Forum Discussion
Office 365 - Word _Unable to reference DESPERATE NEED OF HELP!
Victoria1303 The issue is that you are using an IPad. There are many facilities that are available in the Windows Desktop application that are not available in the On-line version, which is all that can be used on an IPad.
Thank you for your reply. So is there nothing I can do on the iPad to get the proper version? Is my only option to work from a laptop? (Which I don’t hve)
- Charles_KenyonSep 26, 2023Bronze Contributor
You may be able to access a desktop version at a public library or school. Otherwise, you could get a trial version of Microsoft 365 if you have a full computer available.
See Compare Word features on different platforms - Office Support.
- These programs are all named Word and they are all created and published by Microsoft.
- They all can edit the same document files that have the same file structure. Some of the programs have no control over some of the document structures.
- But, they are different programs with different features and controls.
As of September, 2023, the most powerful one of these, with the most features, is the Windows desktop application. I do not expect that to change.
The Macintosh desktop application is second with number of features. The things available in the Windows version not yet on the Mac version include Content Controls, Building Blocks, UserForms, and ActiveX. It can use, but cannot create, or modify most Content Controls. AutoText is a Building Block that the Mac can and does use.
The browser version of Word – Word Online – has a Transcribe feature that has recently been added to the Windows desktop version of Microsoft 365’s Word. Otherwise, the browser version has far fewer features and editing in it has been reported to mess up automatic numbering. Chromebooks use a version of this or of the Android mobile app. Differences between using a document in the browser and in Word
The mobile applications (Android/IOS, etc.) vary somewhat but have far fewer features. I would use them for note taking and for quick viewing/printing, but not for editing. Especially not for editing long or complex documents.
- JosephVillapazSep 26, 2023Copper ContributorAs Doug Robbins stated earlier, the cloud apps don't have all the features the desktop apps have. This is true for both the Mac and PC so its not just an iPad issue. If you have a Mac desktop or laptop, the Office full version can be installed on those where you can edit the files then you can open in your iPad.
- Stefan_BlomSep 26, 2023MVP
The full set of features exist only in the Office applications that run on a PC or Mac.
I don't know if there is a complete list of supported functionality somewhere, but you may want to start at https://support.microsoft.com/en-gb/office/what-you-can-do-in-the-microsoft-365-apps-on-mobile-devices-with-a-microsoft-365-subscription-9ef8b63a-05fd-4f9c-bac5-29da046833ea#BKMK_Qualifying