Chromebooks run Chrome OS, a cloud-centric operating system designed primarily for web applications. While they don't natively support installing traditional desktop software like Microsoft Office, you can easily view Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files through alternative methods. This differs from Windows or macOS, where the full Office desktop suite can be installed locally; instead, Chrome OS relies on web-based viewers or compatible apps integrated with cloud storage.

The primary methods involve using Google's own suite or Microsoft's web versions. You can upload Office files to Google Drive and view them directly in the browser via Google Docs, Sheets, or Slides without conversion. Alternatively, you can access and open Office files directly using the free, browser-based versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint through Microsoft's OneDrive website. This functionality is crucial in education, business, and personal settings where Chromebooks are widely used.

The key advantage is seamless viewing accessibility and cloud integration without installing full Office. The main limitation is reduced editing capability and advanced feature access compared to paid, dedicated desktop applications – free web viewers offer basic editing at best. Future developments include progressive web apps offering richer offline editing experiences. This accessibility significantly drives Chromebook adoption in environments where core document viewing is essential.