Android Users Can Now Open Shared Office Documents Without a Microsoft Account

Android users can now open shared Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files without being logged into the Office apps with a Microsoft account. This new Anonymous file sharing experience works for Office files shared from a personal Microsoft account, and it was previously made available for iPhone and iPad users in March.

The Office apps allow users to share files using web links with granular options for editing features. When recipients open such a link, they’ll be able to open and view the file even if they’re not signed into their Office apps..

“This means that you can now confidently share documents, worksheets, and presentations, from your personal Microsoft account, and make them available for review with others while giving recipients an effortless way to open and view the content on their mobile devices,” wrote Juan Karmy, a Product Manager on the Office team.

While iOS and Android users can now open shared Office files anonymously, they will still need to sign in with a Microsoft account to make edits or leave comments on these shared files. Lastly, Office documents shared using an Enterprise account will also still require recipients to sign in with their personal Microsoft account to view them.