Windows - Software Lifecycle - Install M365 Apps

About Microsoft 365 

Microsoft 365 is a comprehensive suite of productivity and collaboration tools provided by Microsoft. It combines the familiar Microsoft Office applications with cloud-based services, security features, and device management capabilities. With this PowerShell Worklet, you can install popular Microsoft Office apps on Windows devices, including:

• Microsoft Word

• Microsoft Excel

• Microsoft PowerPoint

• Microsoft Outlook

• Microsoft OneNote

How to install Microsoft 365 apps with PowerShell via this Worklet

This Worklet uses PowerShell to grant an IT administrator the ability to install Microsoft 365 Apps (Office) on devices that do not currently have them installed. You can select from the following values:

• Current: Provides users with new Office features as soon as they are ready, but on no set schedule.

• FirstReleaseCurrent: Preview release of Current channel.

• MonthlyEnterprise: Provides users with new Office features only once a month and on a predictable schedule.

• Deferred: For select devices in your organization, where extensive testing is needed before deploying new Office features.

• FirstReleaseDeferred: Preview release of Deferred channel.

• InsiderFast: Beta release channel. Frequent updates. Stable builds are sent to FirstReleaseCurrent.

You can also choose to exclude specific apps from the install.

Devices will need firewall access to the publicly available Microsoft Office CDNs. By default, the installation language will attempt to match the OS. If the OS language is not present on the CDN, a fallback of EN-US will be used. This can be changed by modifying the $fallbackLang variable near the top of the code portion of the script.

While it is possible to remove legacy MSI installations (Office 2016/etc) as part of the ODT, the default configuration of this Worklet does not support it. Please feel free to modify this script to suit your environmental needs.

You will need to upload the most recent Office Deployment Tool (Setup.exe) when creating this Worklet policy. Only the Setup.exe is needed, as the Worklet will automatically generate the configuration XML upon remediation. The ODT can be found at https://aka.ms/ODT. 

This Windows PowerShell Worklet is compatible with Windows 8.1 and above.

Benefits of using this Worklet to deploy Microsoft 365 apps

There are several reasons why you may want to use this Worklet to deploy Microsoft 365 to end-user devices, including:

Efficiency and Time Savings

Using this Microsoft 365 Worklet for deployment allows IT admins to streamline the deployment process by eliminating the need to individually install and configure the software on each device.

Consistency and Standardization

Using this Worklet also ensures consistent deployment across all end-user devices, reducing the risk of human error and ensuring that all devices have the same configuration. This helps maintain a standardized and controlled environment, making it easier to manage and support the Microsoft 365 deployment.

Scalability

This Worklet allows you to deploy Microsoft 365 to all your devices efficiently. Whether it's deploying to a few dozen devices or hundreds or thousands of devices, this Worklet allows for rapid and consistent deployment, making it more scalable and manageable.

Configuration Control

You can define specific configurations, policies, and settings for the Microsoft 365 deployment. This ensures that devices are properly configured and aligned with organizational standards and security requirements. 

Reduced Downtime and User Impact

Using this Worklet for the deployment process can minimize downtime and disruption for end users. You can install the software during off-peak hours or non-working times, ensuring that users can continue their work uninterrupted.