Downloading Microsoft Office for Mac OS X El Capitan required users to navigate the official Microsoft website and purchase Office 2016 for Mac. By following the step-by-step guide, users could obtain a legitimate and compatible version of Microsoft Office, ensuring seamless productivity on their El Capitan machines. Although support for Office 2016 for Mac has ended, users can still explore alternative options, such as upgrading to a newer macOS version or subscribing to Office 365.