Get early updates to Office 365 as an Office Insider

Office Insider is an early release program, sort of equivalent to a Beta Release. For Office 365 subscribers, it’s called “Office Insider” and for Business subscriptions, it’s called “First Release.”

Both programs get new features automatically added to Office programs such as: PowerPoint, Word, Outlook, Skype, Excel.

The Office Insider program is free and easy to add to your subscription. The Office Insider program includes: PowerPoint for Windows Desktop, Mac, Android, and Mobile.

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Here’s how to be an Office Insider

This example is based on Office 365 Business, which is the version we use at TLC. Your subscription might be different so take a look at the version of Office 365 you have.

1. Log into your Office 365 account to access the Admin Center (Note: The Admin option is only available to those with admin permissions). This Account Admin is not the same as the individual Admin inside PowerPoint or any Office app.

There’s different logins for different Subscriptions. Click this link for more information: Office 365 Login

2. Go to the Account Admin > SERVICE SETTINGS > UPDATES > NEW FEATURES AND UPDATES > EARLY RELEASE and select the option you want.

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Office 365 Updates and who gets them

First, Office 365 Home, Personal, or University subscribers get the updates. Next, Office 365 Business subscribers, that do not have Admin restrictions, receive early release features. And finally, approximately 3-5 weeks later, the new features will install to all O365 subscribers.

Here is a page with details for Office 365 Early Release Options.

Here is a page that details each of the Office 365 Subscription Options .

 

-Troy @ TLC