 Software

Download and install Microsoft Office for free on your personal computer, tablet, or phone with your NCU account. Includes Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote.

NCU doesn't give administrator rights on university computers. Learn why, and how to get the software and changes you need instead.

Learn how to access Adobe services at the University. This guide covers Adobe Express (available to all students and faculty) and the Adobe Creative Cloud suite, which requires departmental procurement for staff.

Learn how NCU employees get Adobe Acrobat Pro or Creative Cloud through OIT, and why employees and students should never buy Adobe with an NCU email.

Learn how to use free Microsoft 365 tools that read text aloud, make it easier to read, and let you type with your voice.

Not sure what to ask Microsoft Copilot Chat? Get prompt ideas for writing, summarizing, spreadsheets, and planning at NCU, plus tips for better results and what not to share.

A step by step guide on how to open a New Private Window for Google Chrome, Edge, Explorer, Firefox, and Safari browsers.

Learn how to add alt text to images, charts, and graphics in Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook so people using screen readers know what they show.

Learn how to allow pop-ups for NCU sites like Skyline, Canvas, and Self-Service, and how to test a website in a private window.

Learn how to clear your browser cache and cookies in Edge, Chrome, Firefox, or Safari to fix sign-in and page-loading problems.

Can't upload an iPhone photo to a website, form, or assignment? Learn how to save photos as JPG instead of HEIC, and how to convert photos you already took.

Need to fill in a form, highlight, or add a signature to a PDF? Learn how to do it with free tools built into Microsoft Edge on Windows and Preview on Mac.

Running out of storage on your Windows or Mac computer? Learn how to see what's using space and free it up safely, including keeping OneDrive files online only.

Running slides on a lobby screen or before an event? Learn how to set a PowerPoint presentation to advance and loop automatically until you stop it.

Learn how to make a QR code for any web page using Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome, with no extra software.

Chrome is the default browser on NCU computers. Learn how to bring your bookmarks over from Edge, Safari, or Firefox.

Need to turn in a PowerPoint with your voice? Learn how to record narration in PowerPoint, export it as a video, and submit it in Canvas.

Need a quick screen recording for a demo or assignment? Learn how to record your screen with the tools built into Windows and Mac, and when to use Panopto or Teams instead.

Learn how to repair Microsoft Office on Windows or Mac when Word, Excel, Outlook, or another app crashes or won't open.

Want to read an NCU help article or web page in another language? Learn how to translate any page with the translate feature built into Chrome or Edge.

Clicked "Allow my organization to manage my device" when signing in to Office on your own Windows computer? Learn how to disconnect your NCU account and sign in to just the app.

Learn how to use color and contrast in documents, slides, and emails so text is readable and information isn't lost for people with low vision or color blindness.

Learn how to use real headings in Word, PowerPoint, and Outlook so people using screen readers can navigate your content.

Learn how to use the built-in Accessibility Checker in Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook to find and fix accessibility issues.

Learn how to write link text that tells people where a link goes, instead of "click here" or a long web address.

Learn how to keep Windows, macOS, and your web browser up to date, and why updates matter for security.

Learn how to use Microsoft 365 Copilot Chat with your NCU account, what it can and can't do, and how to use it safely.

Need Microsoft Visio for diagrams at NCU? Learn how to view Visio files without a license, how to request one of NCU's limited Visio licenses, and why Microsoft Project isn't available.

Is your Windows or Mac computer running slow? Try these quick fixes first, from restarting to checking what's using your memory, before you contact the IT Service Desk.

Learn what to do when Word, Excel, or PowerPoint says it's unlicensed, read-only, or that your account doesn't allow editing.

Learn about OneDrive at NCU, including how it differs from a personal OneDrive, the ways to get to your files, and how sharing works.

Remote Assistance

Changed your NCU password and your personal Windows laptop keeps asking for it or locking you out? Learn how to clear old saved NCU passwords from Credential Manager.

Learn how to set up separate browser profiles in Edge or Chrome so your NCU account, bookmarks, and extensions stay apart from your personal ones.

Learn how to use AI tools for your work at NCU under the Using AI at Work policy, including what information you can put into AI, which tools are approved, and what to do if you share something you shouldn't.

VLC Media Player is a very versatile media playback tool, this article is here to get you used to the interface and some of the basic controls of VLC.  VLC is installed on most university-owned machines.

Downloaded a file and can't find it? Learn where downloads go on Windows, Mac, iPhone, and Android, how to find them from your browser, and why to move important ones to OneDrive.

Did a Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file open read-only with a yellow Protected View bar? Learn why Office does this and when it's safe to select Enable Editing.

Learn what a HECVAT and a VPAT are, why the Office of Innovation & Technology asks vendors for them before NCU buys software or a cloud service, and how to keep your purchase on track.

New to Windows 11 or want to work faster? Learn how to snap windows side by side, pin apps to the taskbar, manage notifications, and use a few time-saving keyboard shortcuts.