Microsoft 365 Apps

Licensing guidance

Summary
Microsoft 365 Apps is a comprehensive suite of up-to-date desktop applications, which includes
Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook, OneNote, Publisher, and Access. You can license Microsoft
365 Apps on a per-user subscription basis with standalone subscriptions or through various
Microsoft 365 and Office 365 subscriptions. This document provides guidance on how you can
purchase, deploy, and use Microsoft 365 Apps.

Contents
Summary............................................................................................................................................................................1
Microsoft 365 Apps .......................................................................................................................................................1
Applicable products ......................................................................................................................................................1
Licensing model: User-based Subscription ...........................................................................................................2
Product-specific provisions ........................................................................................................................................3
Comparison of product editions ...............................................................................................................................6
Subscription plan options ...........................................................................................................................................7
Purchasing your subscriptions...................................................................................................................................8
Frequently asked questions ........................................................................................................................................8

Applicable products
This document applies to the following products, including when licensed as standalone
subscriptions or as components of other subscriptions:
• Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise
• Microsoft 365 Apps for business

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Licensing model: User-based Subscription
Note: This section describes the licensing model and standard provisions for the applicable
products, including the core licensing requirements and benefits associated with that model.
Review the subsequent sections for provisions that are unique to the applicable products.

User Subscription Licenses

You can license the applicable products on a user subscription basis. Assign a separate User
Subscription License to each user account that accesses or benefits from the product. [View related
Product Terms]

If the product license includes access to any cloud-based applications, the user may access the
applications from any device using the login credentials for their licensed account.

Any device-based provisions included with the User Subscription License—such as protecting,
managing, or installing desktop client apps on the user’s devices—may be applied to the
licensed user’s personal devices or devices provided by your organization. Such provisions are
typically limited to five devices. Refer to the Product-specific provisions for any applicable
exceptions or clarifications.

Licensing requirements and technical enforcement

You must appropriately license the use of a product regardless of technical enforcement. Some
products check for a license before granting access or allow you to restrict access to licensed
users via your admin portal. Other products may not enforce this yet but could in the future.
Ensure you are properly licensed regardless of what technical enforcement is currently available.
For products that are enabled for all users by default and lack the ability to restrict access,
license every user you intend to benefit from the product.

Multiplexing
You must properly license any user or device that directly or indirectly accesses, uses, or
otherwise benefits from a product. Using hardware or software to pool connections, reroute or
indirectly access information, and/or reduce the number of devices or users that directly access
or use a product reduce the number of users or devices accessing or being managed by the
product (often referred to as “multiplexing”) does not reduce the number of licenses you need.
For additional information, refer to the Microsoft Multiplexing Overview. [View related Product Terms]

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Reassigning licenses
You can reassign a User Subscription License, but not within 90 days of its last assignment
unless the user is absent (for example has left your organization or is on leave). Likewise, you can
reassign a Device Subscription License, but not within 90 days of its last assignment unless the
device is unavailable (for example, it’s been taken out of service or is under repair). If you
reassign a Subscription License within 90 days of the last assignment for any other reason, that
reassignment must be for the remaining duration of the subscription term. When reassigning,
block access and remove related software from the previous device or user's device(s). [View
related Product Terms]

Outsourcing software management

All licenses permit you to run the software on servers dedicated to your organization’s use and
provide access to your licensed users or from your licensed devices. This includes dedicated
servers in your own datacenter or hosted by an Authorized Outsourcer. (An Authorized
Outsourcer is any outsourcer that is not a Listed Provider or using a Listed Provider as a
datacenter provider.) With the Flexible Virtualization Benefit provided by subscription licenses
and licenses with active Software Assurance, you can also run and access the software hosted on
an Authorized Outsourcer’s shared servers. [View related Product Terms]

You’ll find more information in the Outsourcing Software Management licensing guidance and
Flexible Virtualization Benefit licensing guidance.

Product-specific provisions
All the typical provisions described in the Licensing model section above apply to Microsoft 365
Apps. The additional provisions below also apply.

Using desktop apps on the licensed user’s devices

Your licensed users can install, activate, and use the desktop applications on up to five physical
or virtual operating system environments (OSEs) at a time. This can be on different devices or
virtual machines, including locally on their personal devices or devices provided by your
organization, or virtual desktops they access remotely. [View related Product Terms]

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Using desktop apps on shared devices and virtual desktops
When you deploy Microsoft 365 Apps using shared computer activation, your licensed users can
sign-in to any number of shared devices and virtual desktops with the credentials for their
licensed account and enjoy the complete, personalized Microsoft 365 Apps experience.

All your users licensed for Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise can access the software with shared
computer activation. Only users licensed for Microsoft 365 Business Premium can access
Microsoft 365 for business with shared computer activation. [View related Product Terms]

You can deploy Microsoft 365 Apps with shared computer activation as described in the
Licensing model section above, including with Authorized Outsourcers. You can also deploy to
Microsoft Azure (including Azure Virtual Desktop).

Device Subscription Licenses

Some purchasing channels offer Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise on a per-device subscription
basis, in which case assign a Device Subscription License to every device used to access the
product locally or remotely. [View related Product Terms]

Device Subscription Licenses permit any user to access the applications running locally on one
physical or virtual OSE on the licensed device or use the device to remotely access the
application(s) running on one OSE on a server. Device Subscription Licenses do not support
shared computer activation. [View related Product Terms]

Using mobile apps on smartphones and tablets

Licensed users may use Microsoft 365 Apps for mobile for commercial purposes and sign in to
Microsoft 365 Apps with their work or school account on up to five smartphones and five
tablets. [View related Product Terms]

Viewing and printing files

Anyone in your organization with a Microsoft 365 (or Office 365) license may use Microsoft 365
Apps for enterprise in Reduced Functionality Mode to view and print files. [View related Product
Terms]

Office Online Server

You may install any number of copies of Office Online Server on any Server to provide access to
your licensed Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise users. (If you are outsourcing management or
control of your servers, the Outsourcing Software Management terms apply.) A Microsoft 365

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Apps for enterprise license (or an Office LTSC license with Software Assurance) is required to edit
files on Office Online Server. If you qualify for this entitlement, you can access the Office Online
Server software via your Microsoft 365 Admin Center. Please note that this provision does not
apply when you license Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise under Microsoft licensing agreements
that cover Online Services only. [View related Product Terms]

Lab and library use for education customers

When you assign a Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise User Subscription Licenses to Institutions
to all faculty and staff, Education Qualified Users, or Knowledge Workers, you have the following
options for using the software on lab and library devices.

• Enrollment for Education Solutions (EES) customers may acquire Microsoft 365 Apps for
enterprise Device Subscription Licenses up to the number of Microsoft 365 Apps for
enterprise User SLs licensed by the Institution for use on any device within your organization,
including any open access lab or library devices.
• Open Volume Subscription for Education Solutions (OVS-ES) customers may install Office
Professional Plus software on any open access lab or library within your organization. Use of
the software is otherwise subject to the License terms for Office Professional Plus.

[View related Product Terms]

Student Use Benefit

For every paid Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise faculty license purchased through EES, School,
CSP, or OVS-ES programs, you are entitled to 15 Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise student
licenses at no additional cost.

For every paid Microsoft 365 A3/A5 faculty license purchased through EES or CSP programs, you
are entitled to 40 Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise student licenses at no additional cost.

For every paid Office 365 A3/A5 faculty license purchased through OVS-ES, EES or CSP
programs, you are entitled to 40 Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise licenses at no additional cost.

[View related Product Terms]

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Comparison of product editions
Here’s an overview of what you get with Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise compared to
Microsoft 365 Apps for business.

Microsoft 365 Apps Microsoft 365 Apps

Features, capabilities, and benefits
for enterprise for business
Install desktop apps on up to five OSEs • •
Use mobile apps for commercial purposes on
up to five phones and five tablets • •

1 TB OneDrive cloud storage per user • •

Microsoft Copilot (AI assistant) • •
Eligible for Microsoft 365 Copilot (sold
separately) • •

Self-service business intelligence tools in Excel •

Advanced security features •
FastTrack assistance •
Available for more than 300 users •

Learn more about Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise

Learn more about Microsoft 365 Apps for business

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Subscription plan options
Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise
You can subscribe to Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise as a standalone subscription or
packaged along with other products and services in certain Microsoft 365 (or Office 365) plans.
The following subscriptions include Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise:
• Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise
• Microsoft 365 E3
• Microsoft 365 E5
• Microsoft 365 A3
• Microsoft 365 A5
• Microsoft 365 G3
• Microsoft 365 G5
• Office 365 E3
• Office 365 E5
• Office 365 A3
• Office 365 A5
• Office 365 G3
• Office 365 G5

Microsoft 365 Apps for business

For businesses with up to 300 users, you can subscribe to Microsoft 365 Apps for business as a
standalone subscription or packaged along with other products and services in certain Microsoft
365 Business plans. The following User Subscription Licenses include Microsoft 365 Apps for
business:
• Microsoft 365 Apps for business
• Microsoft 365 Business Standard
• Microsoft 365 Business Premium

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Purchasing your subscriptions
Where to buy
You have multiple options for where you buy subscription licenses, including:
• From a Microsoft partner
• From Microsoft Sales
• Online from the Microsoft 365 website or your Microsoft 365 Admin Center

To learn more about these options, refer to the How to Buy guide.

Prerequisite licenses and minimum/maximum quantities

Prerequisite
License Minimum quantity Maximum quantity
licenses
Microsoft 365 Apps for None None None
enterprise (User Subscription
License)
Microsoft 365 Apps for None None For Enrollment for
enterprise (Device Education
Subscription License) Solutions (EES)
only: May not
exceed the number
of Microsoft 365
Apps for enterprise
User Subscription
Licenses
Microsoft 365 Apps for None None 300
business (User Subscription
License)

Frequently asked questions

1. What is the difference between Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise and Microsoft 365
Apps for business?
Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise is built for enterprise customers. Along with always-up-to-
date versions of the core Microsoft 365 desktop apps, it also includes enterprise-grade
security and compliance features, enhanced communication tools, and fine-grained controls
for deployment and management. Some small and medium-sized businesses, including

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 those in regulated industries or wanting higher levels of IT control, may also be interested in
Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise.

Microsoft 365 Apps for business also offers always-up-to-date versions of the core Microsoft
365 desktop apps, but without any of the additional security, communication, or
administrative features included in Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise. Microsoft 365 Apps for
business is available for businesses with up to 300 users, whereas Microsoft 365 Apps for
enterprise is available for an unlimited number of users.

2. What is the difference between Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise and Office LTSC
Professional Plus?
Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise and Office LTSC Professional Plus both provide Word,
Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, and Access desktop apps, however there are key
differences. Office LTSC Professional Plus is provided under a desktop license that is tied to
the computer it is assigned to and is available through Commercial Licensing only. Microsoft
365 Apps for enterprise is available as User Subscription License (and in some cases, a Device
Subscription License). Because it's designed for disconnected environments, Office LTSC does
not include any cloud-backed features. It also does not receive any feature updates after
launch. If your organization has already deployed Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise or
Microsoft 365 Apps for business, there's no need for Office LTSC 2024. Microsoft 365 Apps
includes all the features of Office LTSC 2024, plus many additional features not found in
Office LTSC 2024.

3. Can I run Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise on my personal device to work from
home?
Yes. You can install and use Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise on up to five Operating
System Environments (OSEs) at a time, which could be on five separate devices. These can be
personal or organizational devices.

4. Can I run Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise on my Mac?

Yes. Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise is available for MacOS (except for Access and
Publisher).

5. Can I deploy Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise on shared public cloud environments?
Yes. You can deploy Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise on shared servers for access by
Licensed Users using shared computer activation on Microsoft Azure (including Azure Virtual
Desktop) or with an Authorized Outsourcer. For more information, see the You’ll find more
information in the Outsourcing Software Management licensing guidance.

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6. Can I deploy Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise on Amazon WorkSpaces?
Yes, per the Amazon Workspace Deployments section of the Product Terms, users licensed
for Microsoft 365 E3/A3/G3/E5/A5/G5 may install and run Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise
(configured under the Monthly Enterprise or Current Channel) on Amazon WorkSpaces. Note
that this applies only to Amazon WorkSpaces and not Amazon AppStream.

7. Do User Subscription Licenses cover multiple user accounts for the same individual?
No. Microsoft cannot and does not differentiate between a user account and an individual.
Separate user accounts are recognized and serviced in the same way whether they are used
by the same individual or separate individuals, and you assign User Subscription Licenses to
a specific user account, not a specific individual. Therefore, you need to assign a separate
User Subscription License for the applicable products or services to each user account unless
a specific exception is granted.

© 2025 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. This document is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT
MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, IN THIS DOCUMENT. This information is provided to help guide
your authorized use of products you license; it is not your agreement. Your use of products licensed under your
volume license agreement is governed by the terms and conditions of that agreement. In the case of any conflict
between this information and your agreement, the terms and conditions of your agreement control. Prices for
licenses acquired through Microsoft resellers are determined by the reseller.
Publication date: February 2025

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