Where to find your Excel version number

The fastest way to find your Excel version is to open Excel, click the File menu in the top left, then click Account or Help. Look for a line that says "About Microsoft Excel" or similar — click it, and a window will pop up showing your exact version number.

The version number appears as a four-part code, like 16.45.1234.5678. The first number (16 for recent versions) tells you which major release you have. The second number changes with each monthly update. If you see version 16, you have Excel 2019 or newer; if you see 15, you have Excel 2016.

On a Mac, the process is identical: open Excel, click Excel in the menu bar at the top, then About Excel. The version window appears in the same place.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Excel, go to File, then Account or Help, and look for "About Microsoft Excel" to see your exact version number.
  • Version numbers starting with 16 mean you have Excel 2019 or later; version 15 means Excel 2016.
  • Microsoft 365 subscribers (formerly Office 365) get monthly updates and always have the newest version available.
  • If you bought Excel as a one-time purchase, your version number stays the same unless you manually install updates.

Understanding version numbers in Excel

Excel version numbers follow a pattern that tells you when the software was released and how many updates have been installed since then. A number like 16.45.1234.5678 breaks down this way: the first digit (16) is the major version; the second (45) is the monthly update number; the last two are internal build numbers that Microsoft uses to track patches.

You do not need to memorize this code. What matters is whether your version is current enough to run the files and features you need. If someone sends you an Excel file and your version is too old to open it, the version window will tell you exactly what you have so you can decide whether to update.

The difference between Microsoft 365 and one-time purchase versions

If you pay a monthly or yearly subscription for Microsoft 365 (formerly Office 365), Excel updates automatically every month. Your version number will keep changing as new updates arrive. You do not have to do anything — the updates happen in the background.

If you bought Excel as a one-time purchase — meaning you paid once and own that copy forever — your version number only changes when you manually install updates. You can check for updates by going to File, then Account, then clicking Update Options and choosing Update Now. One-time purchases eventually stop receiving updates, so if your version is very old (like version 15 from 2016), you may not be able to open newer files.

What to do if your version is too old

If you find that your Excel version cannot open a file someone sent you, or if a feature you need does not exist in your version, you have two main paths forward. The first is to update Excel itself — go to File, Account, Update Options, and click Update Now. This works only if your version is still supported by Microsoft.

The second path is to switch to Microsoft 365, which always gives you the newest version. Microsoft 365 costs money (typically $70 per year for personal use or $100 per year for a household), but it includes automatic updates forever. If you use Excel regularly and need to work with files from other people, this is usually the simpler choice than managing one-time purchase updates yourself.

Finding your version on a work or school computer

If Excel is installed on a computer owned by your workplace or school, the version may be managed by your IT department. The steps to find your version are the same — File, Account, About — but you may not be able to update it yourself. If an update is needed, contact your IT support team and let them know the version number you found.

Work and school computers often run older versions of Excel on purpose, because organizations need time to test new versions before rolling them out to everyone. This is normal and not a problem unless you specifically need a feature that only exists in newer versions.

Checking if you have the 32-bit or 64-bit version

The About window also tells you whether you have the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Excel. This matters if you work with very large spreadsheets or use add-ins that only work with one version or the other. The bit version appears in the same window where you found your version number — look for text that says "32-bit" or "64-bit."

Most people can ignore this detail. It only becomes important if you are troubleshooting a problem with a specific add-in or if you are working with spreadsheets so large that they use more than 2 gigabytes of memory.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have two different versions of Excel on the same computer?

No. Windows and Mac allow only one version of Excel to be installed at a time. If you install a newer version, it replaces the old one. If you need to keep an old version, you would need a separate computer or virtual machine.

Does my version number change every time I open Excel?

No. Your version number only changes when Microsoft releases an update and you install it. If you are on Microsoft 365, updates happen automatically in the background, usually once a month. If you have a one-time purchase, the version number stays the same until you manually check for and install updates.

What if the About window does not show a version number?

This is rare but can happen if Excel is corrupted or not fully installed. Try restarting your computer first. If the problem continues, uninstall Excel completely and reinstall it from the Microsoft website or from your Microsoft 365 account.

Is my version of Excel still supported if it is from 2016?

Excel 2016 (version 15) is no longer receiving updates from Microsoft. If you are using it, you can still open and edit files, but you will not get security patches or new features. Microsoft recommends updating to a newer version or switching to Microsoft 365 for ongoing support.