Microsoft Office is getting a brand new design and a local 64-bit Arm model for Windows 11

Microsoft is announcing that the following model of Office for Windows 11 could have a local 64-bit Arm model, for improved efficiency on massive or picture-filled paperwork, and assist for 64-bit add-ins. The new model of Office is at the moment in beta, accessible to Office Insiders.

Microsoft additionally introduced a redesign of Office, which you’ll see above and under. While it makes use of an analogous design to Windows 11, it’ll be accessible whether or not you are working the Windows 11 Preview or Windows 10. In addition to the brand new design, Office will even adapt to your Windows gentle / darkish mode, so it’s best to be capable to keep away from the expertise of opening a doc and having it blast gentle into your eyes at night time.

Microsoft hasn’t shied away from speaking about Arm with Windows 11. Its contentious checklist of supported CPUs includes a handful of Qualcomm chips, and it used the Arm-powered Surface Pro X to indicate off the pill capabilities of its new OS. For these with Arm machines, it’s in all probability a very good signal — having native apps is probably going going to be extra environment friendly than emulation, and supply higher efficiency.

It is, nonetheless, maybe somewhat awkward that it took so lengthy for a 64-bit Arm model of Office to come back to Windows — M1 Macs acquired a local model late final yr. There are additionally a couple of options that Microsoft mentions have not come to the Arm model of Office but, although that’s to be anticipated provided that it’s at the moment in beta.

In addition to being within the Office Insider program, those that need to check out 64-bit Office on their Arm Windows machine will even should be working the Windows 11 Insider Preview. They’ll additionally should uninstall any 32-bit variations of Office they might have put in earlier than reinstalling Office and updating to the beta model. If you’re working the Office beta on both Windows 10 or 11, it’s best to be capable to flip the redesign on from the Coming Soon pane in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, or OneNote.