How to Download and Install LibreOffice on Windows, macOS and Linux

In this part of the series, we’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of downloading and installing LibreOffice on Windows, macOS, and Linux. No matter your operating system, the installation process is straightforward, and you’ll have your new office suite up and running in no time.

System Requirements

Before we start, here’s a quick look at the general system requirements for LibreOffice:

• Windows: Windows 7, 8, 10, or 11
• macOS: macOS 10.12 (Sierra) or later
• Linux: A kernel version of 3.10 or higher, plus a modern desktop environment such as GNOME or KDE

Make sure you have enough disk space (at least 1.5GB) and administrative rights on your system.

Step 1: Downloading LibreOffice

LibreOffice is available for download from the official website:

1. Go to the Official Website:
   • Open your web browser and go to LibreOffice.org.
2. Download the Latest Version:
   • On the homepage, click the large green Download Now button.
   • The website will automatically detect your operating system and offer the correct version. However, you can manually select your platform by clicking Change version under the download button if needed.
3. Optional: Download the Help Pack:
   • For offline help, you can download the Help Pack in your language by scrolling down the page and selecting your language under “Help for offline use.” This pack adds an offline version of the LibreOffice help files.
4. Save the Installer:
   • Choose a folder to save the installer file, and the download will start. It’s typically a few hundred megabytes, so this may take a few minutes depending on your internet speed.

Step 2: Installing LibreOffice on Windows

Once you’ve downloaded LibreOffice for Windows, follow these steps to install it:

1. Locate the Installer:
   • Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder where you saved the installer (usually in Downloads).
2. Run the Installer:
   • Double-click the installer file (e.g., LibreOffice_7.5.0_Win_x64.msi) to start the installation process. You may be prompted to confirm that you want to run the software. Click Yes.
3. Follow the Setup Wizard:
   • The LibreOffice Setup Wizard will appear. Click Next to begin.
4. Choose Installation Type:
   • Select either Typical or Custom installation:
     • Typical: Installs LibreOffice with the default options (recommended for most users).
     • Custom: Allows you to choose which components to install. This option is useful if you want to exclude certain features like additional language packs.
5. Select Install Location:
   • You can accept the default installation location or click Browse to choose a different folder. Click Next.
6. Create Shortcuts:
   • Check the option to Create a shortcut on the desktop if desired. This makes it easier to find LibreOffice after installation.
7. Install LibreOffice:
   • Click Install to begin the installation process. It may take a few minutes to complete.
8. Complete the Installation:
   • Once the installation finishes, click Finish to close the wizard. LibreOffice is now ready to use!

Step 3: Installing LibreOffice on macOS

If you’re installing LibreOffice on a Mac, the steps are slightly different:

1. Locate the Installer:
   • Open Finder and go to the folder where you saved the installer (usually Downloads).
2. Run the Installer:
   • Double-click the downloaded DMG file (e.g., LibreOffice_7.5.0_MacOS_x86-64.dmg). This will open a new window displaying the LibreOffice application.
3. Drag LibreOffice to Applications:
   • Drag the LibreOffice icon into the Applications folder shown in the window. This will copy LibreOffice to your Applications folder.
4. Open LibreOffice:
   • Open your Applications folder and double-click the LibreOffice icon to launch it. The first time you open it, macOS might display a security warning because LibreOffice is not downloaded from the App Store. Simply click Open to confirm you want to run the application.
5. Install the Help Pack (Optional):
   • If you downloaded the Help Pack, follow similar steps to drag it into your Applications folder after the LibreOffice installation.

Step 4: Installing LibreOffice on Linux

On Linux, the process will vary depending on your distribution, but LibreOffice is often available in your distribution’s package manager.

Installing LibreOffice via Package Manager

For most Linux users, the simplest method is to use your package manager. Here’s how to do it for some popular distributions:

Ubuntu and Debian-based Systems:

1. Open Terminal:
   • Press Ctrl + Alt + T to open a terminal window.
2. Update Your Package List:
   • Run the following command to update your package list:
     sudo apt update
     
3. Install LibreOffice:
   • Use this command to install LibreOffice:
     sudo apt install libreoffice
     
4. Launch LibreOffice:
   • Once installed, you can open LibreOffice by typing libreoffice in the terminal or finding it in your application launcher.

Fedora:

1. Open Terminal:
   • Press Ctrl + Alt + T to open a terminal window.
2. Install LibreOffice:
   • Run the following command:
     sudo dnf install libreoffice
     
3. Launch LibreOffice:
   • After installation, you can launch it via your applications menu or by typing libreoffice in the terminal.

Arch Linux:

1. Open Terminal:
   • Open a terminal window.
2. Install LibreOffice:
   • Use this command:
     sudo pacman -S libreoffice-fresh
     
3. Launch LibreOffice:
   • You can open it by typing libreoffice in the terminal or launching it from your desktop environment.

Installing from the Official Site (For Other Distributions)

1. Download the TAR.GZ File:
   • From the LibreOffice website, choose the Linux (64-bit) version, then download the .tar.gz file.
2. Extract the File:
   • Navigate to the folder where you downloaded the file, then extract it using:
     tar -xvzf LibreOffice_7.5.0_Linux_x86-64_deb.tar.gz

3. Install the Packages:
   • Navigate to the folder where the extracted files are located, then run:
     sudo dpkg -i *.deb (For Ubuntu/Debian-based systems)
     
     or:
     sudo rpm -ivh *.rpm (For RedHat/Fedora-based systems).
     
4. Launch LibreOffice:
   • After installation, LibreOffice should appear in your system’s application menu, or you can launch it from the terminal by typing libreoffice.

Final Thoughts

Installing LibreOffice is a straightforward process, whether you’re on Windows, macOS, or Linux. With LibreOffice now installed, you’re ready to start using its powerful tools for writing, calculating, presenting, and much more. In the next post, we’ll dive into LibreOffice Writer, where you’ll learn how to create your first document, format text, and explore its many features.

Stay tuned for the next part of our series!