Microsoft SharePoint Server 2016 is Microsoft’s on-premises enterprise collaboration and intranet platform – get a SharePoint Server 2016 license key with a one-time payment and no subscription. Designed from the ground up with hybrid cloud integration in mind, SharePoint Server 2016 brought significant architectural improvements over 2013 including better performance, enhanced security, and native Office 365 hybrid connectivity for organizations that need to keep their data on-premises while leveraging cloud services. Extended security support remains active until July 14, 2026, making it a viable platform for existing deployments.

What’s included in your SharePoint Server 2016 license

Your purchase includes one Microsoft SharePoint Server 2016 server license key. The key activates through Microsoft’s official licensing process and covers a one-time installation with no subscription required. Important: mainstream support for SharePoint Server 2016 ended in July 2021, however extended security updates continue until July 14, 2026 – meaning the platform still receives critical security patches. After July 2026 no further updates of any kind will be provided. Client Access Licenses are sold separately – each user or device accessing the SharePoint environment requires a CAL in addition to the server license.

Key facts

• Product – Microsoft SharePoint Server 2016
• License – One-time purchase, server license
• Installation – On-premises Windows Server environment required
• Database backend – Microsoft SQL Server required (2012 or later)
• Activation – Via Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center
• Delivery – By email, fast delivery
• Language – Multiple versions supported
• Mainstream support ended – July 13, 2021
• Extended support until – July 14, 2026 – security patches still active
• CALs required – Yes, per user or per device, sold separately
• Previously activated – No – unused key

Microsoft SharePoint Server 2016 features

SharePoint Server 2016 was built from the cloud up – Microsoft used its experience operating SharePoint Online at global scale to redesign the on-premises version for better reliability, performance, and hybrid cloud readiness. The result is a platform that feels significantly closer to the modern SharePoint experience than its 2013 predecessor.

Core platform capabilities include:

• MinRole server topology – assign specific roles to each server in the farm, ensuring only required services run on each machine and reducing resource waste across the environment
• Hybrid cloud connectivity – native integration with Office 365 and SharePoint Online for hybrid search, hybrid sites, and hybrid OneDrive for Business
• Improved document libraries – modernized document library interface with keyboard shortcuts, improved accessibility, and landmark navigation
• TLS 1.2 encryption – native TLS 1.2 support for secure connections between SharePoint servers and client applications
• Data Loss Prevention – built-in DLP policy engine to detect and protect sensitive content including financial data and personal identifiers across site collections
• Compliance center – In-Place Policy Hold Center and Compliance Center for managing data retention and eDiscovery policies
• Enhanced sharing – simplified site sharing with one-click sharing, member-initiated sharing, and a dedicated Shared with Me view
• Fast site collection creation – new site collections provision in approximately one second using templates, compared to over 40 seconds in SharePoint 2013
• Durable document links – document URLs remain valid even when files are moved or renamed within the farm
• Search scalability – supports indexing of up to 500 million items per Search Server application
• Mobile experience – touch-optimized views across browsers on mobile devices with consistent navigation and document access
• App launcher – Office 365-style app launcher for quick access to applications and personal files from anywhere in the intranet

SharePoint Server 2016 vs SharePoint Server 2019

Both versions are on-premises collaboration platforms with extended support ending July 2026. The differences matter for long-term planning:

Both versions share the same extended support end date of July 2026. For new on-premises SharePoint deployments starting today, SharePoint Server 2019 provides a more modern interface and better alignment with the current SharePoint Online experience.

Who is SharePoint Server 2016 for

SharePoint Server 2016 is the right choice for:

• Organizations running existing SharePoint 2016 farms that need replacement server licenses
• IT teams maintaining on-premises intranet infrastructure with compliance or data sovereignty requirements that prevent cloud migration
• Businesses upgrading from SharePoint 2013 to a supported version while keeping data on-premises
• Organizations that need the DLP and compliance center features for regulated industry requirements
• Teams requiring a hybrid approach – connecting on-premises SharePoint to Office 365 without full cloud migration

This is an enterprise server product – deployment requires a Windows Server environment, SQL Server for the database backend, and experienced IT administration. Browse our full range of Microsoft software license keys if you need other Microsoft server or productivity licenses for your environment.

System requirements

SharePoint Server 2016 requires a full server infrastructure. These are the minimum requirements per server in the farm:

• Processor – 64-bit, 4 cores minimum
• RAM – 24 GB minimum for production environments, 12 GB for single-server dev environments
• Storage – 80 GB minimum for the system drive
• Operating system – Windows Server 2012 R2, Windows Server 2016, or Windows Server 2019
• Database – SQL Server 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, or 2022 – see Microsoft SQL Server 2019 Standard for a compatible database option
• Network – Gigabit Ethernet (1 Gbps) minimum between farm servers
• .NET Framework – 4.6 or later required
• Internet – Required during installation for prerequisite download

Before you buy

• Confirm your organization has the Windows Server and SQL Server infrastructure to support a SharePoint farm before purchasing
• Note that each user or device accessing the SharePoint environment requires a separate SharePoint Server CAL in addition to this server license
• Mainstream support ended July 2021 – extended security updates continue until July 14, 2026, after which no further patches will be released
• For new on-premises SharePoint deployments, consider whether SharePoint Server 2019 better fits your requirements
• Plan your farm topology carefully – SharePoint 2016 does not support standalone mode for production and requires MinRole configuration
• Verify that your existing SQL Server version is compatible before planning the deployment

How to activate SharePoint Server 2016

SharePoint Server 2016 uses a different activation process from desktop Microsoft products:

Installation and activation: Download the SharePoint Server 2016 installation media from the Microsoft Volume Licensing Service Center using the credentials associated with your purchase. Run splash.hta to launch the SharePoint Server 2016 Start page. Click Install software prerequisites to run the Microsoft SharePoint 2016 Products Preparation Tool and install all required dependencies. Once prerequisites are complete, click Install SharePoint Server and enter your product key when prompted during setup.

Converting from trial to licensed: If you have an existing SharePoint 2016 trial installation, go to Central Administration, navigate to Upgrade and Migration, then Convert farm license type, and enter your product key to convert to the fully licensed edition.

If you experience any issues during activation, contact us by email. We respond on the same day and will assist until your installation is fully licensed.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need Client Access Licenses in addition to this server license?
Yes. The SharePoint Server 2016 license covers the server software itself. Every user or device that accesses the SharePoint environment – including read-only access – requires a separate SharePoint Server CAL. CALs come in Standard and Enterprise editions depending on the features your users need.

Is extended support still active for SharePoint 2016?
Yes. While mainstream support ended in July 2021, Microsoft continues to release security updates under extended support until July 14, 2026. After that date no further patches of any kind will be provided.

Can I run SharePoint 2016 on Windows Server 2022?
No. SharePoint Server 2016 supports Windows Server 2012 R2, 2016, and 2019 only. Windows Server 2022 is not on the supported operating system list for this version.

What SQL Server version do I need?
SharePoint Server 2016 is compatible with SQL Server 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, and 2022. SQL Server must be installed and configured before running the SharePoint prerequisites tool.

Can I upgrade directly from SharePoint 2013 to SharePoint 2016?
Yes. Microsoft supports a direct upgrade path from SharePoint Server 2013 to SharePoint Server 2016 via a database attach upgrade method. Your content databases are migrated to the new farm rather than doing an in-place upgrade.

What if my key does not activate?
Contact our support team by email. We respond on the same day and will help resolve any licensing or activation issues with your installation.