In a rather odd move, Microsoft appears to be making its Office app solely accessible online if you have a Google-based device. This as the company recently confirmed to About Chromebooks that the Office ecosystem would only be available via web browser for devices running the Chrome OS.

As such, offline use would soon be ending. The same goes for the Google Play Store, which will no longer list the Office app in its marketplace after 1st September. This therefore means that those with an Office account will need an internet connection to access applications either via Office.com or Outlook.com.

As for the reason for the change, a Microsoft spokesperson told About Chromebooks that the devices are best suited for an online Office experience than an offline one.

“In an effort to provide the most optimized experience for Chrome OS/Chromebook customers, Microsoft apps (Office and Outlook) will be transitioned to web experiences (Office.com and Outlook.com) on September 18, 2021. This transition brings Chrome OS/Chromebook customers access to additional and premium features. Customers will need to sign in with their personal Microsoft Account or account associated with their Microsoft 365 subscription,” they said.

Precisely why the online version would be better than the offline one is unclear, but given that Chromebooks are not as beefy as other notebooks in the specifications department, perhaps Microsoft is trying to limit the amount of bad experiences it has on non-Windows ecosystems.

Either way, it is a bit of a blow to Chromebook users who often turn to these devices as a result of their general affordability. As such, needing an internet connection to access Office apps may prove an expensive chore. It would not surprise us if more Chromebook users make the switch to the G Suite of apps as a result.