Microsoft Office 2016 version is a specific maintenance release for the Mac version of the suite. The " VL " designation indicates a Volume License version, typically used by businesses or educational institutions rather than individual retail consumers. Key Takeaways for 2026

Improved performance by switching to an SQLite database, resulting in faster searching and better stability.

Version 16.16.x is 64-bit , meaning it is compatible with modern macOS versions like macOS Sequoia that do not support older 32-bit applications.

Office 2016 was a major leap from the previous 2011 Mac version, bringing it closer to parity with the Windows experience.

Introduced the "Ribbon" design and full support for Retina Displays , making the UI much sharper and more consistent with other Mac apps.