Skip to main content

Update brings 64-bit support and performance boosts to Office 2016 for Mac

Back in April, Microsoft announced plans to bring 64-bit support to the Mac version of its Office suite. Now, the company has deployed an update that adds this functionality to the package, as well as some boosts to performance and stability improvements.

The update adds 64-bit support to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and OneNote, for users working with Retail, Office 365 Consumer, Office 365 Commerical, and Volume License installations of Office, according to a report from Engadget. Microsoft claims that it will lay the groundwork for “new innovative features.”

Recommended Videos

While Windows still supports both 32-bit and 64-bit architecture, 64-bit has been the standard for Mac OS X since the release of version 10.7 in 2011. Apple’s added 64-bit support to its iLife suite in 2013, according to a report from 9to5Mac.

Users should be able to receive the update in the same way that they would any other — a notification will appear on the desktop informing them that the new version had been downloaded successfully.

However, if this message doesn’t appear, users are free to download and install the update manually. Simply head to the patch notes for the new version on the Microsoft website and download the package from the manual update section of the page.

Members of the Insider program have been able to test out the 64-bit version of Office for Mac since July, but it’s only this week that the upgrade has been distributed to all users.

One thing to keep in mind is Microsoft’s warning that the update might cause disruptions to some third-party add-ins designed for use with the Office suite. Their authors have had a few months to prepare for the change, but users are being advised to make sure that any add-ins they use on a regular basis have been tested before making the jump.

Brad Jones
Brad is an English-born writer currently splitting his time between Edinburgh and Pennsylvania. You can find him on Twitter…
Apple faces challenges with bringing OLED to the MacBook Air
The MacBook Air on a white table.

A report from Korean outlet The Elec suggests the OLED MacBook Air that Apple was allegedly planning to release in 2027 could face significant delays. While progress for the OLED MacBook Pro seems to be going smoothly, the price increase caused by the new display technology is a much bigger problem for the budget MacBook Air models.

One of the biggest selling points of the MacBook Air is its lower price, making it great for first-time Mac buyers, students, and anyone else who doesn't expressly need the power of a Pro. While price increases are a natural part of the tech industry, the slightly disappointing sales of the 2024 OLED iPad Pro suggest that a new display simply isn't enough of an incentive for consumers to justify a higher price tag.

Read more
Apple’s M4 iMac brings next-gen power to your desktop
People using the Apple iMac with M4 chip.

Apple has brought its M4 chip to the iMac, making it the first Mac to get Apple’s latest silicon chip. The update also brings new colors and a significant performance improvement for the all-in-one desktop computer, and it comes a year after it received the previous-generation M3 chip. As with the previous M1 and M3 iMacs, the M4 model is compatible with Apple Intelligence.

It comes at the beginning of a week of product releases from Apple, with the company previously teasing that it had much more to reveal in the coming days. The updates could see the entire Mac lineup receive some variant of the M4 chip (including more powerful M4 Pro, M4 Max and M4 Ultra editions) over the coming months.

Read more
The macOS Sequoia update just launched. Here’s why you should install it
The iPhone Mirroring feature from macOS Sequoia being demonstrated at the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) 2024.

The macOS Sequoia update is finally here, bringing iPhone Mirroring, Safari updates, window tiling, and the new Passwords app to Mac. As promised, there are no Apple Intelligence features in this update, but they will start rolling out from next month.

iPhone Mirroring is the most exciting thing coming with this update, allowing you to check your messages, notifications, and apps without switching devices. The feature makes a lot of sense as the one time we truly don't need our phones is when we're already using a computer. Instead of taking your hands off the keyboard to pick up your iPhone, you can simply access it on your Mac like a phone-shaped app.

Read more