LibreOffice 26.8.0 for Windows

LibreOffice 26.8.0 for Windows is the newest release of the free, open-source office suite made by The Document Foundation. It covers documents, spreadsheets and presentations, and you can download it from libreoffice.org or the Microsoft Store without paying anything.

Overview

LibreOffice started in 2010 as a fork of OpenOffice.org, and its first stable release followed on 25 January 2011. Since then it has grown into the office suite that many people install when they want to open and edit office files without buying a licence. It runs on Windows, macOS and Linux, and an Android version also exists. The code is published under the Mozilla Public License 2.0, so anyone can inspect it, and the interface is translated into a long list of languages, from English and Spanish to Hindi, Swahili and Welsh. Releases come in two lines: the stable line for people who want the newest features, now at 26.8 since 26 August 2026, and a legacy line, such as 26.2.6 from 4 September 2026, for users and companies that prefer to wait until a branch has matured. If you set up office computers for other people, the legacy line is the calmer option; at home, the fresh release is usually fine.

System requirements

The installer weighs about 357.53 MB according to catalogue data. Full details are on the official system requirements page.

How to download and install

1. Go to the official download page; it picks the Windows installer for you.
2. Alternatively, install it from the Microsoft Store, which handles updates automatically.
3. Run the installer and choose the typical setup unless you need specific languages or components.
4. On first launch, open Tools, then Options, and pick the default file format you want to save in.

Safety

LibreOffice is open source and published by a non-profit foundation, so the official installer is safe. Avoid repackaged copies from unofficial sites. As with any office program, be careful with macros in documents from strangers and keep them disabled unless you trust the source.

Price

Free for home, school and business use. The Document Foundation accepts donations, and paid support is available from third-party companies for organisations that want it.

Pros and cons

• Pro: completely free, with no account or subscription.
• Pro: opens and saves common office formats.
• Pro: open standards and open code.
• Con: complex layouts from other suites can shift slightly.
• Con: a large download compared with online editors.

Alternatives

Other office suites and editors in our listings: WPS Office, Microsoft 365 Office (UWP), Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel. See the release notes for what changed in each LibreOffice version.