Important Update: Microsoft To End Support For Office 2016 In October 2025

Microsoft Office 2016, for several years the gold standard in desktop publishing software, will officially reach the end of support on 14th October 2025. What this means is that after this date, Microsoft will no longer provide technical support, security patches, or updates for Office 2016 users. Although the platform will still be usable after this date, the end of support is a crucial milestone that all businesses should prepare for to ensure continued security and productivity.

What Does ‘End Of Support’ Mean?

When Office 2016 reaches the end of support, users will no longer receive the following from Microsoft:

• Security updates (‘patches’) to protect against vulnerabilities – an increasingly important factor now that AI software is being used to scale attacks against SMEs by cyber criminals.
• Bug fixes to resolve performance problems
• Technical assistance to troubleshoot and resolve problems.

You can still use Office 2016 to create word documents, spreadsheets, and so on without these updates. However, unsupported software becomes increasingly vulnerable to cyber attacks, code glitches, malware, and data breaches over time, which can have severe repercussions for your personal and business data.

What Are Your Options?

If you currently use Office 2016, your best option is to upgrade to a newer version of Office before October this year so that you continue to benefit from critical updates and protections. Newer versions of the Office Suite, such as Office 2021 and Microsoft 365, have a range of more modern features and capabilities to help you and your team work efficiently while also protecting your data.

Why Upgrade?

There are several benefits to upgrading, including:

• Better security: new versions of Office include inbuilt safeguards to defend your data against evolving cyber threats, including malware and phishing attempts.
• Improved features: later versions of the platform include real-time collaboration tools, enhanced data analysis options, and updated templates to improve productivity.
• Cloud integration: Microsoft 365 – in particular – provides seamless integration with OneDrive for easy cloud file storage and sharing from anywhere, on any device, which is really valuable for SMEs with hybrid and remote teams.
• Better performance: users who upgrade from Office 2016 often notice faster loading times and smoother operation, especially when coupled with newer hardware.
• Long-term support: Office 2021 will be supported until 13th October 2026, and Microsoft 365 will be supported indefinitely (at the time of writing), so upgrading will give you access to future updates, bug fixes, and tech support when you need it.

Your Upgrade Options:

1. Office 2021: Office 2021 was the direct successor to Office 2016, and includes a range of updated apps with modern features, including an advanced version of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. It does, however, lack many of the automatic updates and cloud integrations provided by Microsoft 365. Office 2021 can be purchased through a one-time license per user and does not require a subscription. Note however, that support will also end for Office 2021 the following year, in 2026, so it may not be financially worthwhile to buy multiple licences.

2. Microsoft 365: this subscription-based SaaS service contains the full suite of Microsoft collaboration and desktop publishing applications, with the added benefit of free cloud storage, frequent updates and upgrades, and ongoing support. A Microsoft 365 subscription gives you immediate access to the newest features and apps as they are released.

Time To Take Action

To avoid any disruption or security risks to your business, we recommend planning your upgrade from Office 2016 to a newer version as soon as possible. This will keep you and your business protected in the modern digital economy. Please feel free to get in touch with the team at Vantage IT today to discuss the option that best suits your needs.