Office Deployment Tool: Complete Download, Installation & Configuration Guide (2026)

Installing Microsoft Office on one computer is straightforward. But what if you need to install it on multiple devices, select specific applications, or manage updates across an organization?

That’s where the Office Deployment Tool (ODT) comes in.

Developed by Microsoft, this free command-line utility helps IT administrators and businesses download, customize, and deploy Microsoft 365 Apps and supported Office products.

In this 2026 guide, you’ll learn how to download the Office Deployment Tool, create a configuration XML file, install Office, manage applications, and troubleshoot common problems.

What Is the Office Deployment Tool?

The Office Deployment Tool (ODT) is a Microsoft utility used to download and install Click-to-Run versions of Office.

Unlike a standard Office installer, ODT gives administrators greater control over installation settings.

You can use it to:

• Install Office applications on one or multiple computers.
• Choose between supported 32-bit and 64-bit installations.
• Select installation languages.
• Exclude applications you don’t need.
• Configure update channels.
• Download installation files for offline deployment.
• Automate installations using configuration files.

Important: The Office Deployment Tool is free, but Microsoft Office itself requires an appropriate license.

Office Deployment Tool Download (2026)

Always download ODT directly from Microsoft to avoid outdated or potentially unsafe installers.

Official download: Microsoft Office Deployment Tool

As of October 30, 2026, Microsoft’s download page lists:

Detail	Information
Tool	Office Deployment Tool
Version	16.0.20430.20146
Release Date	October 19, 2026
File Size	Approximately 3.1 MB
Supported Platform	Windows

The version may change as Microsoft releases updates.

How to Download and Extract ODT

1. Open the official Microsoft download page.
2. Click Download.
3. Run the downloaded executable.
4. Accept the Microsoft license terms.
5. Select a folder for extraction, such as C:\ODT.
6. Open the extracted folder.

You’ll find setup.exe and sample XML configuration files.

The setup.exe program executes deployment commands, while the XML files determine how Office is installed.

Requirements Before Installing Office

Get the following things ready before you begin:

• Windows 10 or later is required.
• Authorisation from an administrator.
• The Office product that is being deployed must have a valid license.
• Lots of room to store things.
• Need access to the internet in order to download installation files.
• The most recent Office Deployment Engine.

Additionally, check to see if Office is pre-configured. Company policy, installation plans, and current versions can all affect the rollout. 

How to Configure the Office Deployment Tool

You can tell ODT how to install it by looking at its XML configuration file.

This file manages the installation interface, language, Office edition, programmes, and update channel. 

Create a Configuration XML File

Open Notepad or another text editor and paste the following example:

<Configuration>

  <Add OfficeClientEdition=”64″ Channel=”Current”>

    <Product ID=”O365ProPlusRetail”>

      <Language ID=”en-us” />

    </Product>

  </Add>

  <Display Level=”Full” AcceptEULA=”TRUE” />

</Configuration>

Save it as configuration.xml inside your C:\ODT folder. In Notepad, select All Files when saving to avoid creating configuration.xml.txt.

Understanding the XML Settings

XML Setting	Purpose
OfficeClientEdition=”64″	Installs 64-bit Office
Channel=”Current”	Selects Current Channel updates
O365ProPlusRetail	Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise
Language ID=”en-us”	Installs English (United States)
Display Level=”Full”	Shows the installation interface
AcceptEULA=”TRUE”	Accepts the license terms

This sample is designed to be used with Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise. Businesses with their own licenses should select the Product ID that matches theirs. 

Microsoft also provides the Office Customization Tool, which helps generate configuration files without manually writing XML.

How to Install Office Using the Deployment Tool

Once the configuration file is ready, follow these steps.

Step 1: Open Command Prompt

Search for Command Prompt in Windows and select Run as administrator.

Navigate to the folder containing setup.exe:

cd /d C:\ODT

Step 2: Download Office Installation Files

Run:

setup.exe /download configuration.xml

ODT downloads the installation files according to your XML configuration.

Depending on your connection and selected applications, downloading may take some time.

Step 3: Install Microsoft Office

When the file has finished downloading, type:

the setup.exe file, with the configuration.xml file as its parent.

The configured installation is started by ODT.

Permit installation to finish by following any on-screen prompts. 

Step 4: Verify Installation

Open Word or Excel, then check File → Account.

Verify that the product, version, and update channel that are currently installed are compatible with your desired setup.

In case activation is necessary, log in using a validly licensed account. 

How to Install Only Selected Office Applications

You don’t always need every Microsoft Office application.

For example, suppose you want Word, Excel, and PowerPoint but don’t need Access or Outlook.

You can exclude unwanted applications through the XML file:

<Configuration>

  <Add OfficeClientEdition=”64″ Channel=”Current”>

    <Product ID=”O365ProPlusRetail”>

      <Language ID=”en-us” />

      <ExcludeApp ID=”Access” />

      <ExcludeApp ID=”Outlook” />

      <ExcludeApp ID=”OneNote” />

    </Product>

  </Add>

  <Display Level=”Full” AcceptEULA=”TRUE” />

</Configuration>

The ExcludeApp element prevents specified applications from being included in the configured installation.

Other applications remain included unless excluded separately or handled through other deployment settings.

This feature is particularly useful for organizations that want standardized software installations.

How to Install Office Offline Using ODT

The ability to tailor installation files for devices with spotty internet service is a great feature of the Office Deployment Tool.

To begin, you’ll need access to the internet and a computer to download the necessary files. 

Offline Installation Steps

1. Download and extract ODT on an internet-connected computer.
2. Create a configuration XML matching your Office product, language, and architecture.
3. Run setup.exe /download configuration.xml.
4. Copy setup.exe, the XML file, and the downloaded Office folder to the destination computer or accessible network location.
5. Run the configuration command from the copied folder.

For a local offline installation, you can explicitly set the source directory:

<Configuration>

  <Add SourcePath=”C:\ODT”

       OfficeClientEdition=”64″

       Channel=”Current”>

    <Product ID=”O365ProPlusRetail”>

      <Language ID=”en-us” />

    </Product>

  </Add>

  <Display Level=”Full” AcceptEULA=”TRUE” />

</Configuration>

Ensure the downloaded Office files are located under the source folder specified in the configuration.

Note: Microsoft licensing and activation requirements are still there after an offline installation. You still need to be online for some activation methods. 

Essential Office Deployment Tool Commands

The following commands are useful for administrators:

Command	Function
setup.exe /download configuration.xml	Downloads Office installation files
setup.exe /configure configuration.xml	Installs or configures Office
setup.exe /customize configuration.xml	Applies supported application settings
setup.exe /help	Displays command information

Make sure to use the correct configuration filename and run these commands from the location where the ODT executable is located.

Please refer to Microsoft’s official ODT documentation.

Common Office Deployment Tool Errors and Solutions

Even with the correct setup, installation problems can occur.

Problem	Possible Cause	Recommended Solution
Office doesn’t install	Invalid XML configuration	Validate XML syntax and Product ID
Download fails	Internet or network restrictions	Check connectivity, proxy, and firewall settings
Installation files missing	Incorrect source directory	Verify SourcePath and downloaded files
Architecture conflict	Existing 32-bit or 64-bit Office	Check installed Office products and deployment compatibility
Installation fails unexpectedly	Insufficient storage or permissions	Check disk space and administrator access
Wrong applications installed	Incorrect ExcludeApp settings	Review the configuration and rerun deployment

For persistent failures, inspect Office installation logs, including relevant files in the Windows %temp% directory.

Before making any changes to production configurations, make sure you are using the most recent version of ODT and review the Microsoft documentation. 

Office Deployment Tool vs. Office Customization Tool

Although their names are similar, these Microsoft tools serve different purposes.

Feature	Office Deployment Tool	Office Customization Tool
Primary Purpose	Download and deploy Office	Create deployment configurations
Interface	Command-line utility	Web-based interface
Uses XML	Yes	Generates XML
Installs Office	Yes	No
Best For	Deployment execution	Configuration creation

The two tools complement each other.

Making a configuration in Microsoft’s Office Customisation Tool and then running it in ODT is usually the simplest option for newcomers. 

Final Thoughts

The Office Deployment Tool provides a flexible way to install and manage Microsoft Office across individual computers and business environments.

By combining ODT with a properly configured XML file, administrators can select applications, manage installation settings, prepare offline deployments, and create more consistent software environments. For beginners, start with a single test computer, verify the installation, and only then apply the configuration more widely.

For the latest instructions and supported deployment settings, always refer to Microsoft Learn.

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