How to Install Microsoft Office 2016 for Mac for Free: Microsoft has put out the free download of Office 2016 for Mac public preview, without any Office 365 subscription required.
- Office 2016 include applications such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. They’re available as a one-time purchase for use on a single PC. Microsoft 365 plans include premium versions of these applications plus other services that are enabled over the Internet, including online storage with OneDrive and Skype minutes for home use.
- Made with Mac in mind, Office 2016 for Mac gives you access to your favorite Office applications - anywhere, anytime and with anyone. Includes new versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote. See what's new in Office 2016. Your school may offer. Office 2016 for Mac for free. Search for your school below to claim this academic deal.
Note
Office 365 ProPlus is being renamed to Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise. For more information about this change, read this blog post.
Summary
Existing Office 2016 for Mac customers will be seamlessly upgraded to 64-bit versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and OneNote as part of the August product release (version 15.25). This affects customers of all license types: Retail, Office 365 Consumer, Office 365 Commercial, and Volume License installations.
Deployment options for the 64-bit update
AutoUpdate (MAU)
Customers who use Microsoft AutoUpdate (MAU) to keep their Office applications up-to-date will see a 'regular' monthly update notification when their selected channel is upgraded to 64-bit builds. Depending on which version is installed on the local computer, MAU will offer either a delta or full update. The update package size does not change between 32-bit and 64-bit versions. Also, MAU can deliver a delta update when applicable to update a user from 32-bit to 64-bit applications. Therefore, customers won't experience a sharp increase in download activity. For the release to the Production channel, customers will see '(64-bit)' in the update title to make them aware that this is a 64-bit update.
For information about how to use the MAU, see Check for Office for Mac updates automatically.
Manual updates
The August release of Office for Mac is available for manual download. The following file provides a 64-bit package to replace existing 32-bit applications with 64-bit variants during installation:
Download the Microsoft Office 2016 for Mac August update package now.
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Volume License Service Center
Volume License customers typically get their Office 2016 software from the Volume License Service Center (VLSC). These builds are refreshed infrequently and are typically aligned with new language editions. The VLSC will continue to offer 32-bit installers (15.23) until November 2016. However, all updater packages that are released after August will be based on 64-bit builds. Therefore, a VLSC customer who updates either manually or through AutoUpdate will be transitioned to 64-bit builds.
More Information
64-bit only
The Mac operating system has been 64-bit for several years. Unlike for Windows, there's no choice between running a 32-bit or 64-bit version of the Mac operating system. Similarly, we won't offer a choice between 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Office 2016 for Mac. After each 'channel' is transitioned per the rollout schedule, only 64-bit builds will be available.
Effect on third-party applications and add-ins
The transition to 64-bit Office for Mac was announced in April 2016. IT Pros will want to understand which compiled add-ins are deployed to the users whom they manage so that they can assess the effect of the upgrade. The following Microsoft Office website summarizes the issues that affect the more common add-ins that are used together with Office 2016 for Mac:
Tools for inspecting product architecture
To verify the architecture of an Office application (that is, to understand whether you have a 32-bit or 64-bit build), start the application, open the Activity Monitor, and then enable the Kind column.
You can also use the file command in a terminal session to inspect the binary. For this use, type file -N <path of binary>.This method can be used with for any binary file, including third-party add-ins.
The file command returns one of three values.
| Return value | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Mach-O 64-bit executable x86_64 | 64-bit binary |
| Mach-O executable i386 | 32-bit binary |
| Mach-O 64-bit executable x86_64 | FAT binary (compatible with both 32-bit and 64-bit processes) |
| Mach-O executable i386 | FAT binary (compatible with both 32-bit and 64-bit processes) |
Options for reverting to 32-bit installations
There may be situations in which the customer has to change code that's not 64-bit ready. If customers can't immediately move forward to 64-bit builds, we will make available a one-time 32-bit update for the 15.25 release in addition to the default 64-bit updates. The 32-bit updates will be available only for manual download from the Office CDN.
The latest 32-bit release of Office 2016 for Mac (15.25.160818) can be downloaded from https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=823192.
Customers who manually install the 32-bit release won't be offered the 64-bit version of 15.25 through MAU. However, MAU will offer the 64-bit version of 15.26 in September 2016. Therefore, customers have a limited time to remain on 32-bit builds.
If a customer has already upgraded to the 64-bit update of Office for Mac 15.25 and wants to revert to the 32-bit version, follow these steps:
- Exit all open Office 2016 applications.
- Start Safari, and then browse to https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=823192 to start the download of the 32-bit installer.
- Double-click the downloaded package, and then follow the instructions.
The 64-bit installation has a build date of 160817. The 32-bit version has a build date of 160818.
This article applies to: Central IT Service Group (CITSG) Support, Office 365 Productivity Bundle
What to Expect During the Installation
An Internet connection is required throughout the installation.
Starting the Office 365 upgrade process manually
Use these steps if you prefer to start the upgrade process manually, rather than waiting for your system to upgrade automatically after the deadline.
- Open Self Service and click Microsoft Office – Activate Office 365 Version Self Service.
- Click Activate O365.
- The activation may take 1-2 minutes to complete.
- The next time an Office application is opened, it will prompt you either to activate the product or to sign in immediately.
- If you are prompted to activate the product when an Office app is opened:
- Click Activate in the yellow activation warning bar.
- Click the Sign in link at the bottom of the activation window.
- Log in using your Cornell NetID and password.
- The Office application will no longer display the yellow activation warning bar.
- Click Activate in the yellow activation warning bar.
- If you are prompted to sign in when opening an Office app:
- At the Microsoft Sign in window, type your NetID in the field labeled Email, phone, or Skype, then click Next.
- Log in using your Cornell NetID and password. The Office application should open normally.
- At the Microsoft Sign in window, type your NetID in the field labeled Email, phone, or Skype, then click Next.
- If you are prompted to activate the product when an Office app is opened:
- To confirm your activated Office 365 license in any Office application, click the application name in the Menu bar, then click About. The license type should read “Office 365 Subscription.”
What to Expect After the Upgrade
Office 2016 For Mac Key
- Dock shortcut icons
For any Office applications that were in the Mac Dock, you will need to add them again to the Dock. (To do this, open the app to make its icon appear again in the Dock. Control-click the app’s icon, then choose Options > Keep in Dock.) - Your Office 365 Subscription
This Office installation will count toward the five total installations that you are allowed through Cornell’s Office 365 licensing. When you launch any Microsoft application in the suite, you will be automatically logged in based on your Mac login. (The assumption is that you are using an Active Directory-bound system.) - OneDrive for Business
If you still use OneDrive for Business, be aware that it will not be re-installed with Office 365. We recommend you use the OneDrive app moving forward. For more information, see Sync files with the OneDrive sync client on Mac OS X. - If your upgrade fails
In the unlikely event that your Office upgrade fails, leaving your system without Office applications installed locally, please submit a ticket to CIT Desktop Support immediately.
Until your upgrade issue is resolved, use the web-based Office applications. Log in to the Office site, then click the Apps icon in the upper left-hand corner to open a menu of available web-based Office apps.
Apple 2016 Macbook Air
What to Expect from Future Office Updates
2016 Macbook Specs
- Release Notes
Release notes for each version and channel can be found on the following pages: - Regular Office Updates
Once the upgrade has been rolled out, users will be on a 'monthly channel.' This means new feature updates will be released monthly for the product. For details, see Overview of update channels for Office 365 ProPlus. Unlike previous Microsoft Office updates which users received as part of 'Patch Tuesdays,' these Office 365 client updates require the apps to be closed prior to starting the update.