I frequently get asked, "Do I have to install Visio just to view a Visio diagram someone sent me?" or "I don't want to install Office on this computer - where can I get the viewer program for PowerPoint files?"

And sometimes people are looking for file version/type converters because someone sends them a file created with a different version of an Office application.

  • Converters allow you to open files created by people using different versions of your Office programs.

  • Viewers provide a means for people who don't have Office programs to see your work. You can provide them with the appropriate viewer along with your Office files.

Both are useful and requests from all sort of people seem to come up every now and then.

So, here's a one-stop place at office.microsoft.com to download the latest versions of Microsoft's free Office viewer and converters. Or, just click below:

Access viewers

Access 2002 viewers
Access 2000 viewers
Access 97 viewers

Excel converters and viewers

Excel 2003 viewers
Excel 2000 converters
Excel 2000 viewers
Excel 97 converters

Outlook converters and viewers

Outlook 2000 converters
Outlook 97/98 converters
Outlook 97/98 viewers

PowerPoint converters and viewers

PowerPoint 2003 viewers
PowerPoint 2002 viewers
PowerPoint 2000 converters
PowerPoint 2000 viewers
PowerPoint 97 converters
PowerPoint 97 viewers

Microsoft Project converters

Microsoft Project 2000 converters

Visio converters and viewers

Visio 2002 viewers
Visio 2000 converters

Word converters and viewers

Word 2003 viewers
Word 2002 converters
Word 2000 viewers
Word 2000 converters
Word 97 viewers
Word 97 converters

Converters and viewers for Macintosh users

Mactopia downloads