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Office Deployment Tool: How to Download, Install, and Configure

Geeksdigit Team

November 8, 2025

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The Microsoft Office Deployment Tool (ODT) is an essential utility designed for IT administrators and advanced users who need to install and manage Microsoft Office products efficiently. Instead of relying on the standard click-to-run setup, ODT allows you to customize and control every aspect of the Office installation process — from selecting specific applications and languages to defining update preferences and installation paths.

Whether you are deploying Office 365, Office LTSC, or earlier versions like Office 2019, this tool gives you complete command over how Office gets installed across multiple systems. It’s particularly useful in enterprise environments, educational institutions, and organizations where custom configurations are required.

In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to download, install, and configure the Office Deployment Tool step by step. You’ll learn how to create XML configuration files, use command-line options, and even customize updates and activation methods. By the end, you’ll have a full understanding of how to deploy Office precisely the way you need it.

What is the Office Deployment Tool (ODT)?

The Office Deployment Tool is a free utility from Microsoft that lets administrators and users control Office installations through configuration files. It uses XML configuration files to define what to install, where to install it, and how to configure updates and licensing.

Instead of downloading the entire Office suite, ODT lets you download only the components you need. For example, you can choose to install only Word and Excel in English, exclude Access or Teams, and prevent automatic updates.

ODT works via the command line, meaning it’s ideal for scripting and automation. It supports both 32-bit and 64-bit installations and can deploy Office products like:

• Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise
• Office LTSC 2021
• Office 2019, 2016, and earlier versions
• Visio and Project (Volume License or Retail)

Using ODT, organizations save bandwidth, maintain consistency, and ensure Office installations meet internal policies and standards.

Benefits of Using the Office Deployment Tool

Here are some major advantages of using the Office Deployment Tool:

• Centralized Control: Manage multiple Office installations from one configuration file.
• Custom Installations: Choose specific Office apps, languages, and versions.
• Offline Installation: Download installation files once and reuse them across systems without internet access.
• Reduced Bandwidth Usage: Avoid downloading Office separately on each computer.
• Automatic Updates Control: Configure update channels (Monthly, Semi-Annual) or disable updates.
• Simplified Licensing: Specify activation methods such as Volume Licensing or a Microsoft 365 subscription.
• Enterprise Readiness: Ideal for bulk deployments and automation via scripts or group policy.

These features make ODT one of the most powerful tools for managing Office installations, especially in large-scale or offline environments.

Step 1: Download the Office Deployment Tool

1. Visit the official Microsoft Download Center:
   Go to https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=49117.
2. Click “Download.”
   You’ll be prompted to download the file officedeploymenttool.exe — this is the setup file for ODT.
3. Save the file to your PC.
   Choose a convenient folder, such as: C:\OfficeDeploymentTool
4. Run the installer.
   Double-click officedeploymenttool.exe. It will ask where to extract the files.
5. Extract the files.
   You’ll get files like:
   • setup.exe – the main deployment executable
   • configuration.xml – sample configuration files
   • license.txt – license details
6. Verify extraction.
   Ensure that all files appear in your chosen folder.

Once downloaded and extracted, you’re ready to move on to configuration. The tool itself doesn’t have a graphical interface — you’ll control it through command-line commands and configuration XML files.

Step 2: Understand the Configuration XML File

The configuration.xml file is the heart of the Office Deployment Tool. It defines everything about how Office will be installed or updated. Each configuration file follows a structured XML format.

Here’s an example XML template for installing Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise:

<Configuration>
  <Add OfficeClientEdition="64" Channel="MonthlyEnterprise">
    <Product ID="O365ProPlusRetail">
      <Language ID="en-us" />
      <ExcludeApp ID="Access" />
      <ExcludeApp ID="Publisher" />
      <ExcludeApp ID="Teams" />
    </Product>
  </Add>
  <Display Level="None" AcceptEULA="TRUE" />
  <Property Name="AUTOACTIVATE" Value="1" />
  <Updates Enabled="TRUE" Channel="MonthlyEnterprise" />
  <RemoveMSI />
</Configuration>

Explanation:

• OfficeClientEdition: Choose 32 or 64 depending on your OS.
• Channel: Defines the update channel (e.g., Monthly, SemiAnnual).
• Product ID: Specifies which Office product to install (e.g., O365ProPlusRetail, ProPlus2021Volume).
• Language ID: Language code (en-us for English).
• ExcludeApp: Excludes specific applications.
• Display Level: Determines user interaction during installation. “None” runs silently.
• AcceptEULA: Automatically accepts the license agreement.
• RemoveMSI: Removes old MSI-based Office versions.
• AUTOACTIVATE: Automatically activates Office after installation.

You can edit the XML file with Notepad or any text editor. Save the customized configuration as config.xml.

Step 3: Download Office Installation Files

After creating your XML configuration file, you can use ODT to download the Office setup files.

Steps:

1. Open Command Prompt as Administrator.
2. Navigate to your ODT folder: cd C:\OfficeDeploymentTool
3. Run the following command: setup.exe /download config.xml

This command tells ODT to download all Office installation files defined in your XML configuration. Depending on your internet speed, this may take several minutes.

Notes:

• The files are typically downloaded to C:\OfficeDeploymentTool\Office.
• You can specify a custom download path in your XML by adding: <Add SourcePath="C:\OfficeFiles" />
• Once downloaded, you can use the same files on other PCs without downloading again.

This feature is especially valuable in limited bandwidth environments, allowing offline or bulk installations.

Step 4: Install Office Using ODT

Once the Office files are downloaded, you can install Office using the same or a different XML file.

Steps to Install:

1. Open Command Prompt (Admin) again.
2. Go to the ODT directory: cd C:\OfficeDeploymentTool
3. Run the installation command: setup.exe /configure config.xml

ODT will now install Office based on your defined parameters — edition, language, and excluded apps.

Notes:

• If you used Display Level="None", installation happens silently in the background.
• You can track progress in Task Manager or check the logs in %temp%.

For organizations, this command can be integrated into deployment scripts, Group Policy, or Microsoft Endpoint Manager for large-scale rollouts.

Step 5: Configure Update Settings

One of the biggest advantages of ODT is update control. You can decide whether Office updates automatically or not.

To configure updates, include the following lines in your XML:

<Updates Enabled="TRUE" Channel="Current" />

Options for Channel include:

• Current – Gets the latest features first.
• MonthlyEnterprise – Stable monthly updates.
• SemiAnnual – Updates twice a year.
• Broad – For longer-term stability.

You can also disable automatic updates:

<Updates Enabled="FALSE" />

If you want to use a local update source (e.g., a shared network folder), specify:

<Updates Enabled="TRUE" UpdatePath="\\Server\OfficeUpdates" />

This approach helps companies save bandwidth and ensure controlled update distribution.

Step 6: Modify or Remove Office

ODT can also be used to modify or remove existing Office installations.

Modify an Existing Installation:

To add or remove an application, update the XML file and run:

setup.exe /configure config.xml

For example, to add Access later, remove the <ExcludeApp ID="Access" /> line from the XML.

Uninstall Office:

Create an XML file like this:

<Configuration>
  <Remove>
    <Product ID="O365ProPlusRetail" />
  </Remove>
</Configuration>

Then run:

setup.exe /configure uninstall.xml

This will completely remove the specified Office product from the system.

Step 7: Advanced Configuration Options

ODT provides several advanced options that let you further customize deployment:

1. Specify Installation Path

You can install Office to a custom directory:

<Add SourcePath="D:\OfficeSetup" />

2. Use Logging

Enable detailed logging to troubleshoot issues:

<Logging Level="Standard" Path="C:\Logs" />

3. Configure Shared Computer Activation

If deploying on shared PCs (e.g., labs), use:

<Property Name="SharedComputerLicensing" Value="1" />

4. Disable Auto-Activation

To prevent automatic activation:

<Property Name="AUTOACTIVATE" Value="0" />

5. Display Levels

• None – Silent install
• Full – Shows the installation UI
• Basic – Minimal interaction

Example:

<Display Level="Basic" AcceptEULA="TRUE" />

6. Remove MSI Versions Automatically

To avoid conflicts with older Office versions:

<RemoveMSI />

These configurations help ensure a clean and efficient setup across any environment.

Common Issues and Fixes

While using ODT, you may encounter a few errors. Here are some quick fixes:

You can check installation logs stored at:

%temp%\OfficeDeploymentTool.log

Automating Office Deployment

For IT administrators, automating Office installations saves time. You can use batch files or PowerShell scripts.

Example batch script:

@echo off
cd C:\OfficeDeploymentTool
setup.exe /download config.xml
setup.exe /configure config.xml
echo Office installation complete!
pause

You can deploy this script across multiple PCs using:

• Windows Group Policy
• Microsoft Intune
• SCCM (System Center Configuration Manager)

Automation helps ensure consistent installations with minimal user involvement.

Verify Installation

After installation, verify that Office is installed properly.

1. Open Word or Excel.
2. Go to File → Account.
3. Check the product name, activation status, and update channel.

Alternatively, use PowerShell:

Get-WmiObject -Query "SELECT * FROM Win32_Product WHERE Name LIKE '%Office%'"

You can also confirm file paths in:

C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office

Conclusion

The Office Deployment Tool is one of the most powerful utilities Microsoft offers for customizing and managing Office installations. It’s not just for large organizations — even home users and small businesses can use it to streamline their setups, save bandwidth, and avoid unnecessary components.

By understanding XML configuration and command-line operations, you can deploy Office exactly how you want it — silently, efficiently, and consistently. Whether you need to install Office 365, Office LTSC 2021, or older editions, ODT ensures flexibility, control, and reliability.

With the steps covered in this guide — from downloading and creating configuration files to automating deployment — you now have a comprehensive understanding of how to handle Microsoft Office installations like a pro.

In short, the Office Deployment Tool is your key to mastering Office deployment across any environment.

FAQs

1. Can I use ODT to install Office offline?
Yes. You can download Office setup files once using /download and then install offline using /configure.

2. Does ODT support all versions of Office?
ODT supports Microsoft 365 Apps, Office 2021 LTSC, 2019, 2016, and certain volume-license versions of Project and Visio.

3. Where can I find sample XML files?
Microsoft provides samples in the extracted ODT folder and official documentation.

4. Can I deploy ODT on multiple PCs simultaneously?
Yes. You can use automation tools or network sharing to deploy Office to many systems with a single XML configuration.

5. Is ODT safe to use?
Absolutely. The Office Deployment Tool is an official Microsoft product, widely used for enterprise and educational deployments.