How to Upgrade to Office 2016

By John Bath

This week Microsoft released its newest iteration of the iconic suite of applications. Any person interested in upgrading from their current set of the software can purchase it online or from a vendor if bulk pricing is needed. Those subscribed to Office 365 under select plans*, however, will automatically have access to the new version of the desktop client. So how do you get the new Office when you’re subscribed? In this post, I’ll go over the various ways you can get yourself onto the new version.

First off, if your business is signed up for First Release and you were able to get your hands on a preview for the suite, then congratulations! The updated version has been automatically pushed out to you and you don’t have to do a thing. If you weren’t signed up, then you have a few steps short steps ahead of you to get your download.

Start by logging into the Office 365 portal at portal.office.com.

Once you reach the homepage, click the gear wheel at the top right of the screen. Select Office 365 settings in the drop down you receive.

From there you will be taken to the settings page, where you can customize your Office 365 experience and manage your downloads. Go ahead and click on software to view your Office licenses available for download.

After that you’ll be in the right place to get your download, and will just need to select some customization for your download. First up is language, which should be self explanatory.

Next is to choose the version of Office that you want, 32-bit or 64-bit. What you want to use here is based entirely on how you and your organization plan to use office, and is not necessarily tied to the bit-version of Windows that you have. Most users are perfectly fine using 32-bit Office, and it is generally only when you regularly work with very large files that you should use 64-bit.

For example, if you typically have an Excel document open that has upwards of 50 sheets, you will need an Office version with a higher bit-rate to handle that much data at once. 

Before clicking install, just be sure that your computer can handle the new Office by clicking Review system requirements. Once you’re sure, select Install and download the installer!

If you aren’t able to download the installer for whatever reason, chances are that it has been disabled by your administrator. In this case, you will have to wait until the administrator chooses to push the update out to you. Best course of action there? Email them!

If the download does work, however, Click the file you downloaded, which will then begin your download of Office 2016. From there you’re all set begin enjoying the latest in productivity applications!

* Office 365 business plans eligible for download of the Office suite include: Business, Business Premium, Enterprise 3, Enterprise 4, & Pro Plus.