Office 2016 end of life: what does it mean for your business?

A date that has passed does not cause problems straight away. Users usually notice nothing, so Office 2016 stays on many workstations. The software keeps working, but support ends. That carries risks.

When did support for Office 2016 stop?

Office 2016 was covered by Microsoft's Fixed Lifecycle Policy. Mainstream support ended on 13 October 2020. Until 14 October 2025, Microsoft still provided extended support with security updates only. Since that date, Microsoft no longer releases security updates or bug fixes for this version, and no longer provides technical help. That is the point at which Office 2016 reached its end of life.

Office 2016 was released on 22 September 2015 for Windows and appeared as early as 9 July 2015 for macOS. The macOS version had already lost support on 13 October 2020, five years earlier than the Windows version.

Source: Microsoft Office 2016 on Microsoft Lifecycle.

What are the consequences after end of life?

Office 2016 keeps working after end of life. Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint remain available. The software stays on your devices and Microsoft does not switch it off.

The biggest risk is the loss of security updates. Every security flaw found after 14 October 2025 stays open. Office files are a well-known vector for cyberattacks, for example through email attachments and macros. Software that no longer receives security updates is therefore an easy target for those attacks. On top of that, bugs are no longer fixed and Microsoft no longer answers questions about Office 2016.

Office 2016 and Microsoft 365: what no longer works?

Since 10 October 2023, the connection between Office 2016 or Office 2019 and Microsoft 365 is no longer supported. This applies to OneDrive, Exchange Online and SharePoint Online. Microsoft advises moving to a supported client, such as Microsoft 365 Apps, Office LTSC 2021 (until 13 October 2026) or Office LTSC 2024 (until 9 October 2029).

Source: Office versions and connectivity to Microsoft 365 services.

Which Office versions are still supported?

On 14 October 2025, extended support ended for Office 2019 as well as for Office 2016. You can read more about that in our article on the end of life of Office 2019.

Of the perpetual Office versions, only Office LTSC 2021 and Office LTSC 2024 are still supported. Office LTSC 2021 was released on 16 September 2021 and goes out of support on 13 October 2026. Office LTSC 2024 was released on 18 September 2024 and is supported until 9 October 2029. Both Office LTSC 2021 and Office LTSC 2024 fall under the Fixed Lifecycle Policy without an extended phase. That means support ends outright after those dates.

Sources: Office LTSC 2021 and Office LTSC 2024 on Microsoft Lifecycle.

Upgrading from Office 2016: your options

For most companies, Office LTSC 2024 is the logical successor. This perpetual licence is supported until 9 October 2029. That is almost three years longer than Office LTSC 2021, which goes out of support on 13 October 2026. If your organisation works mainly with OneDrive, Exchange Online and SharePoint Online, Microsoft 365 Apps is the better fit. For a comparison of both models, read buying Office without a subscription.

Office LTSC 2024 is supported on Windows 11, on the LTSC versions of Windows 10 and 11, and on Windows Server 2022 and 2025. Regular Windows 10 installations are not included, and Windows 10 itself went out of support on 14 October 2025.

Softtrader supplies Office LTSC 2024 as a pre-owned volume licence, with savings of up to 70% and delivery within three working days. Request a no-obligation quote.

Frequently asked questions

When did Office 2016 reach end of life?

Office 2016 reached end of life on 14 October 2025. Mainstream support stopped on 13 October 2020, after which Microsoft provided five more years of extended support with security updates only.

Does Office 2016 keep working after 14 October 2025?

Yes, Office 2016 keeps working. With a perpetual licence you can continue to use Word, Outlook, Excel and PowerPoint, and your files remain available. You simply no longer receive security updates, bug fixes or technical support.

Which Office version should I upgrade to from Office 2016?

With support until 9 October 2029, Office LTSC 2024 is the logical choice. Office LTSC 2021 goes out of support as early as 13 October 2026 and receives no security updates after that. If your organisation mainly uses Exchange Online and SharePoint Online, Microsoft 365 Apps is the better fit.

Advice on your situation?

Are you still running Office 2016 and would you like to know what moving to Office LTSC 2024 costs your organisation? Softtrader supplies Office LTSC 2024 as a pre-owned volume licence, with savings of up to 70%. Contact us for more information or request a no-obligation quote.

This page was translated from Dutch with the help of AI and checked by our account manager.