Microsoft Word 2016 | Windows

Microsoft Word 2016 for Windows – word processing with a perpetual licence

Word 2016 is the standalone program for letters, quotes, reports and dissertations. You buy it once and use it permanently on one Windows PC, without a subscription.

Word 2016 is still the familiar standard in many offices and fully compatible with all newer Word versions.

Typical uses

• Correspondence, quotes and invoice templates
• coursework and dissertations with table of contents
• mail merge letters with addresses from Excel
• Minutes, reports and club correspondence

What Word 2016 offers

• The “Tell me what you want to do” search box finds every command
• Smart lookup for selected terms
• Co-authoring documents via OneDrive
• Ink equations for mathematical formulas
• Improved sharing directly from the document

Word features that save time

• Styles: define headings and the table of contents is created with one click.
• Mail merge: many personalised letters with addresses from Excel in a single run.
• Track changes: make colleagues’ corrections visible and accept them one by one.
• Quick Parts: insert sign-offs or bank details with just a few keystrokes.
• Document templates: create your own letterheads and quote templates once and reuse them again and again.

File formats and collaboration

Word 2016 saves as DOCX, which all newer Word versions and Word for Mac can read. You open older DOC files in Compatibility Mode. For authorities and job applications you save directly as PDF, for LibreOffice users as ODT. Comments and tracked changes are preserved, even if the recipient uses a newer version.

Word 2016 in everyday use

In the office, Word is often open all day. With your own templates for letters, quotes and minutes you save time with every new document, and password protection keeps confidential documents safe from unauthorised access. Using the “Tell me what you want to do” search box, even occasional users find every function without clicking through menus.

When is Word 2016 on its own worthwhile?

Word 2016 as a standalone program is a good fit if a workstation works almost exclusively with Word – for example in a secretary’s office, for authors or for students. It is also a good addition if other Office programs of the same generation are already installed on a computer and only Word is missing.

Standalone program or Office suite?

The standalone program is the most affordable solution if you mainly work with Word. If you need more programs later, an Office suite is usually cheaper than several standalone programs.

You will find more editions under Microsoft Office 2016.

Word 2016 or a newer version?

Version 2016 is proven, affordable and still in use in many offices. If you want the latest features, choose Word 2021 or Word 2024. The file formats have been the same since Office 2007, so files can be exchanged without any problems.

Buy once instead of subscribing

You pay for Word 2016 once and use it permanently – with no contract term, no notice period and no forced cloud use. You save your files as usual locally, on your network or with a cloud provider of your choice.

System requirements

• Operating system: Windows 11 or Windows 10. For new computers we recommend Windows 11 Pro
• Processor: 1 GHz or faster (x86 or x64 with SSE2)
• Memory: 2 GB RAM
• Hard disk: 3 GB of free space
• Display: resolution of 1280 × 800 or higher
• Graphics: DirectX 10 for hardware acceleration
• Internet: required for download and activation

Installation and activation

1. Download the installation file using the link in our e-mail.
2. Start the setup and follow the installation. Uninstall older versions of the same program first.
3. Open the program and activate it with the product key – without a Microsoft account.

Frequently asked questions

Can I open documents from newer Word versions?

Yes. Documents from Word 2019, 2021 or 2024 open in Word 2016; only very new features may be displayed in simplified form.

Do I need a Microsoft account?

No, Word 2016 is activated with the product key.

Is this a subscription?

No. You pay once and use Word 2016 permanently on one Windows PC.

Can I transfer the program to a new PC?

Yes. Uninstall it on the old device, install it on the new one and activate it with the same key. If you run into problems, our support team will help.

Will I receive an invoice?

Yes, you receive a proper invoice by e-mail with every order, with your company address on request.

Does Word 2016 run on Windows 11?

Word 2016 can be installed and used on Windows 11 and Windows 10.

Delivery, invoice and support

• Delivery by e-mail: you will usually receive the product key, download link and installation guide within 5 to 30 minutes of payment (daily 09:00–21:00 CET). More under Shipping & payment.
• Invoice: every order comes with a proper invoice, with your company address on request.
• Origin of the licence: we source our licences from distributors and wholesalers in Europe. We explain exactly how this works on the page Buying legal software.
• Support: if you have questions about installation or activation, we help by e-mail (Mon–Sun 09:00–21:00 CET), phone (Mon–Fri 09:00–14:00 CET), live chat or remote support with TeamViewer.

Our goodwill promise

Should the ordered Office version ever no longer be available, we will supply the next higher version at no extra charge. You never pay more than the price at which you ordered.