard

Because of the limitations of web browser technology, copying and pasting text in Microsoft 365 for the web differs from copying and pasting text in the Office desktop applications. Learn more about Copy and Paste in Microsoft 365 for the web.

Paste Options

Word for the Web supports Keep Source Formatting and Paste Text Only paste options, but there is no Web support for Merge Formatting or Use Destination Styles.

Comments

With Word for the web you can insert, edit, or delete comments in Edit or Review mode. You can also reply to a comment, like a comment, or mark it as resolved.

In Word for the web, you can copy a link to a specific comment to easily direct others to that part of the document.

Assign Tasks

Use the Tasks feature in Word for the Web to assign others a task when you post a comment or reply. To learn more about assigning Tasks, see Use @mention in comments to tag someone for feedback.

Content controls

Content controls cannot be added using Word for the Web. However, you can view existing controls already present in your documents that were added using Word desktop app.

Dark Mode

Word for the Web supports Dark Mode. When you turn on Dark Mode, the ribbon, toolbars and canvas become dark, reducing eye strain and helping with light sensitivity. Dark Mode settings are in the View tab.

Designer

With Word for the Web, you can use designer to assist you with the visualization of your document. Designer allows you to easily create dynamic and visually pleasing documents with just a few steps.

Dictionary and Thesaurus

Microsoft Word's built-in dictionary and thesaurus are powerful tools that can help you find the right words and improve the quality of your writing. Learn more about Words dictionary and thesaurus.

Dictation (voice typing)

In Word for the Web, you can use speech-to-text to author content. It's a quick and easy way to get your thoughts out, create drafts or outlines, and capture notes. To learn more about using Dictation see, Dictate your documents in Word for the web.

Document Modes

Reviewing Mode

Reviewing mode in Word for the Web allows you to collaborate with others and make changes to a document in a controlled and organized way. When you are in reviewing mode, all changes you add to the document are tracked. If you self-select to go into Reviewing mode, you can view, accept, or reject changes made by others. However, if a document is shared with you for review and you are forced into Reviewing mode, you can only reject your own changes and cannot accept any changes made by yourself and others. You do not need to be in Reviewing mode to accept, reject, or view changes.

View Mode

View mode in Word allows you to view a document without making changes. It's ideal for viewing a document for accuracy and completeness.

Document translation

Translate either the full document or specific sections of the document directly in the browser. Even comments are translated.

Editor

Editor in Word for the Web equips you with a number of tools that can help improve your writing. With its spelling and grammar check, clarity suggestions and other writing insights, you can confidently improve the quality of your content.

Context IQ

Editor Context IQ in Word for the Web uses contextual information to suggest relevant people and files, allowing writers to stay in the flow of their work and avoid context-switching or searching for information.

Document Stats

Editor Document Stats on Word for the Web provides writers with valuable insights into their document, including word and character count, time to read or speak, and additional information on the overall readability of their writing.

Similarity

Editors Similarity feature checks your Word document for similarities to online sources.

Text Predictions

Editor anticipates your next words and suggests words or phrases as you type. To accept the suggested text, press the Tab or Right-arrow key on your keyboard, and keep typing.

Emoji

Insert and view emojis in Word for the Web.

Equations

Embed math equations in your documents in Word for the web. Choose from a library of mathematical symbols and structures to build equations that fit your needs. Learn more about equations at Create equations in Word for the web.

Find and replace

Find and replace text in your document using the Find and Replace tool in Word for the web. To learn more about using this tool, see Find and replace text.

Footnotes and endnotes

You can add footnotes and endnotes to your documents in Word for the web. Learn more about adding footnotes and endnotes in Word for the web.

Headers and footers

With Word for the web, you can insert a header or footer into your document. You are able to see headers and footers added to Word for the Web when you enter Reading View, and also from the header/footer tabs on the side of the page margins.

Hyperlinks work the same way in Word for the Web as they do in the desktop app. You can click on a hyperlink to go to a web address, another place within the same document, or to send an email. To learn more about using hyperlinks in Word for the web, see Hyperlinks in Word for the web.

Immersive Reader

Immersive Reader is designed to improve reading skills by providing a clear reading experience. This tool can help improve reading comprehension, fluency and vocabulary by breaking down text, highlighting vocabulary words and providing a visual, customizable reading experience.

Ink/Draw

With Word for the Web, you are able to write or draw directly on your document with a pen or your fingers.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Keyboard Shortcuts can be used in Word for the Web as an alternative to using a mouse. Learn more about Keyboard Shortcuts at Keyboard shortcuts in Word Web App.

Lists

Bullets and numbering

With Word for the web, you can apply your choice of bullet or numbering styles. Click the Increase Indent or Decrease Indent buttons to change the list level for existing lists in the document, as well as those created in the Word desktop app.

Mail merge

Not available in Word for the web. Advanced data integration features, such as mail merge using an Excel spreadsheet, is only available in the Word desktop app.

Media

With Word for the Web, you can embed and watch online videos in your document.

View your document headings in the Navigation Pane using Word for the Web.

Bookmark

You can add bookmarks using Word for the web. You can also update or delete any bookmark.

With Word for the Web, you are able to create hyperlinks that take readers directly to specific headings within a document, saving time and improving navigation for long documents with multiple sections.

OEmbed

OEmbed allows you to easily embed or link to objects from one file into another. This can include documents, dynamic charts, and other types of content.

Offline viewing and authoring

Not available in Word for the web. Microsoft 365 for the web requires an Internet connection and an Internet browser. You need the Word desktop app installed on your computer to view and edit a document while disconnected from the Internet or from your organization's on-premises Office Web Apps Server. If you have the Word desktop app installed, you can use the full functionality of Word to view and edit your document. When you save, the online document is updated with your changes. You can also download and save-as an offline copy of the document, but it will not be in sync with the online version. Learn more about Office Web Apps Server.

One-Tap Clear formatting

With Word for the Web, you can easily remove all formatting with one click. To learn more, see Clear all text formatting.

Page breaks

Insert page breaks in both Word for the Web and the Word desktop app. You must be in Page View to view page breaks in Word for the Web.

Page layout tools

With Word for the web, you can adjust margins, size of paper, and page orientation. Features such as gridlines, page borders, and line numbers are only available in the Word desktop app.

Page numbers

Insert page numbers to your document in both Word for the web and the Word desktop app. You also have the ability to apply page numbers to all pages except the first page of your document. While editing, page numbers show up as <#>. To learn more about using page numbers in Word for the web, see Add page numbers to a header or footer in Word.

Paragraph formatting

With Word for the web, you can align paragraphs left, right, or centered; run text right-to-left; increase or decrease indentation; and format paragraphs as a bulleted or numbered list. There are also advanced paragraph pagination options, such as Keep with Next and Keep Lines Together.

Pictures

With Word for the web, you can insert a picture from a file saved on your local hard drive or you can add Picture directly from OneDrive. You can also add Pictures from Stock collection or find Pictures from Web (powered by Bing). You can also bring a Picture by copying It from other sources or drag & drop the Picture to Word.

Picture tools

With Word for the web, you can rotate, resize, crop, apply styles or borders to your pictures. You can also add alternative text in your document. Learn more about differences between using a document in the browser and in Word.

Graphic effect presets

You can use presets to apply special effects such as rotation, shadows, saturation, and text effects to graphics.

Word for the Web creates a PDF of your document to preserve the layout and formatting, and then allows you to preview the PDF before printing.

Printing, advanced

Not available in Word for the web. Advanced printing features, such as printing markups and document properties, are only available in the Word desktop app.

Protect Document

Sensitivity Labels

Sensitivity labels in Word for the Web allow users to classify and protect documents based on their sensitivity level. This feature can help ensure that confidential or sensitive information is only accessed by authorized individuals. Learn more here.

Microsoft Purview Information Protection, and IRM

Word for the web supports viewing, editing, and applying/modifying/removing Microsoft Purview Information Protection and labels. You can also display documents that are protected by Information Rights Management (IRM). However, editing or creating these files is only available in the Desktop app. Learn more here.

Restricted Editing

Opening a document with restricted editing in Word for the web will only allow you to view it in read-only mode. To modify unrestricted sections of the document, you'll need to open it in the desktop app.

Password Protection

Secure your documents with a password. When accessing a password protected document in Word for the Web, you'll only be able to view it in read-only mode. To edit the document, you'll need to open it in the desktop app. Learn more here.

Document Inspector

Document Inspector is not available for Word for the Web. To use Document Inspector to check a document for hidden metadata, personal information, and other content that may not be visible to the reader open in the Desktop App.

Real-time co-authoring

Real-time co-authoring in Word allows you to collaborate with others in real time across desktop, web, and mobile platforms. With real-time presence, you can see where your co-authors are working in the document to avoid conflicts as you edit, and changes can be seen by multiple authors as they're being made. To learn more about real-time co-authoring, see Collaborate on Word documents with real-time co-authoring.

Reference tools

Word for the Web includes reference tools such as footnotes, endnotes, and bibliography. Features such as Bibliography, table of authorities, citations and index features display in the document as expected in View mode. In Edit mode, they appear as placeholders that you can delete but not edit or update.

Rendering of text boxes/shapes

You can insert text boxes and shapes and then quickly change the color of text, the inside (fill) color, or the color of the border.

Reuse Files

Use the Tap feature to find and reuse content. Tap surfaces relevant files that you use most frequently, allowing you to focus on document creation rather than searching for files and information. For more information, see Find and use the content you need.

Rich table formatting

Some advanced table formatting, such as choosing pre-set table styles, setting options for header rows and columns, and setting options for shading and borders, are available in Word for the web. Other advanced table features such as text to table, table to text, or embedding an excel table are only available on the Desktop App.

Rulers

In Word for the Web, you can show or hide the ruler.

Tell Me in Word for the Web allows you to quickly search for and access specific commands or features within the program. Simply type in what you're looking for and the feature will provide options and suggestions.

Share and Collaborate

With Word for the Web, you can use Catch up to view a summarized list of recent changes and comments made by others to help you stay organized and aware of collaborative activity in your document.

Collaboration

With Word for the web, you are able to easily grant others access to your documents so they can view or edit them. Learn more about Collaborate in Word - Microsoft Support.

Track Changes

Track Changes in Word for the Web is a useful tool that allows multiple users to edit and review a document collaboratively. It highlights the changes made and identifies the person who made them for easy reference and approval. Learn more about using Track Changes in Word for the Web.

Version History

Version history in Word for the Web allows you to track previous versions of your document, compare changes, and restore those versions as needed.

Symbols and Special Characters

Insert Symbols and Special characters on Word for the Web and the Word desktop app.

Table

With Word for the web, you can insert a table, edit table text, and easily edit basic table structure, such as adding or deleting rows and columns. You can also apply table styles, table borders, define height & width, distribute rows or columns and sort a table. More advanced table features, such as custom table styles, cell size, text direction, table autofit and cell margins are only available in the Word desktop app.

Table of authority

Not available in Word for the web. You can view an existing table of authority, but you can't create one using Word for the web.

Table of contents

With Word for the Web, you can easily create a Table of Contents by using headings in your document. This allows you to navigate through your document by providing clickable links to different sections. Learn how to insert a table of contents.

Teams

With Teams, you can easily open and collaborate on Word documents directly within the app interface.

Text Editing and Formatting

Polish text effortlessly with paragraph formatting, indentation, and various customization options including bold, italics, underline, strikethrough, font color, font size, and highlighting. You can also easily clear formatting with a single tap.

Transcribe

The transcribe feature converts speech to a text transcript with each speaker individually separated. After your conversation, interview, or meeting, you can revisit parts of the recording or save the full transcript as a Word document or insert snippets of it into existing documents. For more information, see Transcribe your recordings (microsoft.com).

Undo and redo

Undo a series of actions, or repeat an action.

VBA and forms scripts

Active X controls, embedded OLR objects, and a signature line will display in the document as expected in View mode. In Edit mode, they appear as placeholders that you can delete but not edit. They can't be moved or resized in Word for the web. Advanced controls and macros are only available in the Word desktop app.

Watermarks

Watermarks will display in the document as expected in View mode. In Edit mode, they appear as placeholders that you can delete but not edit. They can't be moved or resized in Word for the web. To learn more about watermarks see Insert a watermark.

Word count

Word for the web gives you a rough word count for words in your document. Learn more about word count in Word for the web.

Zoom

Zoom is available in the View tab, via status bar buttons and slider, or CTRL +/- shortcuts.

Feature availability

To view feature availability across plans, standalone options, and on-premises solutions, see Microsoft 365 for the web service description.

Operating parameter limitations and specifications

For information about operating parameter limits, see Operating parameter limitations and specifications in Word.